FALCON DROP - A CanSat System with Integrated Sensing for Real-Time Environmental Diagnostics in Disaster Zones

Abstract

Access to real-time environmental data is critical in disaster-stricken and remote regions where conventional communication infrastructure is often damaged or unavailable. This project presents a compact and deployable CanSat-based environmental monitoring system designed to support rescue and recovery operations in such scenarios. It integrates key environmental sensors, including the DHT22 (temperature and humidity), MQ135 (air quality), BME280 (barometric pressure), and MPU6050 (6-axis accelerometer and gyroscope), along with a GPS module for accurate location tracking A 16×2 LCD display enables real-time on-site data visualization, while a controlled delay in the backend facilitates deployment operations such as antenna extension or parachute simulation. Environmental data is transmitted wirelessly using a GSM module, ensuring long-range, low-power communication capabilities in areas with limited infrastructure. Housed in a lightweight and compact CanSat form factor, the system is highly portable and can be deployed via drones, hot air or helium balloons, or manually. This solution offers immediate application in post-disaster scenarios, specifically during landslides and earthquakes, by providing critical environmental intelligence. By integrating IoT, embedded systems, and wireless telemetry, this project delivers a practical and scalable tool for real-time environmental monitoring in crisis zones. Future developments may include multi-node mesh networking, cloud integration, and onboard data analytics for enhanced smart disaster response capabilities, as well as the addition of a 360-degree camera module for detecting humans and animals trapped in disaster-prone blind-spot areas. A walkie-talkie–based communication device may also be embedded within the CanSat, enabling individuals left behind in disaster zones to communicate wirelessly with rescue authorities.

Introduction

Natural and human-induced disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and industrial accidents often disrupt communication and monitoring systems, making real-time environmental data critical for rescue operations. Traditional monitoring equipment is expensive, bulky, and unsuitable for rapid deployment in unstable areas. To address these challenges, the FalconDrop CanSat system was developed — a compact, low-cost satellite platform designed for real-time environmental diagnostics in disaster zones.

The FalconDrop integrates multiple sensors with an STM32F103C8T6 (Blue Pill) microcontroller to measure air quality (CO?, CO, NH?, NO?), temperature, humidity, and pressure using the MQ-135, DHT11, and BME280 sensors. An MPU6050 tracks motion, NEO-6M GPS provides positioning, and a SIM800A GSM module ensures data transmission. Powered by a lithium-ion battery and equipped with a servo-controlled parachute for safe descent, the system is durable, lightweight, and optimized for deployment in hazardous areas.

The literature review highlights the evolution of CanSat platforms, emphasizing advances in multi-sensor payload integration, telemetry, and onboard data processing. It also notes ongoing challenges such as sensor accuracy, communication reliability, and environmental durability.

The methodology of FalconDrop includes three main subsystems — sensing, communication, and descent control. The CanSat collects and transmits atmospheric data during flight, using LoRa and RF telemetry for redundant communication and GPS for tracking. Data undergoes calibration, filtering, and real-time analysis to identify anomalies such as toxic gas spikes or rapid temperature changes.

Field tests conducted in urban, semi-industrial, and laboratory environments confirmed stable operation and continuous data transmission up to 120 meters altitude. The dual-stage parachute ensured safe recovery, and onboard storage prevented data loss.

Conclusion

This research successfully demonstrates the design and implementation of FalconDrop, a CanSat-based platform for real-time environmental diagnostics in disaster zones. The developed system effectively integrates multi-sensor data acquisition, adaptive communication, and reliable descent control to collect and transmit critical atmospheric parameters such as temperature, humidity, air quality, and gas concentration levels. The results from multiple test deployments validated the CanSat’s accuracy, stability, and communication reliability, proving that compact, low-cost systems can play a significant role in disaster monitoring and rapid environmental assessment. The hybrid communication framework, combining short-range telemetry with long-range GSM transmission, ensured consistent data delivery even under fluctuating network conditions. The dual-parachute descent mechanism enabled safe payload recovery, maintaining system integrity for reuse. In comparison to earlier CanSat studies [1–9], which focused mainly on educational or low-altitude environmental sensing, FalconDrop advances the technology by emphasizing disaster-oriented functionality, real-time diagnostics, and field-ready communication resilience. The project establishes that a small-scale CanSat can operate as an effective airborne diagnostic unit, providing first responders with immediate environmental insights that enhance disaster response coordination and safety planning. Overall, the FalconDrop system contributes to the evolving field of micro-satellite-based environmental sensing, bridging the gap between academic CanSat research and practical emergency-response applications.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Eshaan Ulhas Patil, Yash Sanjay Bhamare, Nupur Vikram Wagh, Prof. Rupali Chothe. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.