William James Bradford
Engineers in Logan, UT
License number
Utah 334516-2202
Category
Engineer/Land Surveyor
Type
Professional Engineer
Address
Address
Logan, UT
Professional information
Apparatus And Method For Small Scale Wind Mapping
US Patent:
2012012, May 17, 2012
Filed:
Nov 17, 2010
Appl. No.:
12/948003
Inventors:
Thomas Wilkerson - Richmond UT, US
Alan B. Marchant - Hyrum UT, US
William James Bradford - Logan UT, US
Michael Wojcik - Mendon UT, US
Alan B. Marchant - Hyrum UT, US
William James Bradford - Logan UT, US
Michael Wojcik - Mendon UT, US
Assignee:
Utah State University - North Logan UT
International Classification:
G06K 9/00, H04N 7/18, B64B 1/40, G01C 3/08, G01W 1/00
US Classification:
348135, 356 401, 702 3, 382103, 348E07085
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for wind profiling using a lighter than air tracer balloon moving under the influence of air currents. A retroreflective target is attached to the tracer balloon to improve the intensity of a return signal reflected back to the rangefinder. After the balloon is released, the rangefinder and attitude sensor are used to measure the range and direction angles of the retroreflective target on the tracer balloon at periodic time intervals. The recorded trajectory data are processed by a computer program using data smoothing and filtering techniques to calculate the wind velocity components, horizontal wind speed and direction, and an estimate of wind shear,