Weather Drone

Abstract

A weather drone (100) comprising: a first sensor (101) configured to repeatedly measure one or more parameters indicative of weather; a memory (103) coupled to the first sensor (101) and configured to store data recorded by the first sensor (101), the data comprising a series of repeatedly measured parameters; and a processor (104) coupled to the first sensor (104) and the memory (103). The processor (104) is configured to analyse the data as it is being recorded by the first sensor (101), and determine if the data exceeds a first threshold value and/or falls below a second threshold value. If the processor (104) determines that the data exceeds the first threshold value and/or falls below the second threshold value on at least one occasion, the processor (104) is configured to prevent the storage of further data from the first sensor (101) in the memory (102).

Claims

1. A weather drone comprising: a first sensor configured to repeatedly measure one or more parameters indicative of weather; a memory coupled to the first sensor and configured to store data recorded by the first sensor, the data comprising a series of repeatedly measured parameters; and a processor coupled to the first sensor and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to analyse the data as it is being recorded by the first sensor, and determine if the data exceeds a first threshold value and/or falls below a second threshold value, and wherein if the processor determines that the data exceeds the first threshold value and/or falls below the second threshold value on at least one occasion, the processor is configured to prevent the storage of further data from the first sensor in the memory.

2. The weather drone according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to turn off the first sensor, if the processor determines that the data exceeds the first threshold value and/or falls below a second threshold value.

3. (canceled)

4. The weather drone according to claim 1, further comprising a navigation module, and wherein, the processor is further configured to instruct the navigation module to initiate a return to base flight mode if the processor determines that the data exceeds the first threshold value and/or falls below the second threshold value.

5. The weather drone according to claim 1, wherein the drone further comprises a second sensor configured to repeatedly measure one or more parameters indicative of weather, the second sensor being coupled to the processor and the memory, and wherein, if the processor determines that data from the first sensor exceeds the first threshold value and/or falls below the second threshold value, the processor is further configured to turn off the second sensor.

6. The weather drone according to claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to analyse data from the second sensor as it is being recorded by the second sensor, and determine if the data from the second sensor exceeds a third threshold value and/or falls below a fourth threshold value, and wherein, if the processor determines that the data from the second sensor exceeds the third threshold value and/or falls below the fourth threshold value, the processor is configured to prevent the storage of further data from the second sensor in the memory.

7. The weather drone according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine the number of times data recorded by the first sensor exceeds the first threshold value and/or falls below the second threshold value, and wherein the processor is configured to prevent the storage of further data from the first sensor in the memory in response to the processor determining that data recorded by the first sensor has exceeded the first threshold value and/or fallen below the second threshold value more than a predetermined number of times.

8. A weather drone comprising: a first sensor configured to repeatedly measure one or more parameters indicative of weather; a memory coupled to the first sensor and configured to store data recorded by the first sensor, the data comprising a series of repeatedly measured parameters; a processor coupled to the first sensor and the memory; and a wireless communication module, configured to communicate with a base station, wherein the processor is configured to analyse the data as it is being recorded by the first sensor, and determine if the data exceeds a first threshold value and/or falls below a second threshold value, and wherein if the processor determines that the data exceeds the first threshold value and/or falls below the second threshold value on at least one occasion, the processor is configured to send a message to a base station via the wireless communication module, the message indicating that the first sensor has measured data exceeding the first threshold value and/or falls below the second threshold value, and wherein the processor is configured to prevent the storage of further data from the first sensor in the memory in response to the wireless communication module receiving a reply message from the base station, instructing the processor to prevent the storage of further data from the first sensor in the memory.

9. The weather drone according to claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to turn off the first sensor in response to the wireless communication module receiving the reply message from the base station.

10. The weather drone according to claim 8, further comprising a navigation module, and wherein, the processor is further configured to instruct the navigation module to initiate a return to base flight mode in response to the wireless communication module receiving the reply message from the base station.

11. The weather drone according to claim 8, wherein the drone further comprises a second sensor configured to repeatedly measure one or more parameters indicative of weather, the second sensor being coupled to the processor and the memory, and wherein, in response to the wireless communication module receiving the reply message from the base station, the processor is further configured to turn off the second sensor.

12. The weather drone according to claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to determine the number of times data recorded by the first sensor exceeds the first threshold value and/or falls below the second threshold value, and wherein the processor is configured to send the message to a base station via the wireless communication module in response to the processor determining that data recorded by the first sensor has exceeded the first threshold value and/or fallen below the second threshold value more than a predetermined number of times.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the infrastructure of a weather drone according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, the weather drone 100 comprises a first sensor 101. The first sensor 101 is a temperature sensor and configured to repeatedly measure a temperature of the environment surrounding the weather drone 100, as an indication of weather.

[0028] The weather drone 100 also comprises a second sensor 102. The second sensor 102 is a relative humidity sensor, and configured to repeatedly the relative humidity of the environment surrounding the weather drone 100, as an indication of weather.

[0029] The first and second sensors 101, 102 are each coupled to a memory 103. The memory is configured to store data recorded by the first and second sensors 101, 102. The first and second sensors 101, 102, and the memory 103 are each coupled to a processor 104.

[0030] The processor 104 is also coupled to a communications module 105, which may comprise a satellite uplink and/or radio frequency transceiver. The communication module 105 can enable wireless communications between the weather drone 100 (and in particular the processor 104), and a ground based base station 20.

[0031] The processor 104 is also coupled to a navigation module 106. The navigation module 106 provides the weather drone 100 with autonomous flying capabilities. The navigation module 106 also enables the weather drone 100 to fly between a first location and a second location on instruction.

[0032] The navigation module 106 is therefore coupled to a propulsion system 107 of the weather drone 100. The propulsion system 107 uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift to keep the weather drone 100 airborne, and may comprise one or more propeller engines. Coupled to the propulsion system 107 is a fuel source 108 for the weather drone 100, in the form of an electric battery.

[0033] The processor 104 is configured to analyse the measured weather data as it is being recorded by the first sensor 101 and/or second sensor 102, and initiate certain actions if the data measured by the first sensor 101 and/or second sensor 102 exceeds and/or falls below certain respective threshold values. By way of example if the first sensor 101 records a data value of above a threshold of 100 degrees Celsius, the processor may do one or more of: turn off the first sensor 101; prevent the storage of further data from the first sensor 101 in the memory 103; turn off the second sensor 102; prevent the storage of further data from the first sensor 101 in the memory 103; instruct the wireless communication module 105 to send a message to the base station 20, the message indicating that the first sensor 101 has measured data exceeding the threshold of 100 degrees Celsius; and instruct the navigation module 106 to initiate a return to base flight mode.

[0034] The memory 103 may include one or more of an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, a portable computer disk, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk.

[0035] In some embodiments, the memory may be configured to store data recorded by the first sensor at least until the drone has returned to the base.