Can the vertical motions in the eyewall of tropical cyclones support persistent UAV flight?

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential for UAVs to achieve persistent flight within tropical cyclone eyewalls by utilizing the cyclone's vertical updrafts, supported by simulations of a VTOL sailplane UAV.

Contribution

It introduces a novel concept of harnessing eyewall updrafts for sustained UAV flight and demonstrates its feasibility through flight simulations.

Findings

Persistent flight within eyewalls is promising.

The approach may extend to rainband regions.

Simulations support UAV viability in cyclone environments.

Abstract

Powered flights in the form of manned or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been flying into tropical cyclones to obtain vital atmospheric measurements with flight duration typically lasting between 12 and 36 hours. Convective vertical motion properties of tropical cyclones have previously been studied. This work investigates the possibility to achieve persistent flight by harnessing the generally pervasive updrafts in the eyewall of tropical cyclones. A sailplane UAV capable of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) is proposed and its flight characteristics simulated. Results suggest that the concept of persistent flight within the eyewall is promising and may be extendable to the rainband regions.