ATEMO: Aerospace Technologies for Earth Monitoring and Observation

In a context of rapid climate change and growing demand for high-resolution environmental data, this thesis—structured as a collection of scientific papers—advances the development and validation of modular aerospace technologies for Earth observation. Defined as the ATEMO (Aerospace Technologies for Earth Monitoring and Observation) project, the research explores the design, experimental validation, and practical deployment of versatile sensing platforms for use on drones, stratospheric, and tethered balloons. This body of work addresses several scientific and engineering challenges, such as enabling multi-purpose, high-resolution data acquisition for applications ranging from vegetation health monitoring to light pollution analysis. The ATEMO platform, based on a scalable and accessible architecture, integrates commercial sensors and cameras to provide a cost-efficient solution that complements traditional satellite and ground-based observation methods. Its flexibility and modularity allow for rapid adaptation to diverse operational scenarios, ensuring robust performance during experimental campaigns across varied environments. A distinctive focus of the research lies in the comprehensive analysis of flight dynamics, with particular attention to the oscillatory behaviors, the balloon-payload relative movements and the stability constraints affecting lighter-then-air systems. Through a combination of analytical modeling, laboratory testing, and flight experiments, the thesis provides new insights into pendular, torsional, and longitudinal modes that can impact the accuracy of remote measurements. The detailed study of the balloon flight chain, including its dynamic characterization and the interplay between mechanical structure and environmental forces, provides a methodological solution for future mission planning and platform optimization. Furthermore, the research extends to the critical assessment of miniaturized technologies and emerging approaches for cost-effective Earth observation. Participation in international collaborations and complementary projects—such as the E-FORESTER MSCA staff exchange European project, the “Light Pollution Source Detection” project in Chile, The Italian PRIN (Project of Relevant National Interest) named “Rewatering” and the RedPill pocketqube of the J2050 team—demonstrates the potential of scalable, low-cost instruments to broaden access to environmental data and support sustainable monitoring strategies. By advancing methodologies for the integration and cross-validation of aerial, in-situ, and satellite data, the thesis delivers practical solutions for comprehensive environmental assessment and supports calibration/validation protocols necessary for operational reliability. The collective outcomes underline the importance of modularity, dynamic understanding, and technological accessibility in shaping next-generation environmental monitoring, with impacts spanning precision agriculture, urban studies, and global sustainability initiatives.