SkyGrid and MIT Lincoln Laboratory Partner to Advance High-Resolution Weather Forecasting for AAM

SkyGrid has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with MIT Lincoln Laboratory to build advanced weather modeling capabilities designed specifically for the evolving needs of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). The collaboration will deliver high-resolution weather forecasts that can enhance flight safety and increase operational scalability for next-generation aircraft, including autonomous cargo systems and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) passenger services.

SkyGrid

The CRADA leverages SkyGrid’s expertise in airspace integration and simulation systems, combined with MIT Lincoln Laboratory’s decades of research leadership in weather sensing, forecasting, and air traffic control innovation. The partnership is authorized under the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 and extends to Federally Funded Research and Development Centers.

Unlike traditional aviation, AAM vehicles will operate largely at lower altitudes in the planetary boundary layer a zone where weather is far more complex and rapidly shifting. By introducing high-resolution forecast (HRF) models into planning and autonomous-flight decision systems, the two organizations aim to significantly strengthen operational predictability and safety margins.

“Advanced Air Mobility will best succeed if we can solve the weather challenge at scale,” said Jordan Cohen, R&D Technical Lead at SkyGrid. “By integrating MIT Lincoln Laboratory’s high-resolution forecast models into our simulation environments, we can begin to understand the precise weather requirements for safe, routine, and highly automated operations.”

Dr. Gabriele Enea, Assistant Group Leader for the Air Traffic Control & Weather Systems Group at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, emphasized the importance of this aviation transition. “By collaborating with SkyGrid, we can expand our expertise into the emerging AAM domain, ensuring weather data is not just available, but actionable in the context of highly automated flight.”

Key collaboration outcomes will include benchmarking forecast models against NOAA’s High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) system, determining performance requirements for future AAM environments, and generating scalable, data-driven insights to increase operational tempo as AAM adoption accelerates.

SkyGrid is part of Wisk Aero and serves as an operational nexus for unmanned and autonomous aviation, integrating vital components of the ecosystem including data, access, traffic management, and high-assurance third-party services. MIT Lincoln Laboratory continues to advance R&D initiatives that support U.S. national security and the modernization of air traffic operations.

This partnership underscores a shared mission: enabling a safe, automated future for flight.