All systems nominal

Research2016Thermal modellingOpen access

Wind estimation based on thermal soaring of birds

Treep, J., Bohrer, G., Shamoun-Baranes, J., Duriez, O., Prata de Moraes Frasson, R., Bouten, W.

Ecology and Evolution2016 · 6(24) · 8669–8679doi:10.1002/ece3.2585

Abstract

Soaring birds extract energy from the atmosphere by climbing in thermals. The authors show that GPS tracks of soaring birds can be inverted to recover wind speed and direction, with errors comparable to airport METAR stations within 30 km.

Why it matters here

Foundational. We-Fly's wind-from-track estimator is a direct descendant of this inversion model.

Access resource

Treep et al. (2016).
Wind estimation based on thermal soaring of birds.
Ecology and Evolution.

Research2011Thermal modellingOpen access

Thermal soaring flight of birds and UAVs

Lawrance, N. R. J., Sukkarieh, S.

Bioinspiration & Biomimetics2011 · 6(1) · 016007doi:10.1088/1748-3182/5/4/045003

Research2011Crowdsourced sensing

Ikarus: large-scale participatory sensing at high altitudes

von Kaenel, J., Sommer, P., Wattenhofer, R.

HotMobile 2011 (ACM)2011 · Phoenix, AZdoi:10.1145/2184489.2184503

Research2011Crowdsourced sensingOpen access

Real-time detection and recommendation of thermal spots by sensing collective behaviors in paragliding

Wirz, M., Strohrmann, C., Patscheider, R., Hilti, F., Gahr, B., Tröster, G.

SCI 2011 (ACM)2011 · Beijingdoi:10.1145/2030066.2030070

Research2024Thermal modellingOpen access

An online data-driven method for accurate detection of thermal updrafts using SINDy

Nguyen, D. H., Kim, S.

Aerospace2024 · 11(10) · 858doi:10.3390/aerospace11100858

Books1993XC techniqueOpen access

Cross-Country Soaring (Streckensegelflug)

Reichmann, H.

Soaring Society of America · 7th edition1993 · 172 pp.isbn:978-1883813017

Books1999XC technique

The Paths of Soaring Flight

Irving, F. G.

Imperial College Press1999isbn:978-1860941214

Books2023Pilot techniqueOpen access

Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK)

Federal Aviation Administration

U.S. Dept. of Transportation · FAA-H-8083-25C2023 · 604 pp.faa.gov

Books1965Wing performanceOpen access

Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators

Hurt, H. H., Jr.

Naval Air Systems Command, U.S. Navy1965 · 430 pp.

Books2015Wing performance

Introduction to Flight

Anderson, J. D., Jr.

McGraw-Hill Education · 8th edition2015 · 912 pp.isbn:978-0073380247

Educational2008Open dataOpen access

IGC file format specification (2008)

International Gliding Commission

xp-soaringTechnical specificationxp-soaring.github.io

Educational2020MeteorologyOpen access

Catching the drift: thermals and wind

Flybubble editorial

FlybubbleOnline articleflybubble.com

Educational2018Pilot techniqueOpen access

Thermalling technique

SkyNomad editorial

SkyNomadEducational guideskynomad.com

Educational2024Open dataOpen access

Paragliding Spots — takeoff database

Paragliding Spots community

paraglidingspots.comOnline directoryparaglidingspots.com

Educational2023Open dataOpen access

igc-xc-score — open-source XC scoring

Momtchev, M.

GitHub · mmomtchev/igc-xc-scoreOpen source librarygithub.com