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Overview:

This report will focus on a beta test site of a Wet-Well location and the data provided by a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system of a major city in Colorado. The install date was 10/29/2019.

The current level of technology at the Wet-Well was an aging bubbler system with known erratic issues. The purpose of the
Wet-Well is to store water after running through the filter beds located above the Wet-Well. The level monitoring
system is to provide feedback to maintain a continuous level. As city water demands change, it will directly affect the
water level in the Wet-Well. This level of information will indicate how many filter beds need to be active to maintain a
constant level in the Wet-Well.

The data provided by the city for this evaluation included their bubbler level sensor, a TruSense S330 laser level sensor,
and when filter pumps 5 and 6 are on or off. The S330 is installed between the two filter discharge outlets (see photo 1
on the next page). When the pumps are on, it will cause surface conditions to be turbulent and when they are off it will
cause surface conditions to be calm.

The S330 was mounted in an access manway (see Photo 3) using a simple bracket to span across the opening. Unlike the
bubbler system, the S330 laser sensor is a non-contact sensor, meaning it can be placed at a point easily accessed for
installation, inspection, and maintenance.

Site Setup

Photo 1 shows the manway access point where the sensor is mounted. It is approximately halfway between filter bed 5
and 6 discharge pipes.

Photo 1

Measurements were made to fabricate a bracket to suspend the S330 in the center of a manway access point
(Illustration 1). Additionally, an interface box was used to enclose the terminal strip for wiring power to the sensor,
power to a data logger, a data logger and connection point for the city’s 4-20 loop wiring (Photo 2).

Illustration 1

Photo 2

Photo 3 shows the S330 and fabricated bracket installed in the manway opening. Photo 4 shows the complete setup
with the cover on the manway access and the interface box located at the base of the city’s control locker.

Photo 3

Photo 4

Once the S330 was in place, a tape measure was used to locate the sensor’s position in relationship to the mounting
point in the manway opening. Measurements taken were measurement span and instrument offset and current water
level (See illustration 2).

Illustration 2

The measured Instrument Offset and Measurement Span values were entered into the S330 Liquid Measurement setup
software tool to program the 4-20mA loop boundaries (see Illustration 3). After the software tool programmed the S330,
the actual measured water level was compared to the S330 displayed output in the software tool to verify the sensor
was reporting the same level. The city’s requirements were to have the 4-20mA loop be updated every 5 seconds. This
was also accomplished by using the S330 software tool.

Data Analysis

Sensor level data was captured by the City’s SCADA system using the 4-20mA loop communication for both the City’s
bubbler sensor and the S330. In addition to the sensors level data, both filter pumps data from 5 and 6 were added to
determine the surface conditions in the Wet-Well under the S330. The level and filter pumps on/off data were recorded
every 30 min. The duration of the data was from 11/1/2019 to 05/20/2020.

The first observation the data shows is that the S330 tracked the water level 100% of the time. The data shows the city’s
sensor was not measuring 24% of the time. In Graph 1 the red line is the level measurement of the S330, and the blue
line is level output of the city sensor. When the city’s sensor was not measuring, the level output was zero.

Graph 1

A closer look at the level output from both sensors shows a simple offset between the two sensors when the city’s
sensor is not in error. Graph 2 timeline is from 03/01/2020 to 03/07/2020.

Graph 2

Looking at the entire data file the average offset distance between the two sensors was 0.37 of a foot (4.44 inches) with
a standard deviation of 0.18 of a foot. There is a normal distribution of the differences between the sensors
reconfirming the separation of the readings is a simple offset with an uncertainty of about .1 of a foot (See graph 3).

Graph 3

The TruSense S330 was installed using actual tank dimensions at the mounting location, where the bubbler system was
installed at one end of the concrete tank. The dimensional differences in the concrete tank is the likely cause of the
simple offset.

Another observation was the ability of the S330 to track water levels on changing surface conditions. When filter pumps
5 and 6 are off, the surface conditions were calm. When pumps 5 and/or 6 are on, surface conditions become disturbed.

In any surface conditions the S330 was able to track the level within .1 feet of the city sensor (when reading) considering
the offset. Graph 4 is a 6-day window when both filter pumps were cycling off and on. Note that the S330 level
measurements tracked along with the city sensor (when reading) no matter the pumps’ state.

Graph 4

Graph 5 is a 48-hour time when both pumps where off for a long period then pump 5 turned on. Again, the S330 was
able to track the water level regardless of surface condition.

