WeatherHive (WxHive) is an all-in-one platform developed by GreenSight (GS) that uses our WISP (Weather Intelligence Sensing Platform) in diverse swarm formations to provide on-demand targeted meteorological monitoring at a high spatial, temporal, and vertical sampling rate throughout the lower troposphere. Equipped with a suite of dual weather sensors under the wing, these palm-sized uncrewed aircraft are automatically launched from their ‘Hive’, each capable of flying up to 5 km in altitude, fanning out over a 300 square kilometer area from their deployment location, and providing ~50 minutes of near-real time environmental monitoring. They work in a swarm, allowing dozens or more to be deployed autonomously gathering more information than a single UAV. Remotely deployable, WxHive can be used as a stationary or mobile platform, both of which gather meteorological data in data-sparse locations providing critical information and filling in key observational gaps. The main suite of measurements include: barometric pressure, 3D wind speed and direction, ambient air temperature and relative humidity.

Funded and developed under both NSF and the US Air Force (in partnership with DIU) grants, GS’s WISPs are designed to operate under various environmental conditions. WxHive can safely and effectively sample the environment nearly 87% of the time over CONUS (95% during summer and 70% during winter), providing routine sampling across the nation during all forms of weather phenomena. We anticipate the flyability to increase as we continue to understand the operation limitations and refine the system. Regardless, this type of routine measurements provides a unique opportunity to advance Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) modeling and improve the situational awareness of operational forecasters by filling in critical observational data gaps through improved spatial and temporal sampling in the lower troposphere.

Over the next year, GS is excited to participate in the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) UAS Demonstration Campaign (DC), flying WxHive at numerous areas of interest throughout the US.

As we continue to closely collaborate with our end users, including actively engaging with the NOAA’s Uncrewed Systems Research Transition Office (UxSRTO), our goal is to use WxHive to characterize the environment through phenomenon directed monitoring. Through close collaborations with NOAA, NCAR, NASA and academia, WxHive will be deployed in the field to answer critical questions about earth system processes. This is possible due to WxHive’s flexibility, which allows our end users to design unique sampling techniques, such as a collapsible drone tower, based on their research questions. 

Interested in learning more? GreenSight will be attending the upcoming 2024 Annual AMS Meeting in Baltimore, presenting an overview of the WxHive system. Stop by our poster to learn more!