indicative of one or more meteorological conditions such as wind speed wind direction humidity and the like in some embodiments sensing module 232 includes a filter or other means suitable for capturing and storing a sample for later analysis at command post 110 or elsewhere robotic base 212 is the means by which sensing module 232 is remotely deployed in some embodiments robotic base 212 deploys to an intended site by responding to commands being transmitted from workstation 104 in other cases the robotic base is pre programmed to follow a specific route robotic base 212 includes left and right treads 214 for locomotion only one of the treads is visible in fig2 treads 214 are individually controllable to facilitate steering in some other embodiments robotic base 212 includes a plurality of wheels tires rather than treads in some of these embodiments at least one wheel tire on each side of robotic base 212 is at least partially rotatable for steering in some other embodiments robotic base 212 is u201c steered u201d by independently controlling the rotation speed of the wheels tires on each side of the robotic base robotic base 212 is driven and controlled by a drive control system shown generally at 216 the drive control system includes a motor and gearing etc suitable for driving robotic base 212 drive control system 216 also.