The present disclosure relates to a system for generating a weather map. The system comprises a mobile device configured to move to first locations within an environment and obtain first weather data indicative of a weather condition at the first locations by using a sensor. Further, the system comprises a data processing circuitry configured to generate a weather map including a probability distribution of weather conditions between the first locations by applying a predetermined weather model to the first weather data. The data processing circuitry is further configured to determine second locations through a threshold comparison of the probability distribution. The mobile device is further configured to move to the second locations and obtain second weather data indicative of a weather condition at the second locations, by using the sensor, for increasing a confidence of the weather map using the second weather data.

Disclosed is a gas injection apparatus which measures and displays a gas amount supplied to a radiosonde instrument. The gas injection apparatus includes: a body which includes an inlet port through which the gas is introduced from the storage tank, a flow passage through which the gas introduced from the inlet port flows, and an outlet port through which the gas passing through the flow passage is discharged; a valve which opens/closes the flow passage, and a flow meter which is installed in the body and is configured to measure and display the flow rate of the gas supplied to the instrument.

A computer implemented method and system (100) of instructing one or more weather drones (300). The method includes: analysing a first data set comprising flight path data indicative of the flight paths of one or more aircrafts over a predefined time period; identifying, based on said analysis, at least one geographical region which is not intercepted by or adjacent to, any of the flight paths of the one or more aircrafts; and instructing one or more weather drones (300) to fly to the at least one geographical region.

A computer implemented method and system (100) of instructing one or more weather drones (300). The method includes: analysing a first data set comprising flight path data indicative of the flight paths of one or more aircrafts over a predefined time period; identifying, based on said analysis, at least one geographical region which is not intercepted by or adjacent to, any of the flight paths of the one or more aircrafts; and instructing one or more weather drones (300) to fly to the at least one geographical region.

Described herein are features for a high altitude lighter-than-air (LTA) system and associated methods. The LTA may include one or more super-pressure balloons (SPB). One or more of the SPB's may include one or more interior volumes. One or more of the interior volumes may be configured to receive an LTA gas therein to supplement the free lift of the LTA system. There may be an adjustable valve or vent to release the LTA gas. One or more of the interior volumes may be configured to receive ambient air to provide a variable downward force. The SPB may use a compressor to pump in ambient air. The compressor or another valve may release ambient air to decrease the downward force. A zero-pressure balloon (ZPB) may be attached with the one or more SPB's. The ZPB may supplement lift for the system.

Example implementations may relate to selection between a first mode and a second mode. The first mode may involve (i) directing an aerial vehicle (e.g., in an aerial network including a plurality of aerial vehicles) to navigate to each of a plurality of altitudes and (ii) determining respective wind-related data at each respective altitude. Whereas, the second mode may involve (i) selecting at least one altitude based on the determined wind-related data and (ii) directing the aerial vehicle to reposition to the at least one selected altitude. As such, a control system may determine flight data for the aerial vehicle. Based on the flight data, the control system may make a selection between the first mode and the second mode. And based on the selection, the control system may then operate the aerial vehicle according to the first mode or may operate the aerial vehicle according to the second mode.

A system and method for carrying out an automatic selection of the best air data source on an aircraft, through a voting scheme, for determining aircraft altitude and present that information to the pilot. Once this is done, statistical analysis can be done to look at the ‘root mean square’ (RMS) of the possible errors to ensure the airplane remains within a maximum tolerance respecting Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM) requirements. The aircraft can therefore travel faster cruise speed at higher altitude, thus reducing travel time, while still respecting RVSM requirements

A system and method for carrying out an automatic selection of the best air data source on an aircraft, through a voting scheme, for determining aircraft altitude and present that information to the pilot. Once this is done, statistical analysis can be done to look at the ‘root mean square’ (RMS) of the possible errors to ensure the airplane remains within a maximum tolerance respecting Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM) requirements. The aircraft can therefore travel faster cruise speed at higher altitude, thus reducing travel time, while still respecting RVSM requirements

Provided is a balloon-launching apparatus capable of reducing an increase in the size of the apparatus when a large number of housing sections for housing observation balloons are provided. A balloon-launching apparatus 1 includes a plurality of housing sections 41 each formed in a box shape having an opening 321 that opens in an upper part thereof and configured to house a balloon 21, the housing section 41 launching the balloon 21 from the opening 321. The plurality of housing sections 41 are arranged in a matrix shape. Due to the matrix arrangement of the housing sections 41, the balloon-launching apparatus 1 can reduce the creation of dead space even when a large number of the housing sections 41 are disposed and can thus reduce an increase in the size of the balloon-launching apparatus 1.

Provided is a balloon-launching apparatus capable of reducing an increase in the size of the apparatus when a large number of housing sections for housing observation balloons are provided. A balloon-launching apparatus 1 includes a plurality of housing sections 41 each formed in a box shape having an opening 321 that opens in an upper part thereof and configured to house a balloon 21, the housing section 41 launching the balloon 21 from the opening 321. The plurality of housing sections 41 are arranged in a matrix shape. Due to the matrix arrangement of the housing sections 41, the balloon-launching apparatus 1 can reduce the creation of dead space even when a large number of the housing sections 41 are disposed and can thus reduce an increase in the size of the balloon-launching apparatus 1.