Here are the 10 most regular questions conceening the WindCube technology and applications.


1.    WHAT IS THE MINIMUM RANGE OF THE WINDCUBE?
The minimum range depends on the pulse length. For a distance below 40 meters, the light pulse has not totally been released out of the emitter; the light received by the optics is much more intense than the light returned by the aerosols. Under 40 m the WINDCUBE is “blind”.


2. HOW MANY MEASURING HEIGHTS MAY I CHOOSE?
The WINDCUBE provides 10 measuring heights in 1s, between 40 and 200m. The user is able to change the measurement heights through the WindCube software.


3.    IS THE SYSTEM AUTONOMOUS?
Regarding autonomy, we don’t commercially propose “on the shelf” autonomous solutions. However we have signed an agreement with a fuel cell supplier. This solution is currently being tested in Europe.

4.    WHAT ARE THE OUTPUT DATA AND TEXT FILES?
Basically for a given height, the following data are stored every day in the flash memories.
- Horizontal wind speed (m/s), real time (1s) and 10 minute average
- Horizontal wind speed standard deviation (m/s)
- Maximum wind speed over the past 10 minutes
- Minimum wind speed over the past 10 minutes
- Wind direction

- Vertical wind speed, 10 minute average
- Vertical wind speed standard deviation over the past 10 minutes
- Data recovery of all heights (%)


5.    IS THE WINDCUBE CAPABLE TO GATHER INFORMATION UNDER RAIN?
The WindCube measures wind parameters during rain. The WindCube is enclosed in a waterproof and dustproof housing, which protects the system from all weather conditions. The system is also equipped with a window de-icing system and an automatic wiper system that allows the system to operate in cold, rainy and snowy conditions.


6.    WHAT ABOUT THE DATA TRANSFER?
The WINDSOFT, included in the WINDCUBE, entails manual data transfer. This transfer can be performed through local network (Ethernet, TCP/IP) or USB device.

The “WINDCUBE Anywhere module” includes either a 3G/GPRS/GSM modem or a Satellite communication device for remote data transfer.

- Automatic remote data transfer (3G/GPRS/GSM)
- Sendmail: The user can set data sending according to its requirements (frequency, date type)
- System remote control and alert

7.    WHAT HAPPENS IF THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW -30 DEGREES CELCIUS, WILL THE LIDAR STOP MEASURING OR WILL IT BE DAMAGED?
The system is now operating down to -30°C as a standard. Below -30°C, the system will not stop measuring or break. However the Lidar signal quality is not good enough (because of components malfunction in low temperature) and the retrieved wind measurement are not reliable anymore. In this condition wind data are recorded but flagged as not reliable.