Innovation in the field of meteorology has taken a significant step forward thanks to a new radiosonde designed by the young Yohan Hadji . This radiosonde, developed by the startup R2Home, has the unique ability to automatically return to the place where it was launched.
Unlike traditional models that fall randomly when released by weather balloons , this new technology promises to change the way these devices are managed, with a potential impact on the accuracy of weather forecasts and on reducing pollution caused by lost devices.
The problem of lost radiosondes
More than 600,000 radiosondes are launched around the world each year, of which around 80% are lost or not recovered . These devices, which are used to measure crucial variables such as temperature, humidity and wind speed in the stratosphere, fall after being released by weather balloons.
Although many of these instruments fall in remote areas or even into bodies of water, recycling and reuse is a rare practice. Most of the recovered probes cannot be reused due to damage sustained during their fall.
Innovation in radiosonde design
Yohan Hadji, a master’s student at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), has developed an innovative solution. His device, a lightweight radiosonde attached to a foam glider, collects essential data from the atmosphere and can also return to its launch site. This design uses a guidance system with an algorithm that adjusts the glider’s trajectory based on wind measurements during ascent, allowing for a precise return to the predetermined point.
Here you can see one of the launch attempts. Source: Yohan Hadji
Initial tests carried out by MeteoSwiss, the Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, have shown very positive results. In more than 60 test flights, the glider successfully returned within a radius of 15 metres from the launch point .
This level of accuracy is a significant improvement over traditional models, which are often not recovered or are located in widely dispersed locations. Furthermore, comparative tests carried out in Switzerland confirmed that the quality of the data collected by the Hadji radiosonde is comparable to that of standard sondes.
The future of recoverable radiosondes
Despite these advances, Hadji continues to refine his technology and explore new applications, including the possibility of attaching radiosondes to parachutes for heavier payloads. The interest of other international meteorological offices, such as those of France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Croatia and Canada, underlines the global importance of this project.
With the recent acquisition of his startup by Meteomatics, a leading Swiss weather information company, Hadji is preparing to expand the application of his technology, contributing to improved weather forecasting, sustainability and efficiency of meteorological instruments worldwide.
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Source: Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne
Photos: Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne | R2Home
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