College of Engineering

Darius Olega

College of Engineering

Computer Engineering

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Richard A. Cairncross

Chemical & Biological Engineering

Remote-Controlled Stunt Kites: Air Monitors of the Future

Monitoring the concentration of environmental pollutants is critical for effective decision-making about how to improve air quality. Airborne devices, such as drones and weather balloons have been used to monitor air quality, but are hindered by battery life, regulations, mobility, and other factors. This poster presents initial research into Kite-Based Environmental Monitoring and Mapping Systems (KEMMS) with a remote-controlled stunt kite that can travel in three dimensions powered by wind to monitor air quality. Because it is mainly wind-powered and tethered, it requires less energy to remain airborne, is subject to fewer restrictions, and can cover a wide area for data collection using an attached sensor system. Several types of sensors were used with a data logger to monitor tension in the kite tether line, air quality metrics, wind speed, and atmospheric conditions. Several prototype flight control systems were constructed to evaluate capabilities of different motor types, control configurations, mounting structures, and pilot interface. Field testing with single-line kites and multi-line stunt kites was conducted to evaluate overall system performance.