A lightning protection apparatus and related methods are described. The lightning protection apparatus includes a housing that defines a cavity, a gas generating device disposed within the housing, and a signal acquisition device. The housing is coupled to an aircraft. The signal acquisition device is configured to detect a lightning arc and responsively activate the gas generating device to emit a stream of gas to suppress the lightning arc.

A lightning protection apparatus and related methods are described. The lightning protection apparatus includes a housing that defines a cavity, a gas generating device disposed within the housing, and a signal acquisition device. The housing is coupled to an aircraft. The signal acquisition device is configured to detect a lightning arc and responsively activate the gas generating device to emit a stream of gas to suppress the lightning arc.

Described herein is a lightning detection sensor. The lightning detection sensor comprises a sensing element that detects radio-frequency (RF) signals relating to lightning activity, a circuit that receives the detected RF signals from the sensing element and amplifies the RF signals for output to a digital signal processing device, and a reference element coupled to the circuit. The reference element is connected to an antenna ground that is isolated from a power ground, and the reference element and the antenna ground are not connected to an external ground plane.

Methods, systems, and computer program products are described herein for generating proxy reflectivity data associated with lightning activity. A computing device receives data associated with lightning activity for one or more geographical areas. The computing device determines the logarithmic scale of the combined in-cloud and cloud-to-ground flash rate (dBR) for one or more grids of lightning activity based on the received data. The computing device generates proxy reflectivity data based on the dBR of the grids, a rate of change of the dBR, and the geographical area of the lightning activity.

Methods, systems, and computer program products are described herein for generating proxy reflectivity data associated with lightning activity. A computing device receives data associated with lightning activity for one or more geographical areas. The computing device determines the logarithmic scale of the combined in-cloud and cloud-to-ground flash rate (dBR) for one or more grids of lightning activity based on the received data. The computing device generates proxy reflectivity data based on the dBR of the grids, a rate of change of the dBR, and the geographical area of the lightning activity.

A real-time detection and tracking display device that utilizes multiple channel antenna array to detect storms, lightning, pre-lightning activity, and other significant storm-related events such as tornadoes, based on information analysis. High resolution data generated by the movement of charge concentrations within a storm or pre-storm weather system is collected, analyzed and displayed as real-time storm bearing directional and distance alert.

Additional alerts are displayed for a variety of other storm-related events, such as lightning, pre-tornado conditions, and other events detected in the data. Telemetric cloud base networking to other multiple remote users provides for extended overlapping detection and positioning access for enhanced capabilities and alert generation. Mounting variations of the multi-channel antenna array on a mobile platform such as drones or aircraft allows for the creation of dynamic regional networks. In addition to the direct detection of severe weather conditions for a direct alert function, the device can be adapted to support a number of other functions that require the real-time, high-resolution weather data to serve as a locator for the application of several related functions of the technology.

A real-time detection and tracking display device that utilizes multiple channel antenna array to detect storms, lightning, pre-lightning activity, and other significant storm-related events such as tornadoes, based on information analysis. High resolution data generated by the movement of charge concentrations within a storm or pre-storm weather system is collected, analyzed and displayed as real-time storm bearing directional and distance alert.

Additional alerts are displayed for a variety of other storm-related events, such as lightning, pre-tornado conditions, and other events detected in the data. Telemetric cloud base networking to other multiple remote users provides for extended overlapping detection and positioning access for enhanced capabilities and alert generation. Mounting variations of the multi-channel antenna array on a mobile platform such as drones or aircraft allows for the creation of dynamic regional networks. In addition to the direct detection of severe weather conditions for a direct alert function, the device can be adapted to support a number of other functions that require the real-time, high-resolution weather data to serve as a locator for the application of several related functions of the technology.

The invention describes a method of monitoring of increased risk of lightning on the basis of information about the increase of electric charge of water droplets, which are obtained by measuring the characteristics of scattered EM radiation. The change of these characteristics is related to the electric charge, which the droplets acquire. In order to normalize the optical characteristics as well as the concentration of droplets it is necessary that the measurements are carried out at two suitably selected wavelengths. The wavelengths can be combined, allowing the use of two or more wavelengths.

The invention describes a method of monitoring of increased risk of lightning on the basis of information about the increase of electric charge of water droplets, which are obtained by measuring the characteristics of scattered EM radiation. The change of these characteristics is related to the electric charge, which the droplets acquire. In order to normalize the optical characteristics as well as the concentration of droplets it is necessary that the measurements are carried out at two suitably selected wavelengths. The wavelengths can be combined, allowing the use of two or more wavelengths.

A robotic work tool system (200) comprising further comprising a charging station (210) and a robotic work tool (100), the robotic work tool system (200) being configured to determine a change in weather and to take preservation action. The robotic work tool may detect the change in weather by detecting an electrical charge buildup in the boundary wire. The robotic work tool may take the preservative action by the robotic work tool (100) distancing itself from the charging station (210).