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Stepped
Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR)
The
Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR) developed by ProSensing
has been used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) aboard their hurricane reconnaissance aircraft to measure
over-ocean wind speed and rain rate in hurricanes and tropical storms.
The SFMR is a compact, airborne radiometer designed to measure surface
brightness temperature in 6 frequency bands spanning 4.5 to 7 GHz.
Calibrated values of brightness temperature generated by SFMR are
reported in real time to a windspeed retrieval algorithm, developed
in cooperation with NOAA's Hurricane Research Division. This algorithm
generates a real time measure of surface level wind speed and rain
rate in hurricanes and tropical storms.
ProSensing's
SFMR system, shown above, was built in 2001 for the US Naval Research
Laboratory as part of a multi-sensor imaging system for measuring
ocean salinity. Since 2001, our engineers have made a number of
system improvements, including a new compact pod mounted design
with an internal cold load that improves system precision and accuracy.
Two of the pod mounted SFMR's are now flown aboard NOAA AOC's WP-3D
Orion aircraft (as shown in the picture below) with two more units
scheduled for delivery to NOAA AOC in 2005.
Standard
SFMR (model SFMR2000-P) features :
- Wide
band (4.6 - 7.2 GHz) receiver.
- High
efficiency, wide band corrugated horn antenna.
- System
control and data reporting via RS-422.
- Microprocessor-based
thermal control maintains receiver at a constant temperature.
- Outputs
radiometric brightness temperature at six frequencies.
New
SFMR (model SFMR2005-W) includes these additional features:
Specifications:
SFMR
Radiometer
| Radiometer Type |
Hatch |
| Tuning bandwidth |
4.6 -7.2 GHz |
| Number of channels |
Up to 8 |
| Receiver Channel Bandwidth |
50 MHz |
| Antenna Type |
Corrugated horn |
| Antenna Beamwidth (3 dB) |
20-28 deg (over the tuning bandwidth) |
| Polarization |
Linear |
| Cross-polarization isolation |
25 dB |
| Front End Loss |
0.2 dB |
| System Noise Temperature |
224 K @ 35 C (Noise figure = 2.3 dB) |
| Measurement precision |
0.17 K (1s averaging) |
| Electronics Power Requirements |
28VDC, 2A |
| Thermal Control Power Requirements |
28VDC, 4A (max) |
| Power |
168 W |
| Operating Temperature |
TBD |
| Humidity |
0 to 100% |
| Size (L x W x H) |
24" x 11" x 13" |
| Weight |
40 lbs. |
SFMR
Processor
| Computer |
PC/104
|
| CPU |
ATLAS 133 MHz |
| System Memory |
62 MB |
| Compact Flash Memory |
512 MB |
| Display |
LCD (size 2" by 1.5") |
| Interface Inputs |
Military style circular multi pin connector (1) (interface
with the SFMR radiometer)
BNC (4) (radar blanking)
RS-232 (1) (AUX data)
|
| Interface Outputs |
RS-232 (1)(SFMR data)
LAN (1) (ethernet)
|
| Power Supply |
110 V AC |
| Electronics Power Requirements |
18W (163 mA @ 110V) |
| Operating Temperature |
0°C to 60°C (32°F to 104°F) |
| Humidity |
0% to 90%, non-condensing |
| Size (L x W x H) |
13" x 19" x 3.5" |
| Weight |
15 lbs |
Available
Models :
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Model
SFMR2000-P
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Includes
Radiometer Unit
|
|
$159,200.00
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|
Standard
Delivery: 9 Months
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Includes
one year full warranty (parts and labor)
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|
Model
SFMR2005-W
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|
Includes
Radiometer Unit and Processor
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|
$169,840.00
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|
Standard
Delivery: 9 Months
|
|
Includes
one year full warranty (parts and labor)
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