Micro Weather Sensor Auxiliary Ceilometer

To address the USSOCOM need for a lightweight, man-packable aviation weather solution with a battery powered, all-weather ceilometer, Intellisense Systems, Inc. (Intellisense) proposes to develop the Micro Weather Sensor Auxiliary Ceilometer (MWS-AC), which will be a 25,000-ft-capable ceilometer with all-weather capability based on the revolutionary ceilometer module onboard the Advanced Micro Weather Sensor (AMWS) , which can detect clouds up to 5,000 ft currently, has been in production for over 2 years, and has been fielded to Department of Defense Services worldwide. As a result, the existing portable ceilometer design will be augmented to provide cloud detection over 25,000 ft, and include an active optical window clearing with portable power and communications, which directly address the USSOCOM requirements for an unattended, all weather ceilometer. The Micro Weather Sensor (MWS®) was initially developed under a Phase II USSOCOM topic and was transitioned and qualified for production under a Phase III contract. Intellisense will build upon the success of the MWS by developing modular plug-and-play auxiliary accessories, such as the proposed Auxiliary Ceilometer. During this Phase II, Intellisense will leverage preliminary developments made on a 25,000-ft ceilometer capability with a window precipitation clearing process to provide an enhanced, ruggedized, and integrated package that complements the existing MWS. The MWS is fully capable of sending reliable and regular weather reports through Iridium satellite communications, and the newly designed auxiliary ceilometers will be deployed to complement existing MWS units to utilize their reporting capabilities and Iridium communications.