NASA Taps Kyoto Startup to Make Wind Maps for Drones
- MetroWeather’s compact lidars measure windspeeds in real time
- The startup’s proprietary algorithm cuts hardware cost, size
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The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration is turning to a Japanese startup for help in developing maps of the wind that will make it safer for drones and air taxis to take to the skies around the world.
MetroWeather Co. makes compact, low-cost lidar sensors that can be used to detect hazards like wind shear, allowing unmanned aerial vehicles to operate in urban environments, Chief Executive Officer Junichi Furumoto said in an interview. The Kyoto-based company will work with TruWeather Solutions Inc. in the U.S. as part of NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research grant program.