CopterSonde CS3

CU Boulder purchased the InterMet CopterSonde 3 (CS3) since the CopterSonde has been commercialized. The CopterSonde3 collects high-quality vertical profiles of atmospheric properties, including temperature, pressure, humidity, and two-dimensional winds. Below is a list of specifications. A complete CS3 system description and data sheet can be found on the InterMet Website. 

CopterSonde 3 Specifications

IRISS Coptersonde on a landing pad in the grass


Measurement Specifications               

Thermodynamic variables:

Temperature  (accuracy, resolution)                   ± 0.3 K, ±0.01 K
Relative Humidity  (accuracy, resolution)           ± 3%, 0.1%
Pressure (accuracy, resolution)                           ± 0.2 mbar, ±0.01mbar 

Two-Dimensional Wind:

Horizontal wind speed     ± 0.6 m/s
Wind Direction                 ± 4°

Kinematic                          Airframe angular tilt

Raw data rate                    4 Hz

Operating Conditions

Mean wind speed              19 m/s
Max wind gust                   22 m/s
Flight ceiling                      3 km MSL
Max flight altitude             1.5 km AGL
Flight endurance               30 min 

CopterSonde Flights

CopterSonde C3 flying in cloudy skies during MITTEN-CI

CopterSonde C3 flights conducted to collect vertical profiles during MITTEN-CI.

CopterSonde Publications

Segales, A.R., Greene, B.R., Bell, T.M., Doyle, W., Martin, J.J., Pillar-Little, E.A. and Chilson, P.B., 2020. The CopterSonde: an insight into the development of a smart unmanned aircraft system for atmospheric boundary layer research. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 13(5), pp.2833-2848.

Pillar-Little, E.A., Greene, B.R., Lappin, F.M., Bell, T.M., Segales, A.R., de Azevedo, G.B.H., Doyle, W., Kanneganti, S.T., Tripp, D.D. and Chilson, P.B., 2021. Observations of the thermodynamic and kinematic state of the atmospheric boundary layer over the San Luis Valley, CO, using the CopterSonde 2 remotely piloted aircraft system in support of the LAPSE-RATE field campaign. Earth System Science Data, 13(2), pp.269-280.

Lappin, F., de Boer, G., Klein, P., Hamilton, J., Spencer, M., Calmer, R., Segales, A.R., Rhodes, M., Bell, T.M., Buchli, J. and Britt, K., 2023. Data collected using small uncrewed aircraft system during the TRacking Aerosol Convection Interactions ExpeRiment (TRACER). Earth System Science Data Discussions, 2023, pp.1-23.