摘要 |
A smooth cylinder is rotated about its vertically mounted axis with alternative provision for a horizontally mounted sphere affixed to its top. The superposition of the circulatory air flow thus created around the cylinder, and the fluid stream vector, results in a definitive and measurable lift via the Magnus effect. The orthogonal force thus generated totally identifies the horizontal component of the spatial fluid vector; and its vertical component can be determined from a similar effect on the sphere. The sensitivity of the device can be enhanced by increasing the rotation rate; and may be further augmented by employing a second similar device with its rotation in the opposite sense to that of the first. By this expedient, it is also possible to reduce the system to a purely deterministic system by the cancellation of the effects of drag and platform motion. In addition, the device is intrinsically resilient to the otherwise detrimental effects of rainfall, temperature and pressure variations. Its sensitivity can be critically controlled to meet the particular operating circumstance-thus making it eminently suitable for applications in turbulent and fast changing wind conditions.
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