Center for Interdisciplinary Remotely-Piloted Aircraft Studies (CIRPAS)

A remotely piloted aircraft research facility is described that will provide new capabilities for atmospheric and oceanographic measurements. The aircraft can fly up to 24 h over remote ocean regions, at low or high altitude, and in various other challenging mission scenarios. The aircraft will fly research missions at speeds of 40 ms(-1) and provide high spatial resolution measurements. Data will be transmitted in real time to a ground station for analysis and decision-making purposes. The facility will expand the opportunities for universities to participate in field measurement programs.