Comprehensive Weather Situation Map Based on XML-Format as Decision Support for UAVs

Abstract

In the framework of the StraVARIA project (Autonomy Considerations for Stratospheric High Altitude Pseudo-Satellites made in BAVARIA) a comprehensive weather situation map as decision support for UAVs was newly developed. For this tool, certain weather data (observations, nowcasts, and forecasts) containing information on hazards endangering the mission or the UAV structure itself like thunderstorms, turbulence, wind and cloud cover are combined using a so-called NoGo-Area approach. Using this approach we receive weather objects out of complete data fields which should be avoided by UAVs. All information on the NoGo-Areas, like precise spatial coordinates and time signatures, are stored within a newly developed XML-format. The total of our XML-files, including information on all weather hazards, is seen as the comprehensive weather situation map. It can be used as decision support for UAVs regarding a long-term mission (trajectory) planning and short-term avoidance of weather hazards.