Abshaev M.T.
(1)
, Abshaev A.M.
Chochaev H.H.
(2)
, Kuznecov B.K.
(3)
, Yakushkin B.V.
(2)
, Kotelevich A.F.
(2)
, Guzoev T.H.
(3)
, Ponomarenko R.N.
(4)
(2)
, Trifonov V.S.
, Balakova N.
(4)
(1)
High Mountain Geophysical Institute, 360030, Lenin av. 2, Nalchik, Russia, abshaev@mail.ru
(2)
(2)
Hail Suppression Research Center “ANTIGRAD”
(3)
Northern Caucasus Antihail Service of Roshydromet
(4)
Joint-
Stock Company “Sevkavrentgen ”
Successfulness of hail prevention is provided by perfection of technology and quality of implementation of the concepts put into its basis.
Transience of hail formation leads to that seeding of hail and hail dangerous clouds are carried out in conditions of critical time shortage. Therefore, efficiency and accuracy of seeding objects (SO) recognition, allocation of seeding zones and delivery of reagent in the field of the future hail formation is very important. The solution of these problems can be achieved on the basis of automation of the listed antihail operations.
The current Russian rocket technology of hail suppression [Abshaev M. T, Abshaev A.M., Malkarova
A.M., 2010] provides automatic recognition of SO, place allocation of seeding zones and development of commands by means of radar system "ASU-MRL"
[Abshaev M.T., Abshaev A.M. at all., 2007]. Thus rocket seeding of SO is carried out by means of a network of remote rocket points (up to 30 per one radar center), having 1 –2 hand-operated rocket launchers, VHF radio station, 4 persons staff (2 in each rotary operating crew), inhabited and working premises, rockets warehouse, etc. Maintenance of the personnel and the infrastructure of such points increases the protection cost price. Year after year it becomes more difficult to keep the trained personnel of these points because of necessity of round-theclock duty in the field conditions.
Problems of operative transfer and execution of commands to rocket seed by remotely controlling a network of distant automatic rocket launchers are considered in this paper.
In 2006 – 2009 Hail Suppression Research
Center "ANTIGRAD" (Nalchik, Russia) developed, tested, prepared for a serial production and put into operational application a new automatic rocket launcher (RL) "Elia-2" which is the second generation of the launcher "Elia" [Abshaev M.T, Abshaev A.M.,
Kuznetsov B.K., 2009].
RL "Elia-2" (fig. 1) is intended for launching of anti-hail rockets with dynamic start "As", "Alan-3" and jet start "Alazan-6", "Alazan-9" in two control modes:

Automatic control by commands from the computer of the automated control system "ASU-Elia" via wireless communication and management system without distance restriction;

Semi-automatic management by commands from the panel of wireless remote control on distance not less than 100 m;
Fig. 1. Automatic anti-hail rocket launcher “Elia-2”
RL “Elia-2” consists of the base device, rotation mechanisms by azimuth and vertical angles, replaceable directing devices package, encoders of angular position, GPRS/EDGE modems, a device for control and communication, mini meteorological stations and systems of independent power supply.
Replaceable packages with directing devices for rockets of different types are unified on seat sizes.
Power supply is provided by accumulators charged by solar panels.
The communication and control system provides:

Control of the launcher's state (azimuth, elevation angle, presence of rockets in each guide cell, level of accumulators charge, self-testing information, temperature, pressure and humidity of the air on the position;

Automatic targeting to the sun for orientation control;

Automatic transmission and execution of commands to launch the demanded quantity of rockets with accuracy of

0,5 degrees and prevention of launching rockets to forbidden sectors (fig. 2);

Logging the date, time and coordinates of launched rockets and their types.

An alarm is produced before the launcher's rotation and launching of each rocket. Rocket launch registration is carried out by a circuit break and acoustical signal specific for each type of rockets. In case of rocket launch failure an appropriate warning is produced.
The programmable controller has a memory device for storage of settings (serial number of RL,
11-digits identification number, geographical coordinates of its position, forbidden sectors for rockets, etc.).
Table 1. Technical characteristics of RL “Elia-2”
Parameter
Value of parameter with a package of replaceable guides for different rockets type
Alazan-6 Alazan -9
As,
Alan-3
Quantity of guides, pieces
Length of guides, mm
Dimensions, mm:

Length

Width

Height
16
2000
2055
1320
1400
190
20
2000
2055
1320
1295
195
36
1800
1875
1320
1295
215 Mass, kg
Layout of guides: parallel;
Angular position of rockets loading in degrees:

By elevation angle: 0 degrees;

By azimuth: without restriction.
Targeting sector in degrees:

By elevation angle: from 0 to 78 degrees forbidding rockets launch below 45 degree;

By azimuth: any with restriction of rockets launch into forbidden azimuth sectors;
Speed of rotation, not less than:

By elevation angle: 12 degrees/sec;

By azimuth: 15 degrees/sec;
Rotation step by angles: 1 degree.
Accuracy of angles aiming;

0,5 degrees.
Life cycle: not less than 15 years.
Preparation to use the launcher includes: leveling, orientation by the sun (moon, North Star), checking the communication system and control system, training and certifying the staff.
In 2010 – 2011 it were exploited 47 launchers
"Elia-2" in two anti-hail projects in different climate geographical regions.
The program-technical complex "ASU-Elia" is created for management of remote launchers network.
It allows to:
1. Control and guide an unlimited number of remote RL from one monitor via radio and cellular communication channels;
2. Perform data packets exchange between
Command Center and several rocket points in a parallel mode.
3. Conduct full automatic control of rockets launch process while logging rockets quantity, coordinates and launch time.
4. Increase the speed of hail and hail dangerous clouds seeding by increasing the efficiency of commands transmission, execution and control of execution of rockets launch commands and by simultaneous parallel transmission of commands to several RL.
Fig. 2. Rockets launching from RL “Elia-2“
Fig. 3. Screen of remote control panel

5. Collect data from the automatic meteorological stations built into "Elia-2" and to build maps of space distribution of temperature, humidity, pressure, precipitation amount, hail kinetic energy above the background of regional map.
6. To deploy thin-staff automatic system of hail suppression (fig. 5).
Fig
. 4. Position of RL “Elia-2” (red circles) of the
Northern Caucasus Anti-hail Service
1. Replace morally and physically out-of-date manual launchers with the modern automated ones with high shooting rate.
2. Increase of hail suppression efficiency due to the increase of rocket launching efficiency and elimination of the human factor (errors and temporal delays of commands execution).
3. Reduction of projects cost via creation of unfrequented rocket points and avoidance of expenses for their infrastructure.
4. Full automation of anti-hail operations chain by integration of rocket launchers control system
"ASUElia” into radar control system of hail suppression "ASUMRL”.
5. For registration of the hail drop-out fact and calibration of indications of automated radar control system "ASU-MRL" development of the built in sensors of hailstones and precipitation amount is being conducted.
Conclusion
The new automatic anti-hail rocket launcher
"Elia-2" and system of remote control by a network of distant launchers via cellular and radio communication channels “ASU-Elia” are developed, tested and implemented into commercial operation, allowing implementation of thin-staff rocket technology of hail suppression.
Their application in hail suppression practice has provided increased accuracy, efficiency and physical efficiency of clouds seeding.
We express gratitude to all participants of development, batch production, maintenance and exploitation of launchers "Elia-2".
Abshaev M.T., Abshaev A.M., Malkarova A.M.: Guiding manual 52.37.731-2010. Organization and carrying out of hail suppression, Nalchik, 86 p., 2010.
Abshaev M.T., Abshaev A.M. at all.: New means of hail suppression // 9 th
WMO Conf. Weather Mod.
– Antalya,
Turkey, 375 – 378, 2007.
Abshaev M.T., Abshaev A.M., Kuznetsov B.K.: Patent for the invention of Russian Federation No 2267914.
Automatic antihail rocket launcher, 2009.
Abshaev M.T., Abshaev A.M., Sulakvelidze G.K., Burtsev
I.I., Malkarova A.M. etc. Development of rocket and artillery technology for hail suppression. – In the book
“Achievements in Weather Modifiaction”, UAE, Abu
Dhabi, 109
– 127, 2006 .

Fig. 5. Scheme of automatic rocket system for hail suppression