Graph 5

Conclusion:

The TruSense S330 continually provided accurate water levels from 11/01/2019 to 05/20/2020 with no down time. During this time, the S330 required no maintenance or adjustment. The city’s aging sensor system had times when the
sensor was not communicating with the SCADA system.

This beta test documents how the S330 can integrate into an existing level control system with minimal cost. The ease of
installation required no downtime and had minimal impact to the existing vessel. This allows a retrofit to be done at very
little cost compared to troubleshooting and repairing the existing bubbler system. Another consideration is that you can
add additional S330s to provide redundancy for autonomous control systems at very low cost.

In closing, the S330 performs reliably within its operational specification in a clear water Wet-Well application.

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TruSense S330 liquid level performance tested at Water Treatment Plant

City of Pueblo Water Treatment Plant Information:

Contact at Plant:
Steve Torres
SCADA Coordinator
719-556-2869
1300 S Queens Ave.
Pueblo, CO 81001

Overview:

The City of Pueblo, Colorado is located at the confluence of the Arkansas River and Fountain Creek, 112 miles south of Denver, Colorado. With a population of over 160,000 people in its Metropolitan Statistical Area, it ranks ninth among Colorado cities.

The Test Site location is at the Nature & Wildlife Discovery Center, located in Rock Canyon along the banks of the Arkansas River. The mission of the Center is to provide unique experiences in education, conservation and recreation in environmental stewardship. In 2016, the Raptor Center admitted 372 raptors and released 100 back into the wild.

The test site selected at Pueblo Nature and Raptor Center is a Wet-Well (Lift Station). The wet well contains two digester pumps (Lead and Lag pumps) to maintain levels in the wet well from 2.2 feet to 3.2 feet. The current controller (DigiGauge 2300) uses a problematic Bubbler system (Differential Pressure) for level feedback used to control the pumps to maintain programmed levels. Since this site is designed to run autonomously, for redundancy, a mechanical float system is in place at over-alarm height and low-well alarm levels that will send an alarm to the office if they are detected.

The current controller in addition to the bubbler system has a 4-20mA input. A Laser Tech (LTI) TruSense^® S330 will be used to replace the bubbler system for level measurement input in the water treatment plant.

There are 4 objectives for this beta site: 1) integration to existing standalone controllers, 2) ease of setup, 3) sensor data collection for later evaluation and 4) environmental operation.

Integration of the Tru Sense 330 into the Water Treatment Control sSstem

System Components

The reason for this system is to collect wastewater from the park and park restaurant, then lift the wastewater to be processed. Current system components are two digester pumps, DigiGage controller (Bubbler system feedback), remote cellular system, and a mechanical float system as a backup level control.

The Wet-Well dimensions are approximately 8 feet in diameter and 10.5 feet deep. There are three pipes that drain into the Wet-Well from the park’s facilities. See photo 1

Water treatment plant is used to test a Laser Tech (LTI) TruSense S330

Critical Set Points

The objective is to allow the wet well to fill to a predefined height and then lift the wastewater from the wet well to be processed. To prevent the pump(s) from running dry, when the level gets down to a predefined level the pump(s) should turn off. During normal pump-down operations, only one pump (Lead pump) is required. The second pump (Lag Pump) is used during high-demand effluence filling.

If the system moves out of bounds of the control levels for any reason, there are Over and Under alarm points. Once a critical alarm level has been detected, the cellular system will phone home to alert that a critical level has been met.

• Lead pump on = 3.2 feet
• Lag pump on = 4.2 feet
• Lead & Lag pump off = 2.2 feet
• Over height alarm = 4.5 feet
• Low well alarm = 1 foot

Integration Considerations

To integrate the S330 into the system a bracket was made for mounting the sensor in the Wet-Well on an existing angle iron support (See photo 2). The shielded cable that comes with the S330 was used to connect the sensor to the control panel via an existing pipe leading from the Wet-Well into the control panel. See Appendix A for a detailed setup.

Setup in System

Setup was made quick and easy using the 4-20mA Setup software provided by Laser Technology.

The next step was to reprogram the DigiGage to use the 4-20mA loop input to replace the bubbler system input.

After the sensor and DigiGage were configured, a data collector was attached to capture the RS-232 measurement data for later evaluation.

The final step, after verification of the system operation, was to allow the DigiGage to control the system. The system has been currently running since March 5, 2019, and as of the printing of this paper in October 2019, has continued to run without any alarms of failures.

Laser Tech (LTI) TruSense S330 installed at a water treatment plant

Sensor Data Evaluation

The below graph’s (Graph 1) timeline is from March 15th through June 25th.

