The present invention provides a wind measurement apparatus based on 3D (three dimensional) non-orthogonal ultrasonic sensor array, the ultrasonic sensor array is composed of two group of ultrasonic sensors, which are centrosymmetrically located at opposite sides, and the angle formed by connecting any two ultrasonic sensors at a side to the symmetry point O is less than 90, the arrangement of 3D non-orthogonal ultrasonic sensor array reduces the generation of turbulence, thus, the accurate wind speed and wind direction is obtained. In the mean time, the central channel is employed to obtain a reference wind speed v.sub.ref. Comparing the speed component v.sub.central along central channel of the wind under measurement with the reference wind speed v.sub.ref, if the difference is less than a present threshold, then computing module outputs the measurement results, or discards them, thus the wind measurement accuracy is further improved.

A Sodar apparatus is disclosed for sounding the atmosphere. The apparatus includes a transducer for converting an electrical signal to an acoustic wave and/or vice-versa and transferring means associated with the transducer for transferring the acoustic wave towards the atmosphere and/or for transferring a reflected acoustic wave from the atmosphere. The apparatus further includes isolating means or structure for isolating or attenuating the acoustic wave such that energy of the acoustic wave transferred in a substantially horizontal direction is reduced below energy of the acoustic wave transferred in a substantially vertical direction by a factor of at least 45 dB and more preferably by a factor of at least 70 dB. A method for sounding the atmosphere is also disclosed.

A measurement configuration of a remote sensing device for use in implementing a remote sensing measurement campaign is improved. One method includes adjusting a scan geometry configuration of the remote sensing device during the measurement campaign based on measurement data acquired in a previous scan geometry configuration. In another method, the remote sensing device is configured in a scan geometry configuration having a plurality of scan geometries, and following acquisition of a measurement data set by the remote sensing device at a first time interval, one of the scan geometries indicative of an improved or optimal scan geometry at the first time interval is selected. The remote sensing device forms part of a remote sensing system and includes an optical source emitting a probe as a light beam along different lines of sight. The remote sensing device includes or is operatively associated with a receiver for detecting the reflected probe.

An environmental parameter sensor for a mobile device is described comprising a first acoustic transducer; a second acoustic transducer arranged at a predetermined distance from the first acoustic transducer; a controller coupled to the first acoustic transducer and the second acoustic transducer; wherein the controller is configured to determine at least one of a time-of-flight value and an attenuation value of an acoustic signal between the first acoustic transducer and the second acoustic transducer and to determine at least one environmental parameter from the at least one of the time-of-flight value and the attenuation value The environmental parameter sensor may determine environmental parameters such as temperature, wind speed, and humidity from acoustic measurements.

Methods and systems are provided for conducting measurements of relative humidity via the use of either an ultrasonic sensor positioned on the vehicle, or via another sensor. In one example, responsive to a request for a relative humidity measurement and an indication of fueled engine operation, the ultrasonic sensor may be utilized, whereas responsive to an indication of non-fueled engine operation, another sensor may be utilized. In this way, robust measurement of relative humidity with desired accuracy may be actively determined, rather than opportunistically, and such measurements of relative humidity may be utilized to adjust vehicle operating parameters, which may improve overall vehicle operation.

A method for determining an air temperature for an ultrasonic sensor system, in particular for a vehicle, is disclosed. The method includes determining the intersection points and/or tangential lines and/or tangential planes between the reflection ellipses. If there is a common intersection point and/or a common tangential line and/or a common tangential plane between all reflection ellipses, then identifying the output temperature value as the current air temperature. If there is no common intersection point and/or no common tangential line and/or no common tangential plane between all reflection ellipses, then (i) varying size parameters of the reflection ellipses until a common intersection point and/or a common tangential line and/or a common tangential plane exists between all reflection ellipses, and (ii) calculating a temperature value for the reflection ellipses with a common intersection point and/or a common tangential straight line and/or a common tangential plane and identifying the temperature value as the current air temperature.

A crane device comprising: a crane body; and a fluid velocity measurement device comprising a plurality of beam sources arranged such that beams from the beam sources intersect at a measurement point, wherein the measurement device is adapted to measure the velocity of a fluid field approaching the crane body.

A method is provided for supporting flight operations of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft in an urban air mobility (UAM) environment that includes a vertiport. The method includes accessing first observed weather data obtained by sensors located on-site at the vertiport and second observed weather data obtained by sensors onboard VTOL aircraft. A data fusion is performed to integrate the first observed weather data and the second observed weather data to produce a collection of weather data that describes the weather in an environment of the vertiport, and an environment of the VTOL aircraft. And a weather map is produced based on the collection of weather data, the weather map illustrating one or more meteorological features of the weather in the environment of the vertiport and/or the VTOL aircraft, the weather map produced for use in supporting flight operations of the VTOL aircraft.

This invention relates to a method of reducing error in a SODAR system adapted to locate discontinuities in the atmosphere over a range extending away from an acoustic transmitter and receiver, the method comprising the steps of: measuring wind to determine either a substantially upwind direction or a substantially downwind direction relative to the transmitter; transmitting one or more forward or reverse acoustic chirps in the substantially upwind or downwind direction; receiving one or more acoustic echoes of the transmitted chirps; and processing the acoustic echoes to provide an indication of the discontinuities in the atmosphere over the range, thereby providing a wind shear profile.

A vehicular spoiler system that adjusts airflow based on environmental factors, may include a spoiler device disposed to a vehicle to vertically pivotably rotate to be deployed or retracted, the spoiler device controlling an airflow when the spoiler device is deployed under predetermined operation conditions; and a controller configured to receive environmental information regarding a surrounding environment and to pre-store information regarding control of the spoiler device based on the environmental information, the controller performing control to deploy or retract the spoiler device based on local information when the local information, among the environmental information, is input.