Storm-Penetrating Drones Could Fly Into Tornadoes

Engineering students at Oklahoma State University (OSU) have designed three concept drones that could one day help storm trackers and researchers better understand tornadoes.

Led by professor Jamey Jacob, three teams of students outlined plans for Storm Penetrating Air Vehicles (SPAVs) that would penetrate thunderstorms, including the supercells that generate tornadoes, to collect vital meteorological data for better storm forecasting. The teams hope their SPAVs will collaborate with or ultimately replace storm chasers, who risk their lives driving after tornadoes in attempt to track down data. Read more...