The green horizontal line is the lead pump turn-on point (3.2 feet). The blue horizontal line is the lead/lag pump turn-off point (2.2 feet). The orange line is the distance output of the
S330.

First two things to note is at no time the system was out of control (Alarm point met) and only the lead pump was used during this time period. Inflow into the Wet-Well is controlled by park usage and outflow (pump-down) is controlled by the Lead/Lag pump volume. Since the difference in inflow is much less than outflow, the outflow time does not noticeably vary from pump-down cycle to pump-down cycle. The below graph shows one pump-down cycle (Graph 2).

The green line represents the lead pump turn-on and the blue horizontal line represents the pump turn-off . Between red vertical lines is one period the pump is on which is about 3 minutes (Pump-down from 3.2 feet to 2.2 feet = one pump-down cycle). Where the yellow vertical line intersects the orange measurement line defines one 30-second interval. The level rate of change is about .2 feet every 30 seconds. During setup, the 4-20 loop update was set to a 30-second update interval per the customer’s request.

In both Graphs 1 and 3, the pump turn-on points (green horizontal line) are very repeatable, and the pump turn-off points (blue horizontal line) vary up to .2 of a foot. This is directly attributed to the slow rise time and fast fall time in relation to the loop update period. Since the rise time is slow, in 30 seconds the level does not change much. During a pump-down, a 30-second delay can equate up to a .2 foot variance in levels before the pump turn-off.

A closer look at May 16th was a high usage day. Graph 4 shows the day starting with a fast fill rate from 12 am to 7 pm, followed by a slow fill rate.

Environmental Operation

The sensor was installed about 6” under an aluminum lid that covered the wet well. It is exposed to Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) gas which is very corrosive.

During the testing, the sensor was exposed to temperatures ranging from about 32° F to 105°. This is based on the open-air temperatures during the testing period. After continued operation from March 10 to August , the sensor showed no signs of corrosion and continues to work fine as of the printing of this document in October 2019.

Summary

This beta testing has proven the S330 is a very capable non-contact level sensor in an enclosed environment. The best advantages the sensor has are ease of setup, ease of maintenance with minimal downtime, and ability to work in corrosive liquids environments.

In the wastewater industry, the S330 would integrate well since it is non-contact and not subject to failure in contaminated water like Bubbler systems or pressure sensors.

In conclusion, the S330 has proven that the sensor can hold up in a corrosive environment and provide to be a reliable level measurement sensor for information and/or control of a
system. The sensor also proved to be very repeatable over time.

Leveraging the 4-20mA loop, the S330 can directly replace aging unreliable measurement systems currently using the 4-20mA communication loop.

Appendix A: Wet-Well Site specifications:

S330 recommended setup parameters and hardware LTI to provide
customer site testing:

• TruSense S330 in case Serial number DS005693 Firmware 1.14-113.
• LTI to manufacture custom fixture(s) for sensor location.
• $MM,4    HighSpeed measurement mode
• $DM,5    First Target
• MU,f    Measurement units in feet
• $OS,2,1,0,30    Median filter, 1-second block,0, 30 sec per measurement output to loop.
• $FT,10.5,0,0,240,1    4mA=10.5 feet, 20mA=0 feet, Update =0, Error current 3.5mA @4mA and 24mA @20mA,    Number of measurements=1
• $UO    User offset to be calculated to account for floor thickness and LTI fixture
• Power to the sensor:
  • Provide 19.5 VDC Loop power
  • 12VDC power supply for sensor power.
• Attach data collector to capture the RS-232 data for later review.

City of Pueblo to supply for setup of Site testing.

• Required tools for Calibration of Digigauge 2300 Loop calibration.
• 110 AC for loop power and sensor power hookups.
• Make available a loop receiver on the control panel for the beta testing period.
• Critical Set Points
  • Lead Pump on = 3.2 feet
  • Lag Pump on = 4.2 feet
  • Lea & Lag pump off = 2.2 feet
  • Over height alarm = 4.5 feet
  • Low Well alarm = 1 foot (Panel will phone home with a low-level alarm)
  • Sensor 4 mA = 10.5 feet (Panel will phone home with a high-level alarm)

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Our lidar sensors offer low maintenance non-contact benefits with high accuracies, eliminate any need for reflectors, expand your workable ranges, use narrow beams, and include flexible configuration options. 

Keep reading for more information on each of these 6 unique advantages.

Laser sensors bring advantages to several different fields

1) Non-Contact/Low maintenance

By nature, our non-contact lidar sensors create low maintenance benefits.

