LI-COR Environmental presents the world’s smallest and lightest three-dimensional ultrasonic anemometer – the TriSonica™ Mini. Our compact, robust meteorological instruments deliver unmatched precision and accuracy for use in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV, UAS, drones) and other unmanned platforms, and are ideal for a wide range of applications, including environmental monitoring, precision agriculture and wind profiling.
TriSonica™ Mini 3D Ultrasonic Wind Sensor
The world’s smallest and lightest 3D Ultrasonic Anemometer
TriSonica Mini Wind & Weather Sensor with Pipe-Mount Base
The TriSonica™ Mini is the world’s smallest and lightest 3D ultrasonic anemometer. Small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, it weighs just 50 grams and has no moving parts, making it an ideal ultrasonic wind sensor for UAVs and other SWaP (size, weight and power)-conscious systems.
The TriSonica™ Mini Wind and Weather Sensor provides wind speed, direction, temperature, humidity, pressure, tilt, and compass data outputs, as well as measurements of all three dimensions of air flow.
The compact, lightweight system uses acoustic wave pulses to sense wind movements in three dimensions (pitch, roll and yaw), providing high-accuracy real-time wind data for small drones and other mobile platforms.
Four open measurement paths of just 35mm – engineered to provide minimal distortion of the wind field – provide measurement redundancy as the path with the most distortion is removed from the calculations.
Compact Solid-State Weather Monitoring for Drones & UAV GCS
Lightweight, rugged, and highly accurate, the TriSonica™ Mini Wind and Weather Sensor maintains accurate measurements even at tilt angles of up to 15 degrees, making it an ideal choice for moving platforms such as drones and USVs (unmanned surface vessels).
The sensor can be easily incorporated into UAV ground control stations (GCS) and other space-constrained positions where high-accuracy environmental data is required.
An integrated pipe-mount base option streamlines and simplifies integration on multi-rotor unmanned aircraft systems. The pipe-mount base will accommodate any 1/2″ DN15 Schedule 10 pipe, and wiring runs on the interior of the pipe to protect components. The pipe-mount version uses a 12-Pin circular connector, brings out the RS-422 signals, plus the trigger signal to synchronize multiple instruments.
The glass-filled nylon body and carbon fiber corner rods, provide durability and ruggedness making it the perfect choice for fixed installations or UAS/drone deployments.
The TriSonica™ Mini anemometer outputs an ASCII string via RS-232 that can easily be stored to a text file. Data emulation allows the system to be directly connected to existing off-the-shelf data loggers without costly changes to associated electronics. Data output is factory set to user requirements and includes the emulation of many common types of wind sensors, allowing the TriSonica™ Mini to be used as a convenient upgrade to older, bulkier devices.
Specifications:
| Size | 9.1cm x 9.1cm x 5.2cm |
| Weight | 50 grams |
| Data Output Rates | 1Hz, 2Hz, 5Hz, 10 Hz |
| Wind Speed | Range: 0-50 m/s Resolution: 0.1 m/s Accuracy (0-15 m/s): ±0.1 m/s Accuracy (15-30 m/s): ±2% |
| Wind Direction | Range (x/y): 0-360° Range (z): ±30° Resolution: 1.0° Accuracy: ±1.0° |
| Temperature | Range: -25°C to +80°C Resolution: 0.1°C Accuracy: ±2°C |
| Humidity | Range: 0-100% RH Resolution: 0.1% Accuracy: ±3% |
| Pressure | Range: 50-115 kPa Resolution: 0.1 kPa Accuracy: ±1.0 kPa |
| Accelerometer | Range (x, y, z): ±2g Tilt (Pitch, Roll): ±90° |
| Magnetometer | Range (x, y, z): ±16 Gauss Heading Accuracy: ±5.0° |
Learn more: TriSonica™ Mini Wind and Weather Sensor
TriSonica™ Sphere Ultrasonic Wind Sensor
3D wind flux sensor for UAS deployments
The TriSonica™ Sphere Wind Flux Sensor has been specially designed for atmospheric flux, turbulence and eddy covariance research, featuring high-precision vertical wind measurement and sampling rates of up to 100 Hz. With a lightweight yet durable aluminium construction, the low-SWaP sensor is ideal for integration into UAS platforms.
The sensor’s unique spherical design significantly reduces shadow correction while increasing the accuracy of vertical wind measurements. Open path geometry allows it to accurately capture wind measurements in all three dimensions of air flow with the least possible distortion of the wind field.
The TriSonica™ Sphere also measures temperatures from -40°C to 85°C, as well as tilt on the pitch and roll axes.
Specifications:
| Dimensions | 10.2 x 10.2 x 24.9 cm |
| Weight | 225 g |
| Power Consumption | 500 mW, 5 – 36V |
| Measurement Path | 60mm |
| Operating Frequency | 60 kHz |
| Data Output Rates | 1Hz, 2Hz, 5Hz, 10Hz, 20Hz, 25Hz, 50Hz, 100Hz |
Learn more: TriSonica™ Sphere Ultrasonic Wind Sensor
Ultrasonic Anemometer Applications
Precision Agriculture & Drone Anemometers
Unmanned aircraft are commonly used for precision agriculture applications such as airborne fertilizer and pesticide spraying.
Environmental conditions can affect spray deposits and coverage, and the miniature TriSonica™ Mini anemometer is an ideal lightweight solution for gathering information on wind speed, direction and other factors that can help decision-making for precision agriculture operations.
Drone Anemometers & Atmospheric Monitoring
The TriSonica™ Mini anemometer can be attached to a fixed-wing UAV or multi-rotor drone, as well as tethered air blimps (TAB) or kites, in order to accurately capture boundary layer profiles and assess changes in atmospheric surface layer turbulence.
Marine Anemometers & Naval Vessel Wind Profiling
Landing unmanned helicopters and other UAVs on naval vessels is a challenging task that requires precise real-time knowledge of the surrounding wind conditions. The TriSonica™ Mini ultrasonic anemometer is an ideal marine anemometer for capturing the data needed to support such operations.
