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Coherent lidar airborne wind sensor II: flight-test results at 2 and 10 νm
Applied Optics
|December 15, 2010
Summary
Airborne laser radar (lidar) systems accurately measure aircraft wind speeds, enhancing flight safety and fuel efficiency. Flight tests confirmed the reliability of two distinct lidar technologies for real-time wind shear detection.
Area of Science:
- Aerospace Engineering
- Atmospheric Science
- Optical Remote Sensing
Background:
- Real-time wind velocity and turbulence detection are crucial for aviation safety and efficiency.
- Airborne laser radar (lidar) offers a promising technology for in-flight atmospheric measurements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the performance of two distinct airborne lidar systems for wind shear detection.
- To validate lidar system performance against theoretical simulations.
Main Methods:
- Flight-testing of two coherent lidar airborne shear sensor (CLASS) systems: a CO(2) laser system (CLASS-10) and a Tm:YAG solid-state system (CLASS-2).
- Comparison of flight-test data with theoretical simulations to assess system accuracy.
Main Results:
- Both CLASS lidar systems demonstrated high accuracy in wind measurement, with an accuracy better than 1 m/s.
- The CLASS-2 system is presented in a rugged, lightweight, high-performance package.
Conclusions:
- Airborne lidar technology is effective for real-time wind velocity and turbulence measurement.
- The tested lidar systems show significant potential for improving fuel efficiency, flight safety, and terminal area capacity.
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