Mobile UAS Research Collaboratory (MURC)

MURC Interior facing forward

The Mobile UAS Research Collaboratory (MURC) is a converted Sprinter van customized to carry aircraft, provide communications and computer hardware, and act as a weather station. 

MURC features include: 

  • Electronically steerable antenna for communications to multiple aircraft
  • Ruggedized server racks for data storage and high-performance computing to run simulations and process data in the field
  • Operation stations for simultaneous operation of 2-6 aircraft
  • A 48 ft telescoping mast supporting a complete weather station for UAS PTH and wind sensor calibrations in the field. 

 

MURC has been used for UAS system evaluations in multiple locations:

  • Barbieri, L.K., S.T. Kral, S.C.C. Bailey, A.E. Frazier, J.D. Jacob,D. Brus, P.B. Chilson, C. Crick, J. Elston, H. Foroutan, J. González-Rocha, B.R. Greene, M.I. Guzman, A.L. Houston, A. Islam,O. Kemppinen, E.A. Pillar-Little, J. Reuder, S.D. Ross, M. Sama, D.G. Schmale III, T.J. Schuyler, S. Smith, S. Waugh, A. Doddi, D. Lawrence, C. Dixon, S. Borenstein, and G. de Boer (2019): Intercomparison of small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) measurements for atmospheric science during the LAPSE-RATE campaign, Sensors, 19, 2179, https://doi.org/10.3390/s19092179  
  • de Boer, G., B. Butterworth, J. Elston, A. Houston, E. Pillar-Little, B. Argrow, T. Bell, P. Chilson, C. Choate, B. Greene, A. Islam, R. Martz, M. Rhodes, D. Rico, M. Stachura, F. Lappin, S. Whyte, and M. Wilson: Evaluation and Intercomparison of Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Used for Atmospheric Research, Atmos. Ocean. Tech., 41, 127–145, https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH-D-23-0067.1