FFRL Origins
I grew up wanting to be an astronaut and test pilot. The paragliding flight platform is an untapped resource that provides a unique opportunity for science, research and conservation.
There is a human in the loop that can operate instruments even in prototypes phases. There is no fuel or engine when paragliding this means that there is minimal disturbance to the environment and its inhabitants. There are a number of tracks of research I am interested in. Do you want to Fly?
Physiology
I am currently studying motion sickness using myself as a subject. Below is an article I wrote about my journey so far (Page 56). Or read this post
Motion Sickness
Weather
My goals are to make a mobile sounding platform to support warm start forecasts and eventually go to unresolved locations on demand.
Run WRF for experimental forecasting at high resolution and various altitude regimes.
To make an optical weather station that uses machine vision to determine conditions. Here is the page
Land and Resource Conservation
Made a modified Hero3+ for NDVI Imaging. Interchangeable Filters and Lens.
Early Testing:
Captured Rough Fire Aftermath in Flight above Dunlap, 150,000 Acres of Forest Burned
Flight Dynamics
My goal is to instrument the wing and lines in a non intrusive way to understand collapse and reinflation dynamics of wings in real conditions and to measure the line pressures in time to be able to compare inputs and reactions of both the pilot and the wing.
Photogrammetry
Currently Flying Missions using Cannon G16 Camera and Autodesk Memento
Mission Peak Regional Preserve
Windy Hill Open Space Preserve
Photogrammetry of Makapuu on Skywalk Arriba 3
First Photogrammetry Test Flight with Bob Posey.
Pollution and Air Quality Monitoring
While I was in Utah at Brad Gunnuscio’s SIV Course http://www.paraglideutah.com/ I spoke to a group doing amazing work in their local community. I am motivated to work with them. In the Mean time check out their sensors and network.