Uncrewed aerial vehicle with onboard winch system for rapid, cost-effective, and safe oceanographic profiling in hazardous and inaccessible areas.

Interactions between coastal waters and marine-terminating glaciers in the Polar Regions play a significant role in global sea level rise fueled by a rapidly warming Arctic. However, few oceanographic measurements exist near glacier termini and in inner fjord systems with severe ice mélange. We present a cost-efficient (€ 5700) uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) with an on-board autonomous winch system that allows oceanographic profiling in remote, hazardous areas using a commercial conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) sensor payload. The UAV is based on a commercial kit helicopter, allowing for high-speed and efficient cruise flight along with easy logistical handling and deployment. An open-source autopilot system is used to provide pilot assistance and autonomous flight capabilities. The total takeoff weight of the UAV including payload is 6.5 kg with a hover endurance of 24 minutes and a range of 6 km. Testing of the system was conducted in South Greenland during winter conditions in March 2023 with successful profiles collected very near a glacier termini (<5 m) and in small openings in ice mélange (2.2 m). The system proved highly capable, reliable, and efficient. Further development of the system will allow other types of sensors for an even more flexible measurement suite.

极地沿岸水域与入海冰川之间的相互作用，在北极快速变暖驱动的全球海平面上升过程中发挥着重要作用。然而，在冰川末端附近以及存在严重冰混（ice mélange）的峡湾内部区域，现有海洋学实测数据极为匮乏。本研究介绍了一套成本可控（总成本5700欧元）的无人飞行器（uncrewed aerial vehicle, UAV）系统，该系统搭载机载自主绞车系统，可借助商用级电导率-温度-深度（conductivity, temperature, and depth, CTD）传感器载荷，在偏远危险区域开展海洋学剖面测量。该无人飞行器基于商用套件直升机打造，可实现高速高效的巡航飞行，同时具备便捷的后勤操作与部署能力。系统采用开源自动驾驶系统，可为操作人员提供辅助操控与自主飞行功能。该无人飞行器含载荷的总起飞重量为6.5千克，悬停续航时间24分钟，航程可达6千米。2023年3月，研究团队在格陵兰南部的冬季环境中开展了系统测试，成功在距离冰川末端极近的区域（<5米）以及冰混的小型开口处（2.2米）获取了高质量的剖面测量数据。测试结果表明，该系统性能优异、可靠高效。后续对该系统的开发优化将可集成更多类型的传感器，构建更为灵活的综合测量套件。