This advantage is a direct result of our sensors functioning as non-contact continuous measurement devices.

Contact-sensor alternatives tend to require constant exposure to various materials and often install at the bottom of large tanks. Meanwhile, non-contact sensors tend to be installed in easy-to-access areas that avoid material exposure.

Longer device lifespans

Avoiding contact with materials means that our sensors perform longer.

1. Less corrosion
   

   A Laser Tech non-contact laser sensor installed at an easy-to-reach location

2. Less build ups/clogs

Easier to keep clean

Keeping a clean sensor is a best practice made easier by non-contact performance.

1. Less frequent cleaning required
2. Typically limited to removing some dust
3. Can often be completed via compressed air cans

Easier to access

Contrary to contact sensors, our sensors are commonly located near or on a tank’s lid or hatch.

Non-contact lidar sensors can be installed in easier-to-access locations that complement worker safety

1. Faster access for repairs and cleaning
2. Easy to remove and reinstall when needed

Safer to access

Thanks to the easier access that our sensors tend to create, some safety hazards can be eliminated.

1. Avoid workers coming into contact with materials
2. Remove risk of injury from climbing into tanks, entering production machinery, etc. 

2) High Accuracy

Integrators can expect high accuracy from all Laser Tech sensors.

All of our non-contact continuous measurement laser sensors offer high accuracy. Reliable accuracies are offered at varying intensities across our different types of sensors.

Reminder: S200 series is ideal for solids while the S300 series is ideal for liquids.

• S200 Series typical Accuracy: 0.1 ft (4 cm) in short-range mode, 0.3 ft (8 cm) in medium-range mode, .5 ft (15 cm) in long-range mode
• S300 Series typical Accuracy: +/- 10 mm (.39 in)

3) No need for reflectors

Targets typically generate enough reflectiveness to function without any additional reflector installation required.

A Laser Tech sensor’s use of infrared energy allows most targets to function as natural reflectors

The intensity, or reflectance, of a target will be determined by its color, opacity, distance from the sensor, reflection angle, size, and environmental situation. There are some key features that can give you confidence in a target’s natural reflectance.

Maximized reflectance is ideal but not always necessary. A discussion with one of Laser Tech’s experts will be the best way to determine if your application’s target will effectively perform as a reflective target.

Here are a few concepts to keep in mind when determining you target’s potential for natural reflectance:

1. Targets with high opacity reflect infrared energy best
2. Targets with smooth surfaces are highly reflective
3. Direct/straight angles between the sensor and target reflect energy in the widest and most receivable fashion
4. Larger targets reflect more energy than smaller targets
5. Clear environments, with minimal dust, fog, or mist, means fewer precipitates to potentially interrupt energy beams

In any case, all of our sensors have multiple programmable settings that programmers can tweak to better optimize performance.

4) Long Range Ability

Laser Tech’s lidar sensors offer considerable accuracy over long ranges

Laser Tech sensors for solids perform accurately within considerably wide ranges.

This aspect might not be relevant for integrators involved in plant process automation. However, those interested in applications involving larger measurement/detection zones can find comfort in the long-range abilities of our sensors.

Longer ranges than alternatives make LTI sensors for solids advantageous for integration into aerial vehicle systems, extensive perimeter networks, and other applications expanding over large areas.

Reflective targets offer the highest max ranges for LTI laser sensors. 

• S200 Series maximum range to reflective targets: 9,514 ft (2900 m) in low-accuracy mode, 4,921 ft (1500 m) in medium-accuracy mode

Non-reflective targets are still effective at significant ranges.

• S200 Series maximum range to non-reflective targets: 5,249 ft (1600 m) in low-accuracy mode, 2,953 ft (900 m) in medium-accuracy mode

5) Lidar Sensors have Narrow Beams

The narrow beams created by our lidar sensors have a few benefits to consider.

Laser Tech’s lidar sensors can function in narrow environments that cause issues for the naturally wide beams of radar alternatives

Our time-of-flight laser sensors use lidar. Some alternatives use radar, which casts a relatively wide and diffused energy beam.

Integrators running into issues that eliminate wide-breamed radar sensor options from their application will want to look into lidar alternatives.

Some applications may require a more focused beam to overcome structural obstacles.

1. Lidar beams grant the ability to shoot past/around physical obstructions
2. Narrow beams allow for more precise target assignment
3. Confined spaces are far more likely to avoid issues

The beam divergence tendencies of our different sensors are acute.

