Device Delivers Scientific Monitoring Functionality at a Fraction of Typical Commercial Price
Longmont, CO – (November 21, 2017) – Anemoment LLC, a specialized meteorological instrument design firm located in Longmont, CO, announced today the availability of the TriSonica™ line of “whisper-weight” 3-dimensional wind sensors: the TriSonica Mini, and the TriSonica Mini Weather Station. The devices—which have no moving parts to wear out or replace—weigh only 50 grams, and are quite small in size (Figure 1). The device’s is only 9.25cm x 9.25cm x 5.5cm.
“Our original product idea, which we started working on in 2005, was to take the scientific features of a three dimensional anemometer and put them into the commercial anemometer space,” says Stephen Osborn, chief technology officer, Anemoment LLC. “The challenge was to shrink down a 3D anemometer without compromising accuracy and sample rates. We actually had to wait on technology to catch up in order to obtain microcontrollers small enough and fast enough to perform all calculations a product like this requires. As a result, the TriSonica Mini is as compact as we can make it with the transducer technology and circuitry technology that’s available today.”
The TriSonica Mini is a highly accurate compact 3D ultrasonic anemometer ideal for mobile applications and smaller spaces. The TriSonica Mini measures how fast the wind is moving—from the lightest breath to a stormy gale—and in what direction it moves: up, down, front, back, and sideways. It can also tell you the temperature of the wind, and with additional optional features of the Weather Station version, the TriSonica Mini can report the compass heading relative to the device, the moisture borne in the wind, the density of the air, and dew point.
“The main feature that attracted me to the TriSonica Mini was the size,” recalls Brad Fritz, a research agricultural engineer specializing in aerial application technology. “We’re going out into the field and having to record for two to four hours in a field study. Instead of carrying a lot of junk out in the field, like a big full-sized sonic anemometer with a mount and all that stuff, this fits in the palm of your hand. And then it was the price. It was quite a bit less than the full-sized anemometer that you get from companies that are out there.”
As a field research scientist, Fritz is always looking for solutions that optimize size, weight, and power (SWAP) variables. Miniature ultrasonic anemometers are useful in a variety of applications where atmospheric conditions need to be monitored. Given their diminutive size they are well suited for portable, temporary deployments, while the fact they have no moving parts, thus eliminating maintenance issues, makes them ideal for permanent installations.
“Having something like the TriSonica Mini, being fairly inexpensive, with the ability to do the turbulence calculations, I think would be a valuable tool for anyone involved in environmental monitoring,” Fritz speculates. “Here you have a small, field deployable system that can be used easily and simply, while not taking up a lot of bulk. It is an inexpensive tool for gathering essential data that you don’t normally get from systems at this price point.”
Product is Available and Ready to Ship
The TriSonica Mini has a MSRP of $1,250, while the TriSonica Mini Weather Station has a MSPR of $1,350. Both products are available for shipping and can be ordered directly at https://squareup.com/store/anemoment.
About Anemoment LLC
Anemoment LLC is a specialized meteorological instrument design firm located in Longmont, CO. Elizabeth Osborn serves as the company’s chief executive officer (CEO), while her husband Stephen Osborn, is the chief technology officer (CTO). The TriSonica™ line was developed by Stephen Osborn, engineering designer of commercial and scientific three-dimensional anemometers, while at Applied Technologies, Inc. The TriSonica™ project was incubated in the SyncWerx program at Syncroness, Inc., the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce 2016 Small Business of the Year winner. The TriSonica™ line represents the fruit of Stephen’s more than 20 years’ experience in ultrasonic anemometry combined with Syncroness’ innovative product development approach. With its exclusive wave signal noise reduction technology, the TriSonica Mini and TriSonica Mini Weather Station is patent pending.