Recent DFS Projects

HIAPER Cloud Radar (HCR)

The HIAPER Cloud Radar is an airborne, polarimetric, millimeter-wavelength radar that serves the atmospheric science community by providing cloud remote sensing capabilities to the NSF/NCAR GV (HIAPER) aircraft.

Holographic Detector for Clouds (HOLODEC)

The HOLODEC-II is a second-generation version of a holographic detecter designed to determine the size, two-dimensional shape, and three-dimensional position of hydrometeors via digital in-line holography.

Global Hawk Automated Dropsonde Delivery System

The Global Hawk dropsonde system was developed by the NCAR/EOL with funding support from the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program within NOAA. The system, also known as the Advanced Vertical Atmospheric Profiling System (AVAPS), takes advantage of NCAR's extensive experience in the development, operation, and analysis of aircraft dropsonde systems and their data. Integration onto the Global Hawk aircraft is done in collaboration with NASA.

NSF/NCAR GV Automated Dropsonde Delivery System

The AVAPS Dropsonde System is a key atmospheric instrument that measures high resolution vertical profiles of ambient temperature, pressure, humidity, wind speed and wind direction. Measurements are taken by a parachuted GPS dropsonde that is launched from the aircraft and descend to the surface. In-situ data collected from the sonde’s sensors are transmitted back in real time to an onboard aircraft data system via radio link.

Auto Giant Nuclei Impactor

DFS designed and manufactured the Auto Giant Nuclei Impactor (GNI) to complement EOL's airborne instrument suite and is used to analyze giant aerosol particles. Prior to the Auto GNI, manual operation was required.

20" Wing Pod

DFS designed and manufactured the 20" pods with the support of the other EOL facilities in order to provide additional instrument payloads beyond the cabin and wing stores. As an example, the HIAPER Cloud Radar(HCR) utilizes the 20" pod.

LIDAR Beam Steering Unit

Several Elevation-over-Azimuth scanners for LIDAR applications, have been designed and manufactured by DFS, with the most recent version being capable of providing a 20" clear aperture and a heated optical window for all-weather operations.