MetSprite
MetSprite is a fully automated, high-altitude, weather drone (wxUAS) with integrated meteorological sensors, designed for routine observations of the atmosphere.
Harsh weather resistance — 25 m/s max wind speed, precipitation tolerant.
Conduct 2 km AMSL vertical profiles 97% of the year (UK Climate)
Integrated meteorological sensors with traceable calibration.
Dual RTK GPS system for precision heading and positioning.
Near real-time data in the format that suits you; netCDF, CSV, WMO BUFR/TEMP/PILOT, with API integrations.
Payload capacity with power supply and data logging for sensor integration.
MetSprite Airframe
The airframe has been optimised for efficient climbing flight in high speed & gusty wind conditions and to 10km in windless conditions. The resulting structure presents surplus internal volume for sensor integration and compliant hardware for future unified airspace architectures.
The sealed airframe with skin cooling technology achieves a wide operational temperature envelope with resilient ingress protection and the built-in parachute recovery system with automatic & manual deployment ensures safe operations.
MetSprite comes from a long line of thoroughly tested prototypes, inheriting excellent “genetics” through iterations of failure mode identification and performance improvement.
Our Sensors
The core measurements built into MetSprite with industry leading, traceable calibration are temperature, humidity, pressure and 3D winds. The MetSprite platform is able to support a suite of sensor technologies through a diverse array of digital interfaces, customisable airframe and a 600 g payload capacity with minimal impact to flight performance.
There are ample communication buses to the companion computer and onboard micro-controller, and an arm-mounted payload bus (USB, 5V & 12V) for sensors requiring high aspiration from propeller flow.
The Evolution of MetSprite
MetSprite is the result of two years of extensive research, development, and rigorous testing. We are proud to say that our product has undergone intense scrutiny and has been proven to be safe and effective.
Version 15 is our current iteration. We have made significant changes throughout the development process to ensure that MetSprite is the best it can be. Our 10-strong team of engineers have brought their expertise in robotics and software development to the table, resulting in intense design discussions and redesigns to perfect the product.
Our wind correction algorithm has replaced the original frame's fin, allowing for better performance in high winds. Our feedback loop is instantaneous, thanks to our indoor testing area and outdoor testing space within 10 minutes drive of the workshop. We proudly display our old versions of MetSprite on the wall of our workspace to remind us how far we’ve come in such a short time.
At Menapia, we are dedicated to delivering the best product possible by testing the drone to its’ limits and making necessary changes to perfect it so that we can provide the most accurate data for you.
Version 1
Version 3
Version 7
Version 13
Version 15
