Science Blog ZINC PROJECTS
Lidar could help sailors in competition
Date: 18-Jul-08
Author: Optical Society of America
A team of researchers at the Ocean University of China has developed and tested a mobile lidar (light detection and ranging) station that can accurately measure wind speed and direction over large areas in real time -- an application useful for aviation safety, weather forecasting and sports.
The mobile lidar station can measure wind fields more accurately, which could help world-class athletes compete in international competitions, such as the Olympics. Ocean University is in Qingdao, which is hosting the sailing competitions of the XXIX Olympic Games and the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, and this technique is being tested in conjunction with the event.
Courtesy: Andrew Yee
In Olympic sailing, individual competitors or teams of athletes sail various classes of sailboats in timed trials over a single course. The contest requires them to navigate upwind, downwind and everything in between. Their final time depends on numerous factors, including the boat design, the skill of the sailors, course difficulty and ocean currents. Perhaps the most important factor, though, is how well the athletes can harness the wind that fills their sails.
The advantage of Doppler lidar is that it can quickly sample a large area, providing a much finer map of winds than buoys alone.
Full story: New Technology May Help Olympic Sailing
Related link:
• Lidar
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