LAICO smart cloud seeding balloons
LAICO is SELERYS’ patented smart cloud seeding balloon. It launches by remote command and doesn’t require pre-flight authorization. Our balloons use GPS tracking to reach the target, where they release the seeding agent.
Bad weather and rough terrain that ground drones and planes don’t stop a LAICO cloud seeding balloon. It can launch within 5 minutes and doesn’t need a pilot, battery maintenance, or in-flight supervision.
LAICO SOBLI at a glance
- Remote launch by SMS or web from any location.
- Full vertical cloud profile from one ascent, vs. several aircraft passes.
- 24 balloons per station, enough for several launches in one storm.
- No flight clearance required, under a Full Freedom to Operate agreement.
From launch command to seeding
A LAICO cloud seeding balloon can be launched from a SOBLI (Self-Operating Balloon Launcher Instrument) station on a command sent by SMS or web. CIRRUS software checks the flare’s safety system, transmits the flight plan, and inflates the balloon. The flare is ignited once the balloon reaches its target.
Launch essentials
- 1.2 m³ of helium to inflate each balloon.
- Up to 500g of hygroscopic salt or silver iodide per flare.
- Ignition rules based on embedded meteorological sensors and an algorithm.
- Solar-powered stations with up to 6 simultaneous releases, for fast response.
Choosing between a cloud seeding balloon and a drone
Icing, severe turbulence, darkness, or mountainous terrain can ground drones and planes – but not LAICO cloud seeding balloons. SELERYS’ balloons use updrafts to reach the heart of the cloud. And while a drone still needs a certified pilot on site, regular battery maintenance, and constant in-flight supervision, the LAICO balloon is autonomous from launch. It is also more cost effective to operate.
Advantages of balloons
- Round-the-clock launch capability, even at night when drones lose line of sight.
- Capacity to treat all seedable cells, vs. one moving target per plane.
- Zero pilot exposure over storm cells or mountainous terrain.
- Precise warm-phase rain triggering at 800 to 1,200 meters, unmatched by aircraft.
- Optimal dispersal speed of about 5 m/s, per an independent German study.
Coverage, capacity, and efficiency
A single LAICO balloon by SELERYS can treat an area of sky equal to about 3 football stadiums. Unlike single-use radiosounding balloons tracked one at a time, LAICO balloons can report to CIRRUS by the thousands. A SOBLI launcher network can treat many seedable cells across a wide territory.
Coverage and efficiency at a glance
- Release inside the cloud rather than below or beside it.
- Efficiency that compares well with ground-based and aerial alternatives.
- Unified control system for large or fast-moving multi-target events.
Safety and environmental profile
According to a survey sponsored by the European Commission, a standard SELERYS balloon program can save about 75 tons of CO2-equivalent per year compared to aircraft-based cloud seeding, while maintaining the same operational results. Each balloon carries GPS tracking and a self-deactivation mechanism that is triggered if the balloon leaves its planned mission area.
Safety highlights
- Zero flight emissions, with helium replacing combustible fuel.
- Lightest free-balloon category, so no per-flight authorization needed.
- Full Freedom to Operate agreement with civil aviation authorities.
- Automatic self-destruction or containment near airports, borders, or other sensitive zones.
- A 500g payload ceiling limiting the risk of an off-path flight.
- Inert disposable components that don’t contaminate the environment.
LAICO SOBLI balloons: use cases
LAICO is used across every SELERYS cloud seeding program. Hail mitigation, rain enhancement, snow enhancement, and fog dispersal all use the same balloon, with mission parameters adjusted per target.
Where LAICO is used
- Hail mitigation: fixed launch sites protecting the same land every year.
- Rain enhancement: added water supply for farmland, reservoirs, and hydropower.
- Snow enhancement: cold-cloud seeding for a fuller snowpack.
- Fog dispersal: low-altitude releases where fog forms, adjusted through live CIRRUS data.
Balloons vs. drones vs. manned aircraft
A LAICO SOBLI network can put up to several hundred balloons in the air at once, across as many locations. Civil aviation rules prohibit two planes in the same area at once, so a seeding aircraft cannot match LAICO’s performance. A manned aircraft needs several hours of pilot preparation, inspection, and flight clearance, while a LAICO balloon can launch in 5 minutes.
Limits of manned aircraft
- Speeds of 60 m/s or faster break seeding particles into ineffective sizes.
- Unmanned flight over storm cells and mountains is off limits to manned aircraft.
| Category | LAICO | Drone | Manned Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weather resilience | Operates through turbulence, icing, darkness, and mountainous terrain | Grounded by turbulence, icing, and darkness | Grounded by the same conditions |
| Altitude range | Any altitude, including precise low-altitude targeting | Best suited to stable, cloud layers; can work at any altitude below 5000m. | Higher altitude, limited by visibility |
| Coverage and targets | Networked launch stations, multiple targets at once across a wide territory | Networked launch stations, multiple targets at once across a wide territory, tracked with precision | One seedable cloud cell at a time (civil aviation rule) |
| Deployment speed | Under 5 minutes from the decision to launch | Minutes, but needs a pilot or operator on standby | Hours (pilot preparation, inspection, clearance) |
| Regulatory requirements | None — Full Freedom to Operate agreement | Licensed operator and flight clearance | Licensed pilot and flight clearance |
| Human supervision | None — fully autonomous from launch to ignition | Certified operator required throughout the flight | Pilot required throughout the flight |
| Environmental footprint | Biodegradable membrane disposable components are inert | Battery-powered; batteries need regular replacement | Combustion emissions from jet fuel |
Frequently asked questions
What is LAICO Balloon?
LAICO Balloon is SELERYS’s patented smart cloud-seeding balloon. It launches from a SOBLI (Self-Operating Balloon Launcher Instrument) ground station via remote command and can be paired with SELERYS’s cloud-seeding drone for high-constraint missions. SELERYS’s design holds three international patents covering this combination of remote command, GPS-tracked flight, and optimized ignition.
What is a SOBLI station?
SOBLI stands for Self-Operating Balloon Launcher Instrument: it’s the autonomous, solar-powered ground station that checks, inflates, and launches LAICO balloons by remote command.
How many balloons can one SELERYS station launch?
Though a station technically supports up to 24 balloons, up to 6 balloons can participate in the same launch, keeping the rest in reserve for subsequent launches during the same seeding mission.
How does a LAICO cloud seeding balloon read a cloud's vertical profile?
The balloon carries radiosounding instruments; they transmit position, temperature, humidity, and pressure readings back to CIRRUS. This builds the cloud’s full vertical profile in a single ascent; an aircraft needs several passes at different altitudes to obtain the same information.
Can a LAICO network respond faster than a manned aircraft?
Yes. LAICO reaches its target (the seedable cell) in under five minutes from the decision to launch. A manned aircraft’s pre-flight checks alone typically take longer than that.
Can a LAICO smart balloon network handle more than one seedable cell at a time?
Yes. While civil aviation rules permit only one aircraft per seeding area at a time, a balloon network is not subject to that restriction and can treat multiple cells within the same window.
How much CO2 does balloon-based cloud seeding save compared to aircraft?
A standard SELERYS balloon program saves around 75 tons of CO2-equivalent a year compared with aircraft-based seeding, according to an independent survey sponsored by the European Commission.
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