Aerial-to-Surface Communication and Data Transferring System for Environmental Survey

This study aims to develop an effective communication and data transfer system for a simultaneous air-water environmental survey between a drone and a water glider. The wireless communication is provided through Xbee modules. The data, transferred from the glider to the drone, is stored locally on a BeagleBone Black. The data would then be analyzed and displayed on a web page in real-time. The completion of this project could enable environmental surveyors in dangerously extreme environmental conditions or hard-to-access areas. Researchers could safer explore and collect more data with the drone-glider combination. Having both air and water quality measured simultaneously could enhance and give a new insight to climate change study.