Saildrone Explorer SD 1078, a robot surfboard, has come close to the heart of Hurricane Fiona. To do so, it has had to master the intense ocean shaking of the hurricane that was first detected in the Atlantic Ocean. The result It was a shot as spectacular as it was terrifying what one of these huge storms looks like from the inside.
The SD 1078 robot was sent on its mission in a collaboration between NOAA (National Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, for its acronym in English) and the Saildrone company. The latter is responsible for designing and producing unmanned navigation drones. A) Yes, decided to try and take a look inside Hurricane Fiona, category 4, and whose waves reached 15 meters high and winds of up to 160 kilometers per hour. The NOAA, for its part, is the one that has already been in charge of capturing the Earth from the most advanced meteorological satellite in the United States.
“Saildrones offer us a whole new look at one of the most destructive forces on Earth,” commented the company that created these devices in a recent statement. Hurricane Fiona, meanwhile, recently hit the shores of Nova Scotia, Canada.
NOAA has long hoped for a similar achievement.. Last year, Gregory Foltz, an oceanographer with the organization, commented that his goal was to “go through the eyewall” of these phenomena. Now, it seems that they are closer than ever.
Saildrone Explorer robot reveals the interior of Hurricane Fiona
But this is not just a product of the whim of the scientists in charge of the mission. To better understand this type of natural phenomenon, you need to look at them from as many angles as possible. This includes, of course, its interior.
Thanks to Saildrone technology, NOAA could understand how the oceans transfer their heat and energy to these types of storms. Let’s remember that ocean water masses with a temperature greater than 26 degrees are a perfect incubator for hurricanes, and researchers still have a lot to learn about the factors that come into play.
This is not the first time that Saildrone has deployed a fleet of robots to capture storms like never before. Last year, one of these teams was sent to the Atlantic Ocean in order to obtain measurements and captures as close as possible to the eye of the hurricane. In addition, the technology that they include in their bodies allows them to collect information on water masses, map the ocean floor and track the biodiversity and ecosystem that they comprise.
“Saildrone once again demonstrates its ability to provide critical ocean data in the most extreme weather conditions. Hurricane Fiona intensified from a tropical storm to a Category 1 hurricane just before hitting Puerto Rico, causing significant damage and loss of life.”
Richard Jenkins, CEO and founder of Saildrone
This is Saildrone’s SD 1078 robot
Saildrone Explorer SD 1078 It is one of the seven drones that are operating in the Atlantic Ocean and in the Gulf of Mexico.. Also, he was one of the 4 to come into contact with Hurricane Fiona.
The Explorer series of drones has a height of 7 meters, and allows data to be sent permanently throughout the year. For its part, and unlike other company products, Saildrone Explorers do not require assembly from ships, or permits for their use. Just by positioning themselves in the required area, they can start collecting information through the wind energy of the region.
Likewise, these Saildrone Explorer operate through solar and wind energy, generating a carbon footprint equal to zero. In turn, it can stay on a mission for up to 12 months at a time, sending critical data to Mission Control in real time. In case of requiring technical service or recalibration, the Explorers can return autonomously to the company’s agencies.
Unmanned systems in the air, on the ocean surface, and underwater and airborne systems have the potential to transform how NOAA accomplishes its mission to better understand the environment
Philip Hall, director of the Center for Unmanned Systems Operations at NOAA