Title:

FLASH — Field-deployable Lightning Analysis System using High-speed RF

This project presents the design and validation of FLASH (Field-deployable Lightning Analysis System using High-speed RF), a portable, ruggedized platform for broadband radio-frequency lightning measurements. The system integrates a shielded RF system-on-chip (RFSoC) data acquisition unit with a weatherproof OmniLOG® antenna assembly, enabling coordinated, all-weather capture of pre-flash and transient electromagnetic signals. Traditional optical methods are limited by visibility and storm conditions, motivating the need for robust RF-based sensing with high signal fidelity. To support this, we engineered a precision-fabricated aluminum enclosure for the RFSoC platform, incorporating EMI shielding strategies such as minimized apertures and seam mitigation to suppress slot-antenna effects. A dedicated thermal architecture maintains stable operation during high-duty acquisition. Complementing the electronics enclosure, an IP67-rated antenna mount was developed using a compression-sealed O-ring design, validated through hydrostatic submersion testing to ensure environmental isolation. Together, these subsystems form a cohesive, field-deployable instrument capable of low-noise, high-fidelity RF data collection in harsh environments. FLASH bridges the gap between laboratory-grade instrumentation and mobile field systems, supporting advanced atmospheric and lightning research in previously inaccessible conditions.

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