ITER has integrated an innovative sensor visualization system in its wind tunnel, the first wind tunnel in the Canary Islands. Designed for civilian testing, this wind tunnel is a key tool in aerodynamic research. The new integration is part of a specific ongoing project.
The ITER wind tunnel has a wide variety of sensors that measure different physical magnitudes, such as angular and linear forces in the models studied inside, as well as wind speed and direction. These sensory variables, previously represented in scalar form, are now visualized as three-dimensional vectors thanks to the innovative sensor visualization system. This improved data representation allows researchers to gain a more accurate and detailed understanding of the interactions between airflow and the objects under study, leading to more reliable and applicable results in the field of aerodynamic research.
One of the key advantages of ITER’ s innovative wind tunnel sensor visualization system is its ability to be accessed remotely via a web service. Customers who contract the tunnel services will no longer need to physically travel to the facility, as they can view and monitor the tests in real time from any location using a web browser. To access this service, users must have credentials provided by ITER. This remote access solution not only saves travel time and resources, but also facilitates collaboration and monitoring of aerodynamic projects globally, allowing clients and experts to connect and work together more efficiently.
In addition, this advanced sensor visualization system offers the ability to save and store data generated during testing. This feature allows researchers and customers to reproduce and analyze the data at any time, without the need to repeat costly and time-consuming tests. This ability to review and study the data at a later time facilitates in-depth analysis, comparison of results and identification of patterns or trends over time. Ultimately, this leads to greater efficiency in research and development of aerodynamic solutions, while reducing project costs and time.
The system employs state-of-the-art technologies to ensure an optimal user experience and exceptional performance. Among these technologies is the ROS (Robot Operating System) framework, which provides the necessary tools and libraries to develop and run robotics applications efficiently. In addition, the MQTT protocol is used to ensure reliable, low-latency communication between devices, enabling real-time transmission of sensor data. On the other hand, the system takes advantage of MPEG video transmission technology to compress and transmit high quality images and videos from the tunnel cameras, ensuring a clear and accurate visualization. In addition, the Foxglove Studio platform is integrated into the system, allowing interactive and customizable visualization of the data obtained in real time. The integration of these advanced technologies in the sensor visualization system allows real-time monitoring and data analysis, significantly improving the efficiency and quality of the tests performed in the ITER wind tunnel.
More information about the ITER wind tunnel at the following link: https://iter.es/tunel-de-viento/
Contact
For any questions with the operation of the system, please contact the Robotics and Automation Unit at : robotica@www.iter.es
