Join Webinar Topic: Commuting Like the Jetsons: Precision Weather Prediction for Autonomous Aerial Systems Safety and Traffic Management

Currently, engineering efforts are fully underway for these complex systems. Aerial platforms are emerging, being flight tested, and are in operation in certain locations. The aerial mobility management infrastructure is also in development and early testing. In parallel, systems also need advances in precision meteorology – highly accurate, local weather prediction capability that autonomous systems can rely on for safe operations. In this webinar, we’ll explore the state-of-the-art and glimpse the future ahead.

Dr. Suzanne Smith, a national aerospace Fellow in AIAA (2020) and Kentucky Aviation Hall of Fame Inductee (2019), has been working with unmanned aerial systems since the early 1980s. Since joining UK as a faculty member in 1990, she has collaborated on spacecraft and UAS research projects, including the BIG BLUE Mars Airplane high altitude technology verification experiments. Along with other College of Engineering faculty, recent projects such as CLOUDMAP focused on new paradigms for atmospheric sensing enabling precision meteorology. Today, WINDMAP and other technologies programs continue to advance these technologies, train students, and enable the future.

Suzanne met her husband, Bill, when they were working together in the industry on an early UAS system. Bill is a Kentucky native and a University of Kentucky graduate. He is a professor in the UK Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. They have one daughter, Virginia, who is also a UK graduate and currently a Ph.D. candidate in aerospace engineering at Virginia Tech.

Suzanne met her husband, Bill, working together in the industry on an early UAS system. Bill is a Kentucky native and a University of Kentucky graduate. He is a professor in the U.