Questions About Creating a Better Anemometer

[Capstone Project Group]

Hello DronePilots forum,

I am emailing on behalf of our project team from a product design class. We are students designing a product that could help various individuals depending on their needs; our current project idea is about possible improvements to the anemometer, and we would like to ask possible end users about their use case and any suggestions they might have so we know what to focus on.
We would be grateful if you could help answer these short questions:

1. Do you use handheld anemometers in this hobby or elsewhere? If so, what do you appreciate about it and what other features would you like that are unfulfilled by your current device?

2. Would it be acceptable that the device must connect to your phone to be functional, or does it have to work as a standalone device? If it were functional as a standalone device, would you appreciate having it connect to your phone for additional digital features?

3. What would be the acceptable price range for a device like this?

4. What conditions would a device like this need to withstand in your general use case? (waterproofing, heatproofing, wind speed range, shock/drop resistance, dust resistance etc.)

All feedback is appreciated, including ideas for any other issues and product ideas you might have. Thank you for answering our questions.

 

[phph001]

Good luck with your studies. In answer to your queries...
1. I have a hand-held anemometer which predates the invention of the mobile phone. I used it when I first started flying fixed-wing models and have scarcely bothered with it since.
2. Why bother with connecting it to a mobile phone? You may have thought of some specific reasons, but over-engineering is as bad as under-engineering.
3. I can't remember what I paid for mine, but currently on Amazon UK the prices range between 15 and 50 GBP.
4. I think you have covered all the necessary points already. With regard to wind-speed range, consider the likely winds at the top of your local mountain as well as those at the bottom of the garden

 

[AeroNerd42]

Great project idea! As a professional drone operator, I often use handheld anemometers to assess wind conditions before flying. A reliable anemometer is crucial for planning safe drone operations, especially with drone swarms where precision is key.

1. Use case and features: I appreciate the accuracy and portability of handheld models. However, I’d love to see real-time syncing with flight apps or a built-in alert system for specific wind thresholds, which would help us avoid risky flying conditions.
2. Phone connectivity: While a standalone device is great for quick checks, having an option to connect to a phone would add flexibility. The ability to store wind data and overlay it on flight logs could be a game-changer for detailed post-flight analysis.
3. Price range: For a robust, feature-rich device, something in the $100-$200 range would be reasonable, considering the added functionalities.
4. Durability: For drone work, it would need to be waterproof, resistant to dust and shock, and accurate in all conditions.

If you’re looking for more insights into how drone operators approach weather and safety, feel free to check out this blog I’ve written on the use of anemometers for drone operators. It touches on how crucial weather data is for safe flights.

Good luck with your project!

 

[phph001]

Let us look at this more critically. A hand-held anemometer will give a reading at a moment in time and at a single position near the ground. That's it. It is useful when deciding whether to launch or not, but It does not predict a future gust and it most certainly is not going to tell you what the wind is going to do at altitude in 15 minute's time. As any glider pilot will tell you, at altitude the wind is not necessarily even horizontal. I therefore fail to see why one should bother to link the device to a phone and suggest instead that one studies the local meteorology.