Parameter Analysis of a Doppler Lidar Sensor For Gust Detection and Load Alleviation

Abstract

This paper analyzes the performance of Doppler lidar sensors for gust detection and load alleviation purposes w.r.t. selected parameters of the lidar system and the wind reconstruction algorithm. The presented sensitivity studies are the first part of a larger investigation focused on identifying ideal lidar sensor configurations for gust load alleviation. This first study consists of two parts: in the first part, the effect of the measurement geometry is investigated by varying the scan angle, the number of measurements per laser pulse, and the rotational speed of the sensor's line of sight. In the second part, the effect of wind reconstruction parameters is investigated by varying the power aperture product of the lidar and the smoothing parameters of the wind reconstruction process.