Ophir Corporation

Loren M Caldwell

Martin Joseph O'Brien

Loren Dean Nelson

Carl Scott Weimer

Carl S Weimer

Martin O'Brien

Phillip E Acott

Shoou-Yu Tang

Lisa G Spaeth

Shoou-yu Tang

Martin O'brien

Loren D Nelson

Martin J O'brien

Lisa Spaeth

An optical air data system for an air vehicle includes a LIDAR module and a data processing module. The LIDAR module is configured to emit at least three laser beams, not all located in a common plane, and perform LIDAR measurements of a backscattered component of each of the laser beams. The data processing module includes a processor and machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, processes the LIDAR measurements to determine at least one optically-based air data parameter. The overlap between the laser beams and one or more fields of view of the LIDAR module may be within two meters from the LIDAR module to determine the at least one optically-based air data parameter at short range from the air vehicle.

Optical air data systems and methods

A method for predicting arrival of a wind event at an aeromechanical structure includes sensing wind velocity in an atmospheric volume moving towards the aeromechanical structure to obtain a time series of spatially distributed wind velocity measurements, determining presence of the wind event from at least one of the distributed wind velocity measurements, and tracking the wind event based upon the time series of spatially distributed wind velocity measurements to estimate arrival time of the wind event at the aeromechanical structure. A wind-predicting system uses a lidar and a wind-predicting unit to implement this method. An aeromechanical apparatus integrates this wind-predicting system to predict wind events at the aeromechanical apparatus.

Systems and methods for predicting arrival of wind event at aeromechanical apparatus

Systems and methods for sensing air includes at least one, and in some embodiments three, transceivers for projecting the laser energy as laser radiation to the air. The transceivers are scanned or aligned along several different axes. Each transceiver receives laser energy as it is backscattered from the air. A computer processes signals from the transceivers to distinguish molecular scattered laser radiation from aerosol scattered laser radiation and determines air temperatures, wind speeds, and wind directions based on the scattered laser radiation. Applications of the system to wind power site evaluation, wind turbine control, traffic safety, general meteorological monitoring and airport safety are presented.

A method for remotely sensing air outside a moving aircraft includes generating laser radiation within a swept frequency range. A portion of the laser radiation is projected from the aircraft into the air to induce scattered laser radiation. Filtered scattered laser radiation, filtered laser radiation, and unfiltered laser radiation are detected. At least one actual ratio is determined from data corresponding to the filtered scattered laser radiation and the unfiltered laser radiation. One or more air parameters are determined by correlating the actual ratio to at least one reference ratio.

Systems and methods for sensing air outside a moving aircraft are presented. In one embodiment, a system includes a laser for generating laser energy. The system also includes one or more transceivers for projecting the laser energy as laser radiation to the air. Subsequently, each transceiver receives laser energy as it is backscattered from the air. A computer processes signals from the transceivers to distinguish molecular scattered laser radiation from aerosol scattered laser radiation and determines one or more air parameters based on the scattered laser radiation. Such air parameters may include air speed, air pressure, air temperature and aircraft orientation angle, such as yaw, angle of attack and sideslip.

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Fort Collins, CO, United States of America

Loren M Caldwell