Drone- Triggered Lightning: The Concept and Results of Initial Laboratory Testing

This paper presents an overview of the novel idea of using drones (remotely piloted aircraft systems or unmanned aerial vehicles) for triggered and other related lightning research. In addition., it discusses the practical and technical issues considered for this research., the results of small-scale laboratory testing., and finally., the requirements of South Africa's drone regulations to allow such flights. Initial results show that, at a small scale., a commercially available drone encircled with a suitable Faraday cage., can withstand a current impulse of approximately 16 kA and a voltage impulse greater than 300 kV., without experiencing any electrical telemetry problems., flight instability or control interference.