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Cleaning up light pollution from wind farms

By Paul Dvorak | May 10, 2016

Laufer Radar Systems offers a high-performance pulsed Doppler radar using Commercial-Off-The-Shelf components to achieve very low cost without sacrificing technical capability. The technology is currently deployed as a central component of the Laufer Wind Aircraft Detection System, an FAA-tested radar-activated obstruction lighting technology designed to turn wind turbines’ aviation warning lights on or off depending on the presence of aircraft in the near proximity.

Laufer Radar Systems offers a high-performance pulsed Doppler radar using Commercial-Off-The-Shelf components to achieve very low cost without sacrificing technical capability. The technology is currently deployed as a central component of the Laufer Wind Aircraft Detection System, an FAA-tested radar-activated obstruction lighting technology designed to turn wind turbines’ aviation warning lights on or off depending on the presence of aircraft in the near proximity.

Laufer Wind’s ADS (Aircraft Detection System), a radar-activated lighting solution for wind farms, balances obstruction lighting requirements placed on wind farms by civil aviation authorities with the nuisance light concerns of local communities – one of the frequently cited impediments to wind energy developments.

Laufer Wind deploys radar units on the perimeter of a wind farm, optimally placed to meet the safety coverage requirements while minimizing costs to the developer. Radars are controlled by a central computer, which in turn relays on-off commands to wind turbine obstruction lights via fiber infrastructure.

Laufer Wind’s proprietary MD-12 radar has the capabilities for an Aircraft Detection System required by Civil Aviation Authorities, at a fraction of our competitors’ cost. Specs for the MD-12 available here.

The system contains multiple levels of redundant fail-safe protection, to assure that risk to assets, pilots and communities is minimized. The default is set to a Lights On condition if hardware or software problems occur.


Filed Under: News, Policy
Tagged With: laufer
 

About The Author

Paul Dvorak

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