UAV-Assisted Weather Radar Calibration: A Theoretical Model for Wind Influence on Metal Sphere Reflectivity

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical model to evaluate how wind-induced oscillations of a metal sphere on a UAV affect weather radar reflectivity measurements, aiming to improve calibration accuracy.

Contribution

It introduces a novel theoretical framework for understanding wind effects on a UAV-mounted calibration sphere's reflectivity.

Findings

Wind causes measurable deviations in reflectivity readings.

The model quantifies the impact of sphere oscillation on calibration accuracy.

Insights support improved UAV calibration methods under windy conditions.

Abstract

The calibration of weather radar for detecting meteorological phenomena has advanced rapidly, aiming to enhance accuracy. Utilizing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a suspended metal sphere introduces an efficient calibration method by allowing dynamic adjustment of the UAV's position, effectively acting as a mobile calibration platform. However, external factors such as wind can introduce bias in reflectivity measurements by causing the sphere to deviate from its intended position. This study develops a theoretical model to assess the impact of the metal sphere's one-dimensional oscillation on reflectivity. The findings offer valuable insights for UAV based radar calibration efforts.