Structure and characterization of a new instrument measuring wind speed and direction simultaneously

Abstract

In this paper, a mechatronic-based structure that can simultaneously measure the wind speed and direction is presented. This mechanism consists of a sphere subjected to wind shear, a connecting cantilever to transmit this force, and a deformation diaphragm in which eight strain sensors are uniformly distributed around connecting cantilever. This instrument is structurally safe and can achieve high accuracy over a wide range of measurements by applying a specially designed single crystal silicon strain sensor. The experimental results and analysis confirmed that wind speed can be measured with an accuracy of ±0.2 m/s in the range 1-50 m/s and wind direction with ±2° resolution in the range 0-360°.