FT Technologies’ solid-state ultrasonic Acu-Res wind sensor has been successfully deployed on the latest Twister Fisters project, demonstrating reliable performance in some of the most extreme near-surface wind environments encountered in atmospheric research.
Twister Fisters is a team of atmospheric scientists specializing in near-storm, in-situ observations of severe convective weather. Using mobile, truck-mounted mesonet platforms, the team places instrumentation directly in the path of intense wind fields, hail cores and highly turbulent flow regimes to collect high-quality surface data for research, real-time analysis and public outreach.
Such deployments pose major challenges for meteorological instrumentation. During previous field campaigns, the team experienced repeated failures with propeller anemometers and competing ultrasonic wind sensors. Common issues included mechanical damage from hail and debris, degraded data quality in highly turbulent flow, and frequent maintenance requirements associated with moving parts.
For a new aluminum-framed instrument rack, Twister Fisters required a wind sensor capable of surviving severe impacts, delivering accurate real-time data, and reliably measuring wind speeds beyond 50m/s without exposed mechanical components.
To meet these requirements, the team selected the FT Technologies FT752-D-PM solid-state ultrasonic Acu-Res wind sensor. Its no-moving-parts design offers a key advantage for mobile mesonet and storm-chasing applications, where vibration, debris and extreme weather can quickly compromise conventional sensors. The solid-state construction supports consistent ultrasonic measurements even in rapidly changing, highly turbulent near-surface flow.
The FT752 is certified by the Japan Meteorological Agency, with independent testing across its full measurement range up to 90m/s and survivability testing to 120% of full scale, equivalent to 108m/s. This certification provided additional confidence that the sensor could withstand extreme wind speeds associated with supercell thunderstorms and, potentially, tornadoes.
The FT752-D-PM was installed on a custom aluminum pipe instrument rack mounted to SCOUT1, Twister Fisters’ personal mobile mesonet vehicle. The rack follows established designs used by US research institutions, ensuring optimal sensor exposure and structural stability. Since May 2025, the team has conducted multiple deployments and is currently expanding its sensing capabilities ahead of the 2026 severe storm season.
In field use, the sensor delivered consistent, high-quality surface wind data with real-time availability during active storm intercepts. During a close-range tornado encounter near Morton, Texas, on June 5, 2025, the system recorded wind speeds of 51.5m/s. As the project evolves, the modular rack will be expanded to host additional sensors and later transferred to a permanent mobile platform, FISTER1.
Meteorological Technology International will speak with the Twister Fisters team and FT Technologies in the April 2026 issue to explore the project in more detail, including deployment experience and plans for extreme wind measurement.