SCIENCE

SCIENCE

AGI, Raytheon, Remcom Develop Wind Turbine/Radar Modeling Tool

System will help U.S. agencies determine if planned wind farms might hinder radar accuracy

Analytical Graphics is teaming with prime contractor Raytheon Network Centric Systems (Marlboro, MA) to create a wind turbine/radar modeling tool to help determine whether the proposed placement of future wind farms will hinder the accuracy of certain radar systems, specifically those tracking airplanes and measuring weather conditions. State College, PA-based Remcom, an AGI business partner and expert in electromagnetic simulation, is also on the team. The system will be utilized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Energy.

The large, rapidly moving (tip velocity up to 170 mph) blades of wind farm turbines return Doppler-shifted radar signals that mimic aircraft or even a stationary tornado. This Doppler interference results in degraded radar performance that could make aircraft or weather events nearly undetectable. The proposed new system includes AGI's commercial software platform, which models radars, aircraft and wind farm objects, along with terrain and environmental effects, in a time-dynamic, 3D environment. This modeling environment utilizes Remcom's commercial software for modeling detailed electromagnetic interactions. Raytheon will lead as prime integrator based on its legacy in the design, development and manufacture of radar systems.

"We are pleased that Raytheon has selected AGI's precision geometry engine to aid the important mission of allowing our wind farms and radar systems to coexist without hindering national security," says Peter Sardella, AGI vice president of Services.

To learn more about how AGI's precision geometry engine can support wind farm/radar analysis, contact Peter Aves at AGI at 610.981.8000 or paves@agi.com.

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