SOLID-STATE DOPPLER WIND SENSOR

SAILCOMP INDUSTRIES PROPOSES TO DESIGN AN ACOUSTIC DOPPLER WIND VELOCITY AND DIRECTION SENSING SYSTEM THAT OVERCOMES THE PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH PRESENT MECHANICAL DESIGNS. THE ACOUSTIC VELOCIMETER SYSTEM WILL CONSIST OF FOUR PAIRS OF TRANSDUCERS IN FEEDBACK LOOPS. BY MEASURING THE DOPPLER PHASE SHIFT IN EACH OF THE FOUR LEGS OF THE SYSTEM, WIND VELOCITY AND DIRECTION CAN BE CALCULATED. THIS SOLIDSTATE SYSTEM IS FREE FROM THE EFFECTS OF FRICTION, MASS AND INERTIA. IT IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE METEOROLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT AND WILL REQUIRE NO MAINTENANCE. THE SYSTEM WILL MEASURE WIND VELOCITIES OF UP TO 100 KNOTS WITH AN ACCURACY OF BETTER THAN PLUS OR MINUS 1 KNOT UP TO 60 KNOTS AND PLUS OR MINUS 2.5 KNOTS OVER 60 KNOTS. DIRECTIONAL ACCURACYWILL BE PLUS OR MINUS 2 DEGREES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WIND VELOCITY RANGE. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH WILL COVER SIX MONTHS AND ADDRESS SUCH ISSUES AS LOOP STABILITY, LOOP GAIN, ICING, FLUTTER, BEAM WIDTH, SIDE LOBE RESPONSE AND AERODYNAMIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR SENSOR CONFIGURATION.SAILCOMP INDUSTRIES WILL BUILD A WORKING MODEL TO SHOW PROOF OF PRINCIPLE AND DELIVER A FINAL REPORT WHICH DETAILS THE OUTCOME OF THE RESEARCH AND ADDRESSES THE FEASIBILITY OF THE CONCEPT FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.