Science, Technology and Innovation

The concept of an innovative rescue system for detecting people buried in snow using UAVs (drones)

2025-12-30T14:12:40+01:00

The presented system is a scientific and implementation project carried out at the Department of Computer Science of the University of Applied Sciences in Tarnow in cooperation with the Tatra Volunteer Search and Rescue (TOPR). The aim of the project is to develop a rescue system for individuals buried in snow avalanches, utilizing an unmanned aerial vehicle platform (BSP/UAV – Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) integrated with an active avalanche transceiver LVS (Lawinenverschütteten-Suchgerät) and, at a later stage, with a passive Recco Rescue Reflector. The use of UAVs (drones) for faster and more precise detection of avalanche-buried victims may significantly enhance the efficiency of rescue operations. Various data may be transmitted to the operator (pilot or supporting personnel), including the UAV’s position determined from GPS signals, as well as information regarding the level and direction of the received LVS and/or Recco signals (reflected from a Recco plate/reflector embedded in clothing or footwear). The analyzed system may additionally support rescuers by marking the location of the highest detected signal intensity, for example by using a release mechanism or color marking.

NASA’s role in monitoring stratospheric ozone. Are ozone layer protection measures effective?

2025-12-30T14:12:39+01:00

The stratospheric ozone layer (10–50 km) absorbs biologically harmful ultraviolet radiation, enabling life to persist on Earth. Early NASA measurements from the 1960s–1970s showed that natural ozone levels are controlled by trace nitrogen oxides, hydrogen oxides, and halogens. Approximately 20 NASA missions, together with NOAA, ESA, and other international partners, have contributed to global ozone monitoring. Observations revealed a severe springtime ozone depletion over Antarctica in 1984–1985. NASA recorded the lowest ozone value ever measured over the South Pole—73 DU on September 30, 1994—and the largest single-day ozone hole extent of 29.9 · 10⁶ km² on September 9, 2000. The Montreal Protocol (1987) led to a 99% phase-out of regulated ozone-depleting substances. According to the latest WMO/UNEP assessment, the ozone layer is projected to return to 1980 levels by approximately 2066 over Antarctica, 2045 over the Arctic, and 2040 globally, assuming current controls remain in place. Although episodic deep ozone depletion occurred in 2023, NASA’s 2025 data show continued long-term recovery. In 2025, the minimum Antarctic ozone concentration was 147 DU on October 6, and the maximum ozone hole extent was 23 · 10⁶ km² on September 9—the largest ever recorded hole was about 30% bigger. These observations confirm that Montreal Protocol regulations are driving the gradual restoration of the ozone layer.

Meteomodem M20 radiosonde as a radio tracker with amateur software

2025-12-30T14:12:38+01:00

This article describes the software for factory-installed Meteomodem M20 radiosondes operating in the Horus V2 standard. Developed by the AMPER Student Research Group for Electronics at the University of Tarnów, this version of the program runs on a recovered meteorological probe and requires no additional modifications (e.g., microcontroller replacement). Due to severely limited resources (the original microcontroller has only 32kB of Flash memory), the Keil package was used for compilation. This commercial software is available, but for L0 series processors, the package is free; its use requires only prior registration. The software was tested in three consecutive balloon missions. In the BEM 1 mission, a probe was sent with software transmitting in the RTTY standard, while in the BEM 2 and BEM 3 missions, the software described in the article was tested operating in the Horus V2 standard.