• S200 series divergence: 3 mrad (equal to 1 ft beam diameter @ 328 ft or 30 cm @ 100m)
• S300 series divergence: 3 mrad (equal to 15 cm beam diameter @ 50 m or .5 ft @ 164 ft), 44 mrad using Diffusing Lens (equal to 220 cm beam diameter @ 50 m or 7.33 ft @ 164 ft)

6) Configuration Flexibility

Our engineers design lidar sensors to offer customizable and versatile programming.

LTI Laser sensors provide flexibility in configuring for all sorts of applications.

Different targeting modes available for both single and multiple targets

Our S200 series & S300 series sensors have their own targeting mode options.

Laser Tech’s lidar sensors can be configured to your application’s needs

• S200 series: First, strongest, last, first-second-third, last-second to last, first-strongest-last, first-second-third-strongest-last
• S300 series: First, strongest, last

Industry-standard data outputs

Our S200 series & S300 series sensors have standardized input/output specifications.

• S200 series input/output specifications: S-200 = TRIG, SDI-12, RS232 without alignment laser, S-210 = TRIG, SDI-12, RS232 with alignment laser, S-230 = 4-20mA, RS232 with alignment laser
• S300 series input/output specifications: S-300 = TRIG, SDI-12, RS232 without alignment laser, S-310 = TRIG, SDI-12, RS232 with alignment laser, S-330 = 4-20mA, RS232 with alignment laser

Want more info on our Industrial Lidar Sensors?

Navigate through the entire LTI Laser Sensors Q & A series:

1. Introduction to Laser Tech’s Non-Contact Sensors
2. Who Uses Laser Tech Sensors?
3. What are Laser Tech’s Sensors Used For?
4. What Environments are Ideal for Laser Tech Sensors?
5. Laser Sensor FAQs

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The firmware in Laser Tech sensors uses strength of signal return to determine actual targets and accurate measurements. This opens up a lot of possibilities.

Between our S200 series & S300 sensors, there is a wide-ranging potential for integration that ideally utilizes our sensors’ furthest operational ranges, optimal accuracies, and highest levels of repeatability.

Laser Tech’s sensors are available as integration-ready components

Determining Environmental Ideals for Laser Tech Sensors

Relative visibility is a crucial factor. An oversimplified but still applicable concept is comparing an environment’s visibility levels to what human eyes can see. Something to keep in mind is that lack of visible light is not a factor. Unlike the human eye, which uses the visible light spectrum, our sensors use near infrared beams that do not require visible light to be present.

Another critical feature of the laser is eye safety. Because the lasers they emit carry a 905 nm wave length, our sensors are rated eye safe by the FDA.

With this in mind, the same visibility factors should be applied when assessing the potential application of laser sensors in dark and light environments alike. If you can see your target(s) clearly, without any external factors severely limiting visibility, this environment should allow for peak sensor performance.

There are two general limitations to be aware of:

• Dense levels of particulates can physically block reflective energy
  

  Sun Shields are available to mitigate some disruptions caused by direct sunlight

Laser sensors rely on their emitted beams hitting the target and returning to their receivers. Thick amounts of precipitation, along with dust and fog, can get in the way of these processes. Creative workarounds occasionally allow our sensors to overcome this issue, but an ideal environment is absent of potential beam disruptors.

• Direct sunlight can impede on a sensor’s ability to properly measure to a target

Think back to your eyesight, which is overwhelmed whenever you look directly into the sun. We have sun shields available, though these do not make the sensors invincible against direct sunlight. Wearing sunglasses helps our eyes better handle intense sunlight, but staring directly at the sun is still a bad idea. The same principle applies to our sun shields.

• Most everything else is good to go!

Aside from those conditions to be cautious of, Laser Tech’s non-contact, continuous measurement sensors are friendly to most environments. We’ve even had a satisfied integrator share their story of a Laser Tech Sensor functioning without error in negative 15°F temperatures.

Want more info on our Industrial Sensors?

Navigate through the entire LTI Laser Sensors Q & A series:

1. Introduction to Laser Tech’s Sensors
2. Who Uses Laser Tech Sensors?
3. What Advantages do Laser Tech Sensors Offer?
4. What are Laser Tech’s Sensors Used For?
5. Laser Sensor FAQs

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Our sensors utilize two different types of measurement: Distance and Detection. Given the versatility of both measuring methods, there is essentially an endless amount of varying applications that could benefit from laser sensor integration. That said, both have their own strengths concerning different functions and targets/materials.

