Plasma-based Wind Speed Sensor

A trajectory control system (TCS) for high-altitude scientific ballooning has been a long-term goal of NASA’s Balloon Program Office (BPO). One milestone in the critical path of TCS development is the ability to measure the speed of the winds seen by the gondola during a balloon mission. In addition, NASA has identified wind-speed measurements from a balloon explorer under the TX10.1.2 of the 2020 NASA Technology Taxonomy (see References below). Currently, the BPO has no method of measuring relative winds (wind speed relative to the gondola) in situ above ~15 km in altitude for terrestrial applications. The proposed innovation is a weakly ionized plasma based sensor concept that can measure three components of relative wind speed and meet or exceed the specifications outlined in the project scope document. The sensor concept leverages work Innoveering has been performing over the past 4 years under other SBIR efforts funded by the DoD and DoE on implementing glow micro electrical discharge plasmas as transduction mechanisms for aerodynamic property measurement targeting harsh environment applications.

The proposed relative wind sensor solution will provide a unique measurement capability for high altitude balloon operation. A trajectory control system (TCS) for high-altitude scientific ballooning has been a long-term goal of NASA’s Balloon Program Office (BPO). One milestone in the critical path of TCS development is the ability to measure the speed of the winds seen by the gondola during a balloon mission.

Adaption of the sensor technology to small aerial platforms to provide data for weather prediction is another potentially good opportunity with government and commercial implications. On the commercial side, there is increased investment in predicting local weather trends as more and more end users find timely and accurate weather guidance important for their business.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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