WASHINGTON – In a new effort to enhance hurricane prediction, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has launched a fleet of miniature, uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) called C-Stars. In collaboration with the University of Southern Mississippi and the U.K.-based robotics company Oshen, NOAA deployed five of these four-foot-long robots off the U.S. Virgin Islands on August 31, with two more on standby in Mississippi for potential storms in the Gulf of Mexico.
The C-Stars are designed to collect real-time data at the critical interface where the ocean meets the lower atmosphere—the key to understanding how hurricanes intensify. “If these miniature uncrewed surface vehicles prove reliable, they could become a critical piece of NOAA’s hurricane observing system in the future,” said Greg Foltz, a NOAA oceanographer.
The C-Stars are wind-propelled with backup electric motors and are equipped with solar-powered sensors that measure essential data points like wind speed, sea surface temperature, air pressure, and humidity. This data is transmitted in real time via satellite to forecasters worldwide. Unlike larger USVs, their compact size allows for rapid, hand-based deployment from small boats, making them more flexible and cost-effective.
This new fleet is the latest addition to NOAA’s expanding portfolio of uncrewed systems. These robotic platforms complement traditional methods like research vessels and aircraft, allowing the agency to monitor extreme weather and environmental changes in remote or dangerous areas. The C-Stars have successfully navigated stormy seas in the past, but hurricanes present a new level of challenge due to their intensity and rapid changes.
Over the next two months, the deployed C-Stars will operate in areas with a high likelihood of tropical storms. If the trial is successful, it could pave the way for larger fleets, which would significantly improve hurricane forecasting models, ultimately helping to save lives and reduce economic losses in vulnerable coastal communities.