RESEARCH 3-AXIS ULTRASONIC ANEMOMETERS
The instrument cited in the paper, not just the datasheet
Some measurements are useful. Others become the basis for a model, a publication, a site assessment or a commercial decision. When that happens, the instrument contributing to the dataset needs to provide more than a nominal specification. It needs to deliver the measurement capability, consistency and documented performance the research requires.
Two head designs
Symmetrical or horizontal
Up to 100 Hz output
50 Hz and 100 Hz models
14-bit RS422 output
RS232 or analogue via interface
Under 1% speed accuracy
0.01 m/s resolution
- 50 Hz and 100 Hz outputR3-50 and HS-50 at 50 Hz, R3-100 and HS-100 at 100 Hz
- 3-axis ultrasonicThree-dimensional wind for turbulence and flux studies
- No moving partsSolid-state, so the instrument is not a variable in the experiment
- IP65 protectionFor long field deployments
The measurement problem
Don't just measure the wind. Understand it.
Wind is rarely as simple as a number on a display. It changes direction, accelerates, separates around structures, rises, falls, recirculates and becomes turbulent. If the research is trying to understand those behaviours, horizontal wind speed and direction alone can leave an important part of the picture unseen.
Gill's Research 3-axis ultrasonic anemometers measure the three components of wind velocity, giving researchers access to both horizontal and vertical movement of air. This makes the range suited to high-accuracy meteorological research, environmental monitoring, eddy covariance flux analysis, turbulent-flow studies and wind-energy site evaluation.
The benefit is not simply that the instrument measures more. Three-dimensional measurement can change what the research is able to establish about how air is moving.
Three components
Horizontal and vertical movement of air, from one instrument.
50 Hz or 100 Hz
Choose the temporal resolution the science needs.
Individual calibration
As standard on every model in the range.
No moving parts
Solid-state ultrasonic, so wear is not a variable in the data.
Choose your Research model
Two questions decide the Research model
Output rate and head geometry. Answer those two and the four configurations resolve to one. All four are individually calibrated, so calibration is not the deciding factor between them.
HS-50
50 Hz, horizontal head. When vertical flow is the measurement and the head must not sit in it.
HS-100
100 Hz, horizontal head. Both requirements at once.
R3-50
50 Hz, standard head. The lightweight general research configuration.
R3-100
100 Hz, standard head. When the flow changes faster than 50 Hz can follow.
No single Research does all of that. Our team can suggest a pairing.
RS422 is native on every Research model. RS232 and analogue outputs are available through the PCI or PCIA interface, so plan the interface if your logger needs either. R3-50 and R3-100 offer PRT and analogue input options; HS-50 and HS-100 provide PRT and six analogue inputs, with a built-in inclinometer for set-up on masts and towers.
Research vs WindMaster
Both measure three dimensions. They solve different problems.
WindMaster and Research can look superficially similar because both provide 3-axis ultrasonic wind measurement. The distinction is what the instrument is being asked to do.
When the measurement is central to the research
- Output rates of 50 Hz or 100 Hz
- Individual calibration as standard
- Eddy covariance, flux and turbulent-flow studies
When 3-axis is needed for an engineering system
- Marine systems, OEM products and general engineering applications
- Output rates up to 32 Hz
- Building ventilation, site survey and control
Not sure which fits? Make an enquiry
Choosing between them
Which Research model, side by side
Every model against the same specifications, from the released datasheets. Within each head design, the 50 or 100 suffix is the output rate in Hz, so pick 100 only where the science needs it: it costs data volume and processing.
| Specification | Research flux at 50 HzR3-50 | Research turbulence at 100 HzR3-100 | Vertical flow at 50 HzHS-50 | Vertical flow at 100 HzHS-100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choose it when | Eddy covariance and turbulence research where 50 readings a second is enough | High-frequency turbulence analysis where 50 Hz is not enough | Vertical flow matters most, with a stainless body and a built-in inclinometer | As HS-50, but at the highest output rate in the family |
| Output rate | 50 Hz (selectable 0.4 to 50 Hz) | 100 Hz (selectable 0.4 to 100 Hz) | 50 Hz (selectable 0.4 to 50 Hz) | 100 Hz (selectable 0.4 to 100 Hz) |
| Wind speed | 0 to 45 m/s | 0 to 45 m/s | 0 to 45 m/s | 0 to 45 m/s |
| Speed accuracy | Under 1% | Under 1% | Under 1% | Under 1% |
| Direction accuracy | Under ±1° RMS | Under ±1° RMS | Under ±1° RMS | Under ±1° RMS |
| Head and build | Symmetrical, aluminium and carbon fibre | Symmetrical, aluminium and carbon fibre | Horizontal, stainless steel | Horizontal, stainless steel |
| Inclinometer | No | No | Built-in, ±20° range, ±0.3° accuracy | Built-in, ±20° range, ±0.3° accuracy |
| Inputs | PRT and analogue input options | PRT and analogue input options | PRT and 6 analogue inputs | PRT and 6 analogue inputs |
| Digital output | RS422; RS232 and analogue via PCI or PCIA | RS422; RS232 and analogue via PCI or PCIA | RS422; RS232 and analogue via PCI or PCIA | RS422; RS232 and analogue via PCI or PCIA |
| Calibration | Individual, as standard | Individual, as standard | Individual, as standard | Individual, as standard |
| Power | 9 to 30 V DC, under 150 mA at 24 V | 9 to 30 V DC, under 150 mA at 24 V | 9 to 30 V DC, under 150 mA at 24 V | 9 to 30 V DC, under 150 mA at 24 V |
| Operating temp | -40 °C to +60 °C | -40 °C to +60 °C | -40 °C to +60 °C | 0 °C to +50 °C |
| IP rating | IP65 | IP65 | IP65 | IP65 |
| Datasheet | Datasheet | Datasheet | Datasheet | Datasheet |
| Specification | Vertical flow at 50 HzHS-50 | Vertical flow at 100 HzHS-100 | General 3-axis platformWindMaster HS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose it when | Vertical flow is central to the research and 50 Hz is enough | Vertical flow is central to the research and it needs 100 Hz | Vertical flow matters, at up to 32 Hz, in a general engineering or monitoring system |
| Output rate | 50 Hz | 100 Hz | 32 Hz |
| Wind speed | 0 to 45 m/s | 0 to 45 m/s | 0 to 45 m/s |
| Speed accuracy | Under 1% | Under 1% | Under 1.5% RMS at 12 m/s |
| Calibration | Individual, as standard | Individual, as standard | Option, wind tunnel test |
| Inclinometer | Built-in | Built-in | Not stated |
| Digital output | RS422; RS232 and analogue via PCI or PCIA | RS422; RS232 and analogue via PCI or PCIA | RS232, RS422, RS485 |
| Operating temp | -40 °C to +60 °C | 0 °C to +50 °C | -40 °C to +70 °C |
| IP rating | IP65 | IP65 | IP65 |
| Datasheet | Datasheet | Datasheet | Datasheet |
Why it matters
When the measurement is part of the method
Research instrumentation has to measure the environment without becoming an unnecessary variable in the experiment. The Research range uses solid-state ultrasonic technology with no moving parts, removing the mechanical wind-sensing components that rotate continuously in a conventional cup-and-vane anemometer.
That matters particularly when an instrument is installed remotely, exposed to harsh weