Meteomatics' Strato drone aims to replace weather balloons
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Swiss company Meteomatics presented the Strato, a multirotor drone designed to measure the atmosphere up to the upper troposphere and replace weather balloons. On its record flight it reached 10,438 meters and returns to its operator, unlike about 90% of balloons, which never come back. It measures temperature, humidity, pressure and wind at each altitude during ascent and descent, and according to the company it costs less than ground stations that spend between $150,000 and $200,000 a year on disposable balloons.
In 45 seconds
- The Strato reached 10,438 meters on its record flight and completes an atmospheric profile in about 25 minutes, versus the 40 minutes a balloon takes to climb to 12 kilometers
- About 90% of weather balloons never return; the drone always comes back to its operator and can carry additional sensors
- Meteomatics estimates ground stations spend between $150,000 and $200,000 a year on disposable balloons
Read the full story at El Confidencial
IASummary generated by artificial intelligence from a story by El Confidencial. It may contain errors: the original source prevails.
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