Discover how AEgis Technology Group (now part of BlueHalo) and LI-COR collaborate to enhance atmospheric modeling.
Using the TriSonica® Mini sensor and advanced unmanned aerial system (UAS) technology, they tackle challenges in measuring optical turbulence for high-energy laser performance in the lower atmosphere.
Alex Clark, a Senior Engineer at AEgis Technology Group, highlights the importance of accurately profiling wind and weather conditions below 120 meters for enhanced atmospheric modeling.
Tasked with supporting the Space Missile Defense Command (SMDC), Clark’s team aimed to better understand how high-energy lasers interact with the lower atmosphere. By estimating optical turbulence—represented by the Refractive-Index Structure Coefficient—using weather prediction data, the group sought to refine the performance analysis of laser-based systems.
To achieve precise measurements of air temperature across multiple points simultaneously, the team utilized a compact, tethered UAS positioned near a tower. Equipped with a sonic anemometer, the UAS gathered critical data on boundary-layer atmospheric interference, enabling enhanced analysis of optical turbulence.
Clark’s team selected the TriSonica Mini Wind and Weather Sensor for its lightweight design, compact structure, and robust data collection capabilities. This innovative sensor provided detailed insights, including wind speed, air temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, and three-dimensional wind direction at five- to ten-meter intervals. The collected data was pivotal in advancing atmospheric modeling efforts.
Alex Clark, Senior Engineer at AEgis Technology Group, said, “In the real world, we’re trying to limit the size of our airframe, limit the SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power), and still collect accurate and meaningful data. Because of its SWaP attributes, the TriSonica Mini is the perfect complement to our payload package.”
AEgis Technology Group offers a fully customizable meteorological sensor suite tailored for UAS platforms featuring the TriSonica Mini.
Read the full article here, or visit the LI-COR website to find out more.
