In an unprecedented achievement in technology and meteorology, a small robot the size of a skateboard successfully penetrated the eye of a Category 5 hurricane, becoming the first unmanned surface vehicle to collect direct data from inside the most dangerous climatic zone on Earth.

The marine robot “C-Star,” measuring about four feet long, accomplished this feat during Hurricane Humberto in the United States on September 28, when it entered the storm’s eye and transmitted real-time measurements from deep within the hurricane.

“C-Star” is a solar-powered smart boat equipped with an advanced set of sensors that send data every two minutes about wind speed and direction, atmospheric pressure, humidity, air and sea surface temperatures, along with photos and videos documenting the event from inside.

During Hurricane Humberto, the robot recorded low atmospheric pressure and hurricane-force winds exceeding 160 km/h.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed that this data was used in official discussions at the National Hurricane Center to analyze the hurricane’s development.