A thermally stable tension meter for atmospheric soundings using kites

Harrison, R. G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0693-347X and Walesby, K. T. (2010) A thermally stable tension meter for atmospheric soundings using kites. Review of Scientific Instruments, 81 (7). 076104. ISSN 0034-6748 doi: 10.1063/1.3465560

Abstract/Summary

Kites offer considerable potential as wind speed sensors—a role distinct from their traditional use as instrument-carrying platforms. In the sensor role, wind speed is measured by kite-line tension. A kite tether line tension meter is described here, using strain gauges mounted on an aluminum ring in a Wheatstone bridge electronic circuit. It exhibits a linear response to tension 19.5 mV N−1 with good thermal stability mean drift of −0.18 N °C−1 over 5–45 °C temperature range and a rapid time response 0.2 s or better. Field comparisons of tether line tension for a Rokkaku kite with a fixed tower sonic anemometer show an approximately linear tension-wind speed relationship over the range 1–6 ms−1. © 2010 American Institute of Physics. doi:10.1063/1.3465560