MIAMI – NOAA has five new helpers in the Atlantic as the statistical peak of hurricane season happens, even with the ongoing lull in activity.

The extra data from five small uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) by UK-based robotics company Oshen called C-Stars is welcome. NOAA partnered with the University of Mississippi and Oshen to launch the robots in the Atlantic Ocean off the U.S. Virgin Islands on Aug. 31.

The C-Stars look like small, 4-foot-long sailboats and can operate individually or in fleets with two more available in storage for NOAA. C-Stars gather real-time data that can help improve hurricane forecasting, including wind speed, direction, sea surface temperature, air temperature and pressure. The data comes in via satellite to forecasters and scientists.

C-Stars have already

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