We Launched a Drone at This Tornado, and then...

Added: 2026-05-12

[00:00:00]This is a major tornado cyclone.

[00:00:02]AMAZING. LOOK AT THAT. YOU CAN LAUNCH ANY TIME. THEY GOT AN ANTI-CYCLONIC tornado and a cyclonic one now.

[00:00:08]>> HE'S UP. HE'S UP.

[00:00:10]>> HE'S UP. GOT HIM.

[00:00:11]>> THERE IT IS.

[00:00:12]>> It's May 17th and we're in Oklahoma with our new research toy on its way to us.

[00:00:18]But first, a tornado is about to happen right in front of us.

[00:00:21]>> Watch it right here.

[00:00:27]>> Go get out. Get ready to leave fast.

[00:00:29]Keep that foot speed up.

[00:00:31]>> That's it right there.

[00:00:33]>> Right.

[00:00:34]>> Whoa. Let's wrap it up right here.

[00:00:36]>> Sure is.

[00:00:37]>> It's going to happen here. I think this is a major tornado cyclone here for me.

[00:00:41]RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. SEE IT?

[00:00:43]>> YEAH.

[00:00:44]>> Westerly pulling an inflow from the north.

[00:00:48]>> Perfect.

[00:00:50]>> BIG TIME. BIG TIME TO THERE IT IS RIGHT HERE.

[00:00:53]>> YEAH, YOU'RE GOOD.

[00:00:55]I HAVE A ZOOM.

[00:00:59]NICE AND TIGHT to that. WE'RE GOING TO INTERCEPT IT DIRECTLY. GET READY WITH WIND SPEED.

[00:01:06]GET IT HERE.

[00:01:08]>> KEEP THE WINDOW DOWN.

[00:01:09]>> I GOT IT. I GOT WIDE HERE. NOW >> we're good. LET ME KNOW WHEN I got to roll this thing.

[00:01:14]>> ALL RIGHT.

[00:01:16]Here it comes. Wait. Offer now.

[00:01:18]>> KEEP IT UP. WE'RE FINE. RIGHT HERE.

[00:01:20]WE'RE FINE. RIGHT HERE. WE'RE IN IT.

[00:01:22]RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.

[00:01:23]>> YEP.

[00:01:24]>> 5 MILL PRESSURE DROP. RIGHT.

[00:01:32]>> All on you. All on you.

[00:01:33]>> You're good. You're good.

[00:01:38]>> That's it.

[00:01:38]>> We confirm the tornado for the National Weather Service as the mayhem starts.

[00:01:43]>> GOING IN. WATCH OUT FOR THE HEAD. WATCH OUT. HURRY UP. HURRY UP. HURRY UP. GOT IT. GOT IT. GO.

[00:01:49]>> YEAH. YEAH. YEAH. Made sure. I didn't know if that's going to hit.

[00:01:53]>> Yeah, HE'S GOING TO PLAY ON CARSON RIGHT NOW.

[00:01:58]LOOK BACK THERE.

[00:01:59]>> GO LEFT HERE. OKAY.

[00:02:01]>> YEP. BIG TORNADO up there.

[00:02:05]>> How am I good on this for a little bit?

[00:02:07]>> Yeah.

[00:02:07]>> All right. There it is back there.

[00:02:08]>> Oh yeah, we got it.

[00:02:09]>> We're good. We're good. We're good.

[00:02:10]>> Look for an FPV drone up there.

[00:02:13]>> I don't see any.

[00:02:14]>> Just tempering.

[00:02:15]>> Will is just south of us. We know he's on the storm. We were trying to link up with him to get an FB drone and parachute probes into the tornado >> behind us.

[00:02:25]>> Is that is that his rental that he had?

[00:02:27]The loner. It looks like it looks like him.

[00:02:29]>> More tornadoes are on their way, but this tornado lips.

[00:02:33]>> Yeah.

[00:02:35]>> Intersect. We were inside that tornado.

[00:02:37]Recorded a pressure ball. Wind speed. We were stopped. So amazing data set. And with even more data, we stopped to get Will into the Dominator 3 with his new gear.

[00:02:54]>> There he is.

[00:02:59]>> Oh, we got the clan.

[00:03:02]>> The whole family. You're good, bro.

[00:03:06]That's >> hilarious.

[00:03:11]>> Thank you.

[00:03:13]Will's back. Everybody threw together.

[00:03:16]Hang on. I'll show you guys real quick while we're chasing here. So, this is this is single drones. This is just a prototype kind of stuff.

[00:03:27]>> So, the parachute goes in and then the sensor. The storm weakens, but overnight things get interesting. A tornado outbreak is imminent across the southern plains this afternoon, including the threat of strong to potentially violent tornadoes.

[00:03:45]And I'm here with Will Clay, 25, and the Doahawk. He's going to be deploying parachute probes inside tornadoes later on today.

[00:03:59]The Doahawk should extend our range from 3/4 of a mile with the rocket to 2 miles with our new drone. The idea is fly it in. Drop these probes.

[00:04:10]There it is.

[00:04:12]>> What are you doing there, bud?

[00:04:14]>> I ripped a wire off the sensor, so I'm soldering it back on.

[00:04:19]>> There you go.

[00:04:20]>> Tornado eliminated.

[00:04:21]>> They got an anti-cyclonic tornado and a cyclonic one now about to initiate.

[00:04:26]We're about to get a big time tornado here in this north one.

[00:04:29]Tornadoes in the northern hemisphere spin counterclockwise. But as some strong ones are setting down, they can spin off smaller tornadoes which spin the other way. And it's something you can look out for in our upcoming radar app which we now need beta testers for.

[00:04:43]Check the link in the description to sign up now.

[00:04:46]>> That one's an anti-cyclonic tornado.

[00:04:49]>> That thing is nuts on the right.

[00:04:50]>> The nut. The one on the right is going to be the one. Carson, even though we got >> one on the right is cranking.

[00:04:55]>> Oh, it's going, isn't it?

[00:04:56]>> Yep. We're about to get Tornado Genesis.

[00:04:59]We're going to have some deployment opportunities on this. That's for sure.

[00:05:02]>> WHAT DO YOU THINK, WILL?

[00:05:04]>> How far is it? Look, like four miles right now. Maybe 3 miles.

[00:05:07]>> Maybe three. Yeah.

[00:05:08]>> The goal is to get the Doahawk drone inside the tornado.

[00:05:11]>> You guys want to try?

[00:05:13]>> Yeah.

[00:05:13]>> All right, let's go see if we can get it.

[00:05:15]>> Oh, good.

[00:05:16]>> And right now, we're just trying to get close enough to the tornado to deploy the FPV drone so we can set some sensors into it. While we close in, the storm cycles, lifting the first tornado, but it's pretty clearly going to drop a new one.

[00:05:28]>> ABOUT TO TOUCH DOWN RIGHT ON TOP OF US.

[00:05:30]>> YEP.

[00:05:32]>> Come here, JOSE. THAT THING UP HERE, CARSON. STRAIGHT UP.

[00:05:36]>> WHOA. WE GOT RC FOLKS GETTING TOASTY.

[00:05:39]>> OKAY. Y >> love that >> debris.

[00:05:43]>> Love that sound.

[00:05:45]>> Debris.

[00:05:47]Oh, we got debris.

[00:05:50]It might be touching down right on the road to our north and waiting for it.

[00:05:53]>> Yeah, straight.

[00:05:54]>> If it does that, WE'RE GOING TO CHARGE IT. KIND OF RAM IT BACK.

[00:05:56]>> GOT SOME DUST GOING UP OVER THERE, TOO.

[00:05:58]And uh >> there's a funnel above us. That's a tornado >> right there. FUNNEL STRAIGHT UP.

[00:06:03]>> YEP. I GOT it >> straight up east of the road. There's one back behind it, too. And >> straight up. I'm straight up.

[00:06:11]>> Let's go get it. We got dirt.

[00:06:14]>> It's moving northeast at 35 mph. So, we'll need to keep in range on these back roads to launch the drone.

[00:06:21]>> Here it comes. It's got to FOLLOW IN THE MIDDLE.

[00:06:22]>> YEAH, I GOT IT.

[00:06:23]>> GET READY. GET READY, WILL. GET READY, WILL.

[00:06:26]>> READY.

[00:06:27]>> All right.

[00:06:28]>> GOT TO GET TO NORTH.

[00:06:30]>> YEAH, IT'S AT POINT 2.

[00:06:32]>> Here's your left turn. Go a little more.

[00:06:37]>> That's your left turn.

[00:06:38]>> That sign is the left turn.

[00:06:41]>> I'M COMING DOWN. GET READY.

[00:06:42]>> SEND IT.

[00:06:43]>> YEAH, I got it.

[00:06:44]>> Clear. Right. You ready with this? Yes.

[00:06:46]Remember the switches. Don't accidentally pump it.

[00:06:47]>> I won't I won't I won't >> got it. Let me know when you're lost the drone.

[00:06:55]>> WATCH OUT FOR OKAY.

[00:06:57]>> That was a big one.

[00:06:58]>> You have the drone footage up.

[00:07:00]>> Yeah.

[00:07:01]>> On the front.

[00:07:02]>> YEP. I GOT THE CODE.

[00:07:04]>> THAT LOOKS AMAZING. LOOK AT THAT. YOU CAN LAUNCH ANYTIME IF YOU WANT.

[00:07:08]>> LAUNCH ANYTIME.

[00:07:09]>> LAUNCH ANYTIME.

[00:07:10]>> ALL RIGHT. WE NEED TO be stopped for just a second so I can do it. You got to stop the launch.

[00:07:13]>> Be right over our faces here in a second.

[00:07:15]Oh, THAT'S IT.

[00:07:17]>> LAUNCH IT.

[00:07:18]>> I CAN'T >> LAUNCH. WE GOT TO STOP. OKAY, STOP.

[00:07:22]>> Air Carson.

[00:07:24]>> Somebody's got to take it out. I GOT THE ROVER.

[00:07:25]>> IT'S COMING DOWN.

[00:07:27]>> I GOT THE GO, GO, GO.

[00:07:28]>> OKAY, hang on.

[00:07:29]>> Somebody's got to take it out. I got the tornado.

[00:07:32]>> You got to hurry. WE GOT TO HURRY.

[00:07:34]>> I'm hurrying. All right. It's not going.

[00:07:36]Go. Just go.

[00:07:38]>> IT'S NOT GOING TO ME. GO. GO.

[00:07:40]>> What happened?

[00:07:41]>> All right. I don't know. Hang on.

[00:07:43]>> All right. I GOT THIS. RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.

[00:07:46]>> LOOK AT THE BOARDS.

[00:07:49]>> WE NEED TO STOP SOON. YOU GOT TO KEEP GOING. IT'S ON THE GROUND RIGHT HERE.

[00:07:54]LOOK AT THAT. LOOK AT THAT. ON YOUR SIDE. HERE. HERE.

[00:08:02]On your side.

[00:08:06]RIGHT THERE.

[00:08:07]RIGHT THERE.

[00:08:15]This doesn't go very long, BUT YOU CAN DO IT. I got TO GRAB THIS CONTROLLER, MAN. KEEP SHOOTING IT. WE'RE RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE FUNNEL.

[00:08:23]>> ALL RIGHT, WE GOT THE GAS STOPS IN A SECOND.

[00:08:29]>> MY SIDE. MY SIDE. WE GOT REAL HAY ROLLING UP FOR HAY. THAT'S BIG DAMAGE.

[00:08:38]EXPLO and then go north.

[00:08:51]>> CAN YOU LAUNCH? WILL >> I'M TRYING WORKING ON IT.

[00:08:54]>> LUKE, CAN YOU LAUNCH?

[00:08:55]>> NO, NOT YET. JUST >> WORKING ON IT.

[00:08:57]>> I'M getting freaking calibration errors for some reason.

[00:09:00]>> You guys ready?

[00:09:01]>> What the heck?

[00:09:03]>> All right, let me go have TO GO. GOT TO COME BACK.

[00:09:07]>> YEP.

[00:09:09]>> RIGHT AT THE PULLING PLANT.

[00:09:11]>> YEAH. Got it.

[00:09:14]>> We can get it if we go back and then go north for a mile and then we can go east on it big time.

[00:09:19]>> Got to hurry. I'm trying. I don't know what's going on.

[00:09:24]who don't picture any mile.

[00:09:39]You got it.

[00:09:40]Good job, buddy.

[00:09:45]6.5.

[00:09:48]YEAH, GREAT JOB. I think I just need What?

[00:09:53]>> The moving vehicle is screwing up its boot sequence. So, IT'S LIKE >> BIG HILL.

[00:09:58]WATCH OUT.

[00:10:02]>> Great shot, Edgar. Great shot.

[00:10:05]>> Beautiful.

[00:10:06]>> Look at that shot. Oh my goodness.

[00:10:08]>> On it, too. Can you too?

[00:10:09]>> That is great.

[00:10:17]>> 2. See those cars?

[00:10:18]>> Yeah.

[00:10:19]>> Oh, IT'S COMING RIGHT TO THE GROUND. IT IS GOING TO THE GROUND. LOOK AT THAT.

[00:10:22]STARTING to fully condense.

[00:10:26]>> Oh, it's just ripping at the bottom.

[00:10:29]>> What is this guy doing?

[00:10:30]>> Yeah, buddy.

[00:10:31]>> Damn.

[00:10:33]>> Up front.

[00:10:35]Got out front. Good job. Lovely job.

[00:10:38]>> Keep straight up fronting.

[00:10:48]>> Watch out, man. Baseballs. Yep.

[00:10:51]I GOT we were right in the MIDDLE OF THAT ONE, FOLKS.

[00:11:00]>> OH, SMELL THAT.

[00:11:02]>> That's tornado smell.

[00:11:04]>> HOW'S IT GOING, WILL?

[00:11:05]>> I I need to be stopped to launch. It won't let me arm it WHILE WE'RE MOVING.

[00:11:09]>> OKAY. IT'S GOING CRAZY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD.

[00:11:12]>> YEAH. HERE, EDGAR.

[00:11:14]Can I give you this?

[00:11:15]>> Yeah. Bring it. I got you. Thank you.

[00:11:18]Thank you.

[00:11:21]If we can spare 20 seconds and stop up here, I can get it out there.

[00:11:26]>> We definitely can. It's a perfect tornado.

[00:11:28]>> Go north on it in a half mile or we can keep going east.

[00:11:30]>> Maybe keep going east.

[00:11:32]>> We can only go east. Yeah, keep going east. We're good.

[00:11:35]>> I can get into that thing if I can launch right now.

[00:11:37]>> Okay, let's do it.

[00:11:38]>> We just have to be stopped and not moving.

[00:11:41]>> Yeah, it's tight on ground.

[00:11:42]>> Don't open your door. I'm going to be on top of >> You want to do it?

[00:11:44]>> Yeah.

[00:11:45]>> Okay, let's do it now.

[00:11:46]>> This is the one to do it on.

[00:11:48]>> Might pull over. Let these people pass you. But >> feedback.

[00:11:50]>> All right, Robbie, get a little closer at top of the hill. We can intercept it.

[00:11:53]>> Wow.

[00:11:55]>> Here's your controller.

[00:11:56]>> Yeah, I'm ready. Whenever.

[00:11:58]>> All right. Yeah, I'm right here. Let's just Let's do it right here.

[00:12:01]>> I can be on it in 5 seconds once I'm in here.

[00:12:03]>> Okay, I'll stop at the top of this exhale. It's hitting corn.

[00:12:07]Lots of corn.

[00:12:10]>> Okay, get ready. Get ready to launch.

[00:12:13]>> Well, does it freeze until it goes up?

[00:12:15]>> Yeah, it's it's unplugged right now.

[00:12:17]>> Okay, cool. It's ready. Whatever. All right, I'm going tight on the bottom.

[00:12:21]>> Let's get it.

[00:12:22]>> Okay, full stop. Full stop. These people are going to want to get by.

[00:12:25]>> Ground circulation.

[00:12:30]>> All right, Will. Okay, hold on.

[00:12:34]>> Yeah.

[00:12:38]>> Let me know when you're ready.

[00:12:46]Let's get it.

[00:12:48]>> Still on front cam too. Recording.

[00:12:50]>> Yeah, >> HE'S UP. YOU SWITCH OVER. SWITCH OVER.

[00:12:56]HE'S UP.

[00:12:56]>> HE'S UP.

[00:12:57]>> HE'S UP. MPD's on the on the on THE TRAIN.

[00:13:01]>> OH, LOOK. WELL, DISARMED.

[00:13:04]>> DAMN IT. DISARMED.

[00:13:07]>> Back up. I'M BACK UP.

[00:13:08]>> YOU'RE GOOD. YOU'RE GOOD.

[00:13:11]LOOK IN FRONT OF HIM. LOOKSC I'LL LET YOU KNOW IN I GOT TO DRIVE.

[00:13:15]DRIVE. GO.

[00:13:17]>> IT LOOKS INCREDIBLE. Will it look >> We can keep going right. We can go north in uh point 4.

[00:13:27]>> Okay, let's do it. You want to GO NORTH?

[00:13:30]ARE YOU ON IT, WILL?

[00:13:30]>> I'M ON. I GOT IT ON. HOW AMAZING IS IT?

[00:13:33]>> WE'RE coming out.

[00:13:34]>> I'm freaking screaming toward it RIGHT NOW.

[00:13:36]>> IT'S ROBERTO.

[00:13:37]>> I GOT SHOULD I COME BACK TO STAY ON THE ROVER OR GET ON THE OVER NOW.

[00:13:42]>> GO IN THE OTHER ONE FOR RIGHT NOW. I'LL TELL YOU when >> All right, let's go TO THE ROVER.

[00:13:44]>> IT'S GONE.

[00:13:47]>> IF we can go left here, we can go another mile.

[00:13:50]>> Okay, let's go left another mile.

[00:13:53]>> On radar, the storm begins wrapping up again to set down a new tornado.

[00:13:58]>> The freaking drone kept disarming and like would tumble. It was just falling and I needed to rearm and get it back.

[00:14:04]>> Really?

[00:14:05]>> I was losing signal being inside the cab. So, it's like trying to climb outside >> and now it's headed for a town >> trying TO COME BACK DOWN ABOVE US >> RIGHT TOWARDS OUR NET TORNADO.

[00:14:19]>> OH YEAH.

[00:14:21]>> BIG TIME TORNADO.

[00:14:22]>> GOT IT.

[00:14:23]>> THERE IT IS.

[00:14:23]>> GOT IT. YEP.

[00:14:25]>> That thing's huge. We might have needed that road. Might >> need that north option soon. That's coming.

[00:14:32]>> WOW. BIG TORNADO, FOLKS. HUGE STORM.

[00:14:38]76.

[00:14:40]>> The tornado lifts. The domahawk drone wasn't able to get data today, but the instruments on the dominator itself did.

[00:14:49]Probably got to make a post in a minute.

[00:14:50]I'll post a ton of lines. But so this is when that first came over us.

[00:14:57]128.8 mph winds. Dropped back down.

[00:15:02]That's a span of 30 seconds. It's a success, but we still need to perfect our newer research tools. And just in time.

[00:15:10]>> There it is. Oh yeah. We're going to We're on it. We're going to bang this thing.

[00:15:17]I'M LAUNCHING. SHOOT IT. SHOOT IT.

[00:15:19]>> HERE. HIT IT BACK TO ME. OH. OH YEAH.

[00:15:28]HEAT. HEAT.

[00:16:03]Heat up here.