Campbell Scientific - Model SkyVUE8M -Tactical LIDAR Ceilometer
The SkyVUE™8M Tactical LIDAR Ceilometer is ideal for quick tactical deployment (for permanent or temporary installation) for military or civilian applications in all climates. The ceilometer`s robust construction requires minimal maintenance and enables continuous use and multiple deployments in the harshest of environments. Designed to be easily portable, the SkyVUE™8M has unique quick-deploy stabilizing legs, low weight, and a compact design with a beige finish and two canvas covers to suit all applications.
The SkyVUE™8M has many standard features, including a tilting base, a two-axis inclinometer for automatic correction of cloud heights, heaters, blowers, and a sun filter for operation under all conditions—making deployments possible around the world.
The SkyVUE™8M has an operating range of 8 km and meets or exceeds all the necessary ICAO, CAA, and WMO requirements and recommendations.
Unique standard features include an easy-to-operate stratocumulus calibration and twin clocks to augment its many continuous diagnostic self-checks and provide assurance of continuous, reliable, and accurate performance
The SkyVUE™8M LIDAR ceilometer measures cloud height and vertical visibility for aviation and meteorological applications. Using LIDAR (LIght Detection And Ranging) technology, the ceilometer transmits fast, low-power laser pulses into the atmosphere and detects backscattered returns from clouds and aerosols above the instrument.
A unique, efficient single-lens design increases optical signal-to-noise ratio and allows for larger optics in a compact package, improving accuracy and measurement performance.
This approach, along with state-of-the-art electronics, provides a powerful and stable platform from which to measure cloud height and vertical visibility to high accuracy. The SkyVUE™8M measures the atmosphere with high stability and repeatability, delivering excellent performance in even the harshest of conditions.
The SkyVUE™8M provides information on cloud height, sky condition (up to five layers), vertical visibility, and raw backscatter profiles to a range of 8 km.
- Single-lens design for high signal-to-noise ratio and maximized detector sensitivity, resulting in greater performance at low and high altitudes
- Low weight and small form factor for maximum portability
- Quick-deploy stabilizing legs
- Multiple camouflage options with shroud
- Low power consumption with multiple power options
- Unique continuous comparison of two separate internal quartz clocks to eliminate possibility of clock drift, ensuring measurement confidence
- User-friendly stratocumulus calibration capability and easy test with provided calibrator plate for easy field setup and calibration
- Dimensions: 763 x 360 x 253 mm (30.0 x 14.2 x 10.0 in.) including base and handle
- Weight: 18 kg (39.7 lb) excluding cables
Instrument Performance
- Reporting Range: 0 to 8 km (0 to 26,250 ft)
- Minimum Reporting Resolution: 5 m (16.4 ft)
- Hard Target Range Accuracy: ±0.25%, ±4.6 m (15.1 ft)
- Reporting Cycle: 2 to 600s
- Cloud Layers Reported: Up to four layers (up to five layers in Sky Condition)
- Sky Condition: Up to five layers with cover in oktas according to WMO requirements for SYNOP and METAR codes as standard
- Laser Type: InGaAs
- Laser Wavelength: 912 nm (±5 nm)
- Military Specification:
- MIL-STD-80g (for resistance to shock and vibration)
- DEF STAN 00-035 (for resistance to shock and vibration)
Electrical Specification
- Power Source:
- DC power source only
- 10 to 40 Vdc, current drain 9 A at 12 Vdc, 4.5 A at 24 Vdc
- Interfaces-Maintenance: USB 2.0 (USB 1.1 compatible)
- Interfaces-Baud Rate: 300 to 115200 bps
- Interfaces-Data: RS-232 / RS-422* / RS-485* / Ethernet option *The standard wiring of the military output connector does not support RS-422 and RS-485 functionality. Functionality to support RS-485 and RS-422 are available by special order only.
Environmental Specification
- Temperature Range: -40° to +60°C (-40° to +140°F)
- Humidity Range: 0 to 100% RH
- IP Rating: IP66 (NEMA 4X)
- Maximum Wind Speed: 55 m/s (123 mph) if securely attached to the ground (without camouflage covers)
Compliance and Testing
- NOTE-: Further details regarding compliance and testing are available upon request.
- EMC Compliance: EN 61326-1:2013
- Electrical Safety Compliance: EN 61010-1:2010
- Laser Safety Compliance: EN 60825-1:2014
- Eye Safety Standard: Class 1M
- Vibration: BS EN 60068-2-6:2008 Test Fc: Vibration (Sinusoidal)
- Frequency Range: 5 to 150 Hz (exceeds Lloyd`s Register test levels)