India builds high-altitude drone to track weather, pollution under Mission Mausam
NIOT has completed the first field trials of its high-altitude drone under Mission Mausam. The test marks a step towards stronger atmospheric monitoring, pollution tracking and climate research.
India’s push to strengthen weather and climate monitoring capabilities under Mission Mausam has taken a technological leap with the development of a high-altitude drone by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).
The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), named HAD or High-Altitude Drone, has been engineered specifically for atmospheric observations and environmental monitoring at elevated altitudes.
The indigenously developed drone recently completed its first field trials at NIOT’s seafront campus facility at Pamanji coast near Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, where researchers successfully verified its airworthiness up to 4 km above ground level.
During the test campaign, the drone captured atmospheric datasets including Air Quality Index (AQI) parameters, gaseous pollution levels and weather observations that could help improve climate and atmospheric research.
Developed as part of the Centre government’s ambitious Mission Mausam initiative, the HAD has been designed to operate efficiently in challenging high-altitude environments where thinner air and unstable weather conditions often limit the performance of conventional drones.
At the heart of the system is a lightweight yet durable carbon-fiber composite airframe that offers high structural strength while keeping overall weight to a minimum.
NIOT said key components of the drone, including the airframe, motors and propellers, have been sourced within India, underlining the country’s growing capability in advanced UAV manufacturing.
The drone is powered by a Cube Orange autopilot system equipped with dual-redundant Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) and GPS modules, ensuring enhanced reliability and stability during flight operations.
The redundant systems are designed to maintain safe operation even if one navigation or sensing module fails during a mission.
Engineers optimised the drone to strike a balance between manoeuvrability and payload-carrying capability in low-density atmospheric conditions encountered at high altitudes. The HAD can carry a one-kilogram atmospheric sensor payload while maintaining a flight endurance of nearly 60 minutes.
Energy for the drone comes from a 50-volt, 66 Ah solid-state battery, enabling extended mission durations critical for scientific data collection. According to NIOT, the drone can ascend at 5 metres per second and descend at 3.5 metres per second, while achieving a horizontal speed of up to 16 metres per second under normal wind conditions.
Communication and control are handled through a robust Radio Frequency (RF) system capable of maintaining command-and-control links across a horizontal range of 15 km and vertical range of 5 km.
Scientists believe the combination of advanced materials, optimised propulsion systems and sophisticated avionics makes the HAD a promising platform for future atmospheric science missions, pollution tracking and climate monitoring efforts across India.