MET4F: A Tool for Providing in Near Real-Time Weather Information on Board

Abstract

In order to increase the weather awareness on board, at CIRA (Italian Aerospace Research Center) it is under development a general system able to provide, in near-real time, forecast and monitored weather information along the flight route, gathering and integrating data from different sources. MET4F (METeorological data for FLARE) is a new tool, within this system, devoted to provide the over mentioned weather information through the dispatch of a binary message from an on ground control station to an Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV). The message format follows the protocol adopted by the CIRA Remotely Piloted Aircraft System and allows an automatic flight reconfiguration, also on the basis of the weather information.