A remote velocimetry system for measuring winds and turbulence can become an integral part of NASA ground test facilities such as wind tunnels, hover chambers and anechoic facilities. The ability to non-intrusively obtain three-component concurrent winds can be used to study key NASA challenges in aerodynamics, aeroacoustics and flight dynamics. In addition to airspeed sensing, the proposed instrument could also have potential NASA applications in spray characterization, aerosol transport and flow visualization. Remote sensing of airspeed has broad applicability to research, development, test and evaluation in a variety of industries ranging from manned and unmanned air, land and sea vehicles for defense, wind tunnels for the automobile and racing industries, civilian aerospace, etc. Other commercial applications could include analyzing the effect of wakes on personnel and equipment at airports, offshore installations and building helipads, as well as measuring the flowfield in the vicinity of buildings and other structures. Other potential non-NASA applications include aerosol and particle research, atmospheric research, field surveys of wind profiles for wind turbines, etc.
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