Distance/Level Measuring

Distance or level measurement is commonly used for plant automation and process management. When operating in this mode, our sensors continuously measure the distance from their installation point to the determined material or target. An offset can be added to adjust the installation point to any value. Often, especially concerning automation practices, the sensors will function as the trigger to actions that need to start/stop when programmed thresholds are detected.

An easy application to imagine: A tank that should never fill above 75% capacity or empty below 25% capacity.

Integrating a laser sensor into a tank regulation system’s programmable logic controller (PLC) would make this easy. The sensor would tell the system to start emptying the tank once the 75% capacity mark is met, and then stop the emptying process once materials levels drop to 25% capacity. 

We have an ongoing live demo that brings this concept to life. In our demo, two TruSense S300 series sensors detect water levels in two separate tanks. Based on our programmed level limits, the water continues to flow from tank to tank, without either ever getting too full or too empty.

This sensor function extends beyond plant processes. Continuous and accurate distance measurement can help improve all sorts of practical systems. See the Who Uses our Sensors section of this article for examples, including systems that help ensure safe docking for hazardous-materials shipments.

Detection

Our sensors can operate as detection triggers. When operating in this mode, our sensors continuously measure for beam interruptions. The distance covered, size thresholds for detection triggers, and resulting action(s) are all left up to integrators.

An easy application to imagine is: A perimeter of continuous infrared beams.

A) You integrate sensors into a security system that surrounds your facility. The sensors are programmed to respond to pre-determined criteria, such as a distance range set by the sensor. When an interruption by a human-sized target is detected, auditory alarms are triggered, lights begin to flash, and video recording systems begin gathering footage.

Laser sensors integrate into security systems

B) You integrate sensors into a worker-safety system that surrounds a potentially hazardous area within your industrial plant. The sensor-based detection system triggers an auditory alarm and halts the area’s processes anytime a worker is detected within your programmed danger zone.

These hypotheticals only scratch the surface of how our sensors can integrate into your application. Top-level integrators and engineers are highly encouraged to reach out to us. Discussing your application’s needs is the best place to start, and honest answers can always be expected from Laser Tech team members.

Want more info on our Industrial Sensors?

Visit our Laser Sensor FAQs page and read our previous entries in this LTI Laser Sensors Q & A series:

1. Introduction to Laser Tech’s Sensors
2. Who Uses Laser Tech Sensors?

Keep an eye out for Parts 4 and 5 of the Q & A series:

• What Advantages do Laser Tech Sensors Offer?
• What Environments are Ideal for Laser Tech Sensors?

The post What are Laser Tech’s Sensors Used For? appeared first on Laser Tech.

BY T. HART, 04/22/2022

This segment of our Q & A series on Laser Tech sensors will offer insight on what sort of individuals and companies make use of our non-contact, continuous measurement sensors.

Question: Who uses our sensors?

Answer: A lot of very different folks.

Our sensors are often used by integrators. This opens up a wide variety of potential applications for integrating sensors as components. Below is a compilation of clips that exemplify how versatile our lidar sensors are.

Examples of Laser Tech Sensor Integration (Videos)

By watching these videos, you can discover some of Laser Tech’s most successful sensor integration stories.

Side note: Can you mount the sensor on a moving object?

Yes. Integrate LTI’s laser sensors into systems within UAVs and other flying vehicles and utilize some unique advantages:

6 Videos of various LTI Non-Contact Continuous Measurement Sensors in Action:

1) TruSense S200 integrated into a range finding device for forestry professionals

2) Sensor integrated as the detection-trigger for a roadside traffic data-collection system

3) Sensor integrated into a ship docking system with real-time distances displayed

4) TruSense S200 integrated into a unique parking-complex efficiency system

5) TruSense S200 integrated into automated flying vehicles to maintain proper flight paths with soft landings

6) Sensor integrated into amphibious planes to ensure that pilots use the proper landing gears

Want more info on our Industrial Sensors?

Navigate through the entire LTI Laser Sensors Q & A series:

1. Introduction to Laser Tech’s Non-Contact Sensors Q & A
2. What Advantages do Laser Tech Sensors Offer?
3. What are Laser Tech’s Sensors Used For?
4. What Environments are Ideal for Laser Tech Sensors?
5. Laser Sensor FAQs

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Laser Tech’s Industrial Sensors are powerful tools that integrate into a uniquely broad array of applications. Despite their widespread range of potential, our different sensors tend to bring the same key questions to mind. Who Uses Laser Tech Sensors? What Advantages do the Offer? Which Environments are Ideal? What are the Major Uses?

We will make detailed answers to these questions readily available. First, an introduction to our different sensors series is due.

Finding the Right Tools for Your Application

The Goal: Help integrators, engineers, and everyone in-between qualify or disqualify our sensors for your different applications.

The Action: Our experts offer an honest and informative Q & A series.

Currently, there are two major families of non-contact, continuous measurement sensors that we proudly carry:

Laser Tech’s laser sensors are available without casing, as OEM parts

• Our TruSense® S200 series sensors are your go-to for applications involving solids, bulk or otherwise
• The TruSense® S300 series sensors brings the same capabilities to the liquids side of non-contact detection and level measurement

Is there a “one size fits all” sensor?

There is not and likely never will be one singular device that can conquer all environments and applications. Integrators should know that each situation requires its own evaluation. In this spirit, the process of choosing a sensor device often starts with specifying the needs and setting of any given application and starting discussions with potential suppliers.

We sat down with our Sensors experts to compile an informative list of Questions and Answers. Our priority is making sure that you get the right tools for your job. We have qualified professionals eager to hear about your application(s) today.

Any integrators considering a non-contact, continuous-measurement sensor are invited to contact us and start a discussion. In the meantime, the information in this five-part blog series (along with our Industrial Sensors FAQs) will help shed light on how our sensors are best utilized vs when an alternative should be considered.

Want more info on Laser Tech Sensors?

Here is what you can expect the entire LTI Laser Sensors Q & A series to cover:

• Who Uses Laser Tech Sensors?
• What Advantages do Laser Tech Sensors Offer?
• Which Environments are Ideal for Laser Tech Sensors?
• What are the Major Uses of Laser Tech’s Sensors?

In the meantime, explore our Laser Sensor FAQs to continue learning about our different available sensors.

The post Introduction to Q & A Series on Laser Tech Sensors appeared first on Laser Tech.

Recently, Wipaire Inc. installs LTI’s Universal Laser Sensor (ULS) in amphibious planes as part of a safety solution. Wipaire Inc. is a Minnesota-based company that has engineered and manufactured aircraft floats for more than 55 years. They have also provided professional services in aircraft modification, maintenance, avionics, interiors, and other float services. 

Wipaire Uses Laser Tech’s Universal Laser Sensor (ULS) to Enhance Amphibious Aircraft Safety

A Lengthy Process Done Right 

Clint Clouatre, vice president of marketing and sales for Wipaire, sums up the mission. He states that Wipaire thinks “the problem of accidents related to out-of-position landing gears can be dramatically reduced with an additional safety measure.” To tackle this goal, the company turns to laser sensor integration. 

Wipaire Marketing Manager Amy Gesch recalls the duration of the project a decade after purchasing LTI’s ULS:  

“As for the length of the project, we started in on this back around 2008. The FAA regulations we’re governed by require extensive testing which can take years, as it did in our case.” Once the testing is complete, a reliably accurate system is born. The company announces the certification of their first “smart” amphibious gear advisory system in 2014. This features LTI’s ULS installed on a Cessna 182 craft’s Wipline 3000 floats. 

With a successful debut in their rearview, Gesch proudly proclaims a plan for Wipaire to release the laser [system] to customers selectively at first, starting in 2015, and then roll it out to almost all of Wipaire’s product line in 2017. First, some technical adjustments come into play, to combat the complex nature of both Wipaire’s objective and amphibious piloting itself. 

An Element of Jeopardy 

Amphibious airplane pilots navigate routes that utilize both solid ground and bodies of water. These distinctly unique points of takeoff and landing often exist within the same trip. This regular variability designates the position of an amphibious craft’s landing-gear, whether up or down, as a critical element to both the financial success and general welfare of any given flight.  

Touching down on a runway with the wheels up, and instead landing on the plane’s pontoons, may not be a life-threatening error; however, one expects considerable damage. In contrast, landing on water with wheels down may prove to be a fatal mistake. This can trigger a pole-vaulting motion that sends planes flipping across water, nose-to-end. It goes without saying that pilots prefer smoothly coasting to a gentle upright stop. These daunting scenarios inspired Wipaire to seek LTI’s ULS due to its upstanding reputation as a measurement and detection sensing device of significant integrity. 

A Solution Arrives

Wipaire’s certified gear advisory system centers on a laser array “eye.” This detects whether the aircraft is over water or land. The eye can also be combined with a second-generation gear selector and display. Their integration can further the solution’s activity into a pilot’s habitual processes. When aircrafts have been incorrectly configurated for landing, warnings to check the landing-gear are sent to pilots via audible alerts.

These warnings rely on the surface-readings detected by the ULS laser-solution. A similar functionality is also tied to takeoff, as pilots are reminded to check the landing–gear position if not raised within 60 seconds of becoming airborne. These features are especially important to pilots who routinely fly short flights from paved airports to bodies of water. 

Wipaire manufactures its own housing and mounts the ULS on the underside of a plane’s wing, near the midpoint. Their warning system relies on laser-supplied data regarding the delta, or change, of intensity return between land and water. This information feeds into the system to provide proper landing-gear alerts to pilots as needed.

“LTI’s Universal Laser Sensor provides a critical safety feature required for the constantly shifting landing environment for the amphibious airplane pilot,” said Jeff Peltier, the engineering technician and project coordinator at Wipaire. “This sensor reliably delivers actionable equipment information necessary for pilot and aircraft safety.” 

The ULS delivers accurate measurements in a wide variety of applications, offering prowess in measuring levels, proximity, and detection, despite being just one single laser unit. The ULS, certified by Wipaire, adds in another layer of safety for the constantly changing environments faced by amphibious airplane pilots, crew, and passengers. LTI is proud to have contributed to this commendable achievement in creating a safer world. 

The post Wipaire Uses Universal Laser Sensor (ULS) for Aircraft Safety appeared first on Laser Tech.

A copper mine in Utah is using Laser Tech’s non-contact, continuous level measurement TruSense^® laser sensor to ensure their froth floatation tanks maintain the proper levels.

Customized installation of the sensor as a component complies with the safety regulations of the plant and guarantee protection of the sensors in this harsh environment.

TruSense Laser Sensor In Use At Copper Mine

A ruggedized enclosure, as seen in the photo below, mounts with the laser sensor at the top of the tanks. Each resides next to the air downcomer center and faces the recirculation well. The mine decided to use TruSense laser sensors because of their 4 – 20 milliamp (mA) capability. As the sensor measures distance, it outputs between 4 and 20mA in relationship to the distance. The sensor outputs 4mA if set to measure the shortest distance. When set to the longest distance, it outputs 20mA. 

The sensors integrate into the plant’s control system and feed live data the master control room for monitorization. This central monitoring enables the operators to watch over several tanks at once along several other advantages: 

• Workers do not need to physically examine tank levels, which saves time and increases safety 
• Real-time knowledge of tank levels 

• Instant alarm notification if tank levels rise or fall out of specifications 
• Saves costs, both in manpower and material, allows the tanks to operate at peak performance 

The splash tube, seen below the ruggedized housing,  prevents any splashing of the froth or liquid onto the sensor housing lens. This design ensures accurate, maintenance-free operation. The durable TruSense will provide years of trouble-free operation for the copper mine.

The post TruSense® Laser Sensor is Seeing Copper appeared first on Laser Tech.

Will laser applications become an essential part of drone engineering? Global Market Insights predicts that the commercial drone market will grow from $541 million in 2016 to $17 billion by 2024. This positions the UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) industry to be exceptionally prosperous.

Laser Tech showcases TruSense^® Laser Sensor at UAV/Drone Show

AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2018 saw all things unmanned brought to Denver, CO. The year’s convention didn’t only show off drones. Thousands of leaders and innovators from the UAV Industry and defense departments came together to share, discuss, and gain insight on the this technology, which is being developed throughout the world. The collaborative effort from all sectors of the UAV industry included everything you need to build your complete UAV system. UAV insurance, fiber optic cables, sensors to microchips, and market insights were all featured. 

Since Laser Technology, Inc. (LTI) specializes in laser rangefinders, we showcased our TruSense laser sensors. These sensors can go over a mile with high accuracy, which is why they are perfect for the UAV industry. TruSense® lasers are small, lightweight, low-powered, long-range, high-accuracy sensors. Some choose only to use the laser’s distance features, while others also utilize the energy-return-reading features. 

During an interview with GPS World at the show, Clint Cowan, LTI’s Sensor Product Manager, discusses and demonstrates how the laser shows a value of energy-return off of a target. “We have people, for example, who want to know about ice-lows. When they are flying over ice-lows, we get a specific integer return off of ice so our lasers can tell the difference between land and ice,” states Cowan. 

Watch Clint Cowan of LTI showcase the TruSense to GPS World at Xponential 2018 

See more about LTI’s products in the Laser Sensor industry.

The post Laser Technology, Inc. Laser Range Finder Sensors for UAV’s appeared first on Laser Tech.