SonicSonde: Instrumentation for a Tethered Atmospheric Sensor Suite System, Year 1 (SonicSonde)

Current tethered instrumentation on the market fails to overcome the recurrent problems of functionality, capability and resolution due to its rudimentary design. Thus, forcing the use of multiple weather devices to collectively serve as the current means for capturing data specific to boundary-layer research. This instrumentation practice is makeshift, limiting, costly, and in most cases impractical due to the frequent repetition of measurement and data resolution demanded by advancing research topics. The objective for this proposal is to not only combat these issues through development of an advanced, versatile, and lightweight sensor suite but to bring forth a modernized instrument that allows for progressive research in the field. Use of a three- dimensional sonic anemometer in a tethered application goes far beyond the current cup-anemometer configuration. However, this may cause challenges when identifying and eliminating effects of yaw, pitch and roll behavior and linear accelerations while sampling wind data. To correct these effects we will use the aid of an altitude heading and referencing device, along with in-house developed software tailored and customizable for a magnitude of research. Upon success of this correction, NASA will boast industry-leading technology capable of producing vertical wind profiles in near real-time as rapid as 1,000 ft./min., 100 samples per second. To achieve success of the first phase objectives – accurate wind measurements (± 3 knots; ± 5° direction), and development of customized computer software to support and display near real-time data – the twelve months allotted time will be split into two halves. The first six months of production will focus entirely on: fabrication of the tether mount and counterweight wind vane, understanding and developing the data acquisition process, as well as conducting surface wind data comparisons to correct for dynamic motion effects on the tethered sensor. Once achieved, the remaining six months will push the SonicSonde to higher altitudes – sampling 50, 300, 600, 3,000 and finally 5,000 ft. ascent columns. Validation of ascent test data will be made by comparing the SonicSonde’s data to fixed-mount sonic anemometers, Sonic Detecting and Ranging [SoDAR] instrumentation, and weather balloons. At the end of twelve months the computer software aims to display real-time data in either height or time selected intervals. Future phase objectives intend to integrate additional sensors to the SonicSonde platform for measurement of atmospheric pressure, temperature/relative humidity, and air quality. As well as, polish and expand the computer software to incorporate additional sensors.

Industry- Leading Technology – Lightweight (< 5 lbs), comprehensive platform with versatility and resolution to support various aeronautic and atmospheric research endeavors, currently not supported.; Financial Advantages – Eliminates cost-per-use; greatly reduces man-hours for operation; significantly reduces shipping costs for off-Center research endeavors.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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