Can the Vertical Motions in the Eyewall of Tropical Cyclones Support Persistent UAV Flight?

Powered flights in the form of piloted aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been flying into tropical cyclones to obtain vital atmospheric measurements. The flight durations of these aircraft typically last only between 12 and 36 hours. Convective vertical motion properties of tropical cyclones have previously been studied. This work investigates the possibility to achieve persistent flight by harnessing the generally pervasive updrafts in the eyewall of tropical cyclones. An endurance/persistence UAV capable of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) is proposed and its flight characteristics are simulated using the RealFlight？ simulator. Results suggest that the concept of persistent flight within the eyewall is promising and may be extendable to the rainband regions.