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UAVs Will Study Californian Smog

Posted by timothy on from the with-their-little-UN-logos dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "The California Energy Commission is funding a research effort named CAPPS, short for California AUAV Air Pollution Profiling Study. CAPPS will use autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (AUAVs) to gather meteorological data as the aircraft fly through clouds over Southern California. The goal is to study smog and its consequences as well as better understand the sources of air pollution. The first flights started in April 2008 and data collection will continue until January 2009. But read more for additional references and photos of these autonomous unmanned aircraft."

3 of 79 comments (clear)

  1. Re:And why? by evanbd · · Score: 5, Informative

    They're cheaper to operate, they can stay aloft longer, and they pollute less. What's not to like?

  2. Re:Smog is way down, why is this needed? by CorSci81 · · Score: 3, Informative

    You must not live in LA. Yes, most days are ok here (at least a vast improvement over the 70s), but there are still days you can see a visible brown haze. Improvements have been made but the problem is definitely not "solved".

  3. Re:Heisenberg -- UAV create smog by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    these uavs are using a 2-stroke reciprocating gasoline engine

    http://www.acrtucson.com/UAV/manta/index.htm