FT742-SM Acoustic Resonance Wind Sensor

FT742-SM Wind Sensor by FT Technologies is designed for OEM integration. It has an electronic compass and a thermostatic heater.

The sensors has been integrated into UAVs, drones, military vehicles, autonomous robots, handheld weather stations, drifter buoys, vehicle-mounted, and ship-based meteorological systems.

The sensor can be installed to ensure alignment with a standard reference, typically Magnetic North, or the integrated compass can calculate this automatically.

Small, low power and extremely rugged, the FT742-SM is extensively tested and certified for vibration and shock resistance, and RF immunity.

This sensor has been integrated into:

• UAVs
• Military vehicles
• Autonomous robots
• Handheld weather stations
• CBRN detection units
• Drifter buoys
• Vehicle mounted
• Ship-based meteorological systems

A wind/air sensor on a drone is fitted for three main reasons:

1.  As a meteorological sensor, to record wind speed and direction.
2. As an extremely responsive component in a dynamic positioning system, used to protect the UAV in unpredictably gusty and turbulent environments, such as urban areas, or around bridges, transmission line towers, wind turbines and other large structures.
3. As a replacement or as a complement to a pitot-based system on fixed wing or multi-rotor UAVs, in order to provide highly accurate air speed and direction information from zero to <40 knots, where pitot tube systems tend to have issues.

Learn more about the world’s toughest wind sensor by watching this video, here.

Features

• Measures wind speed, direction and temperature
• No moving parts, maintenance free
• Compact size and shape make it physically strong
• Powered by Acu-Res Technology – gives a signal 40dB stronger than other ultrasonics
• Acu-Res software automatically compensates for changes in air temperature, pressure and humidity
• Hard anodized aluminum body is corrosion-resistant to ISO9227 & IEC12944, corrosion class C5M
• Thermostatically controlled heating system – ideal for use in extreme environments
• Fully-sealed and waterproof to IP66 and IP67
• Shock-resistant, immune to vibration, electromagnetic interference and solar radiation
• Operates at temperatures between -40 and +85 degrees Celsius
• Resists icing conditions to MIL-STD-810G
• Operates at altitudes up to 4000m
• No exposed parts – resistant to bird attack
• Low power usage – even when heated
• Wind speed can be output in m/s, km/h or knots
• Available with digital RS485HD interface
• Individually calibrated in wind tunnel; no re-calibration required
• Calibration results traceable by serial number, report available upon request

Wind Sensors for Drones and UAS/UAV Technology

The small footprint, light weight and ease of integration of our sensors make them ideal for meteorological applications in the defence and aerospace sectors, such as on board unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and at unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) ground launch and recovery stations.

The sensors achieve high accuracy within the measured air speed range of 0-75m/s, and have been used as a pitot tube replacement on fixed-wing UAVs. With full 360° air speed direction measurement, they are ideal for station-keeping and hovering on quad-rotor UAVs, as well as dynamic positioning control in gusty and turbulent environments.

FT742-SM Data Sheet

Dimensions

Sensor height: 71.2mm

Sensor width max: 56mm

Mounting surface to cavity center: 32.9mm

Recommended mounting surface hole: 24mm

Specifications

Wind speed: 0-75 m/s

Weight: 252

Availability: >99.9%

Related Product: FT742-DM Direct Mount Ultrasonic Wind Sensor

About FT Technologies

FT Technologies specializes in the design and manufacture of high performance Acoustic Resonance wind sensors – also known as anemometers or air-flow sensors. All our sensors incorporate our own patented Acu-Res® Technology which enables them to deliver reliable wind speed and direction data, from compact, lightweight sensors. Users typically experience over 99.9% data availability, even in harsh climates with the toughest weather conditions