On June 25, 2025, the Philofluid Research Group, led by Prof. D. Tordella at Politecnico di Torino, successfully conducted its first experiment utilizing the LoRaWAN protocol (Long Range Wide Area Network) for data transmission collected by a radiosonde. This innovative communication protocol was implemented using a public network, showcasing the potential of LoRaWAN for reliable and efficient data transfer.

This experiment demonstrated the viability of integrating LoRaWAN communication into the radiosonde project, marking a significant step forward from the previous peer-to-peer approach. Despite inherent constraints like duty cycle limits, the LoRaWAN protocol proved effective in transmitting environmental and positional data over long distances. While the average data reception interval was not always ideal, particularly after landing, this was largely attributable to the gateway density in the operating area, a challenge expected to be mitigated in the future by managing launch programming and monitoring atmospheric currents.
The flight provided valuable insights into the radiosonde’s trajectory and environmental profiles, clearly illustrating its transition through the ABL and the thermal inversion zone. The derived velocity and basic spectral analyses, though qualitative due to data resampling, further contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the radiosonde’s performance. Overall, this test represents a solid foundation for future developments of the radioprobe, as the advantages of the LoRaWAN network offer a promising solution for our data telemetry, especially when the key is deploying entire clusters of radiosondes.