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Cloud Swifter v1.0: Autonomous Atmospheric Microplastic Sampling Aircraft

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) 2026

Summary

Researchers designed Cloud Swifter v1.0, an autonomous UAV platform integrating multi-stage particulate filtration and post-flight laboratory validation to map atmospheric microplastic concentration gradients, reframing airborne filtration from speculative cleanup toward rigorous environmental sampling.

Cloud Swifter v1.0 is a physically grounded autonomous airborne system designed to measure atmospheric microplastics. The platform integrates endurance UAV flight, multi-stage particulate filtration, and post-flight laboratory validation. This work reframes airborne filtration from speculative cleanup concepts toward experimentally verifiable environmental sampling. The system is designed to map atmospheric microplastic gradients, collect validated samples, and support the development of future monitoring infrastructure. This package includes a Nature-style manuscript, system blueprint, validation plan, and supporting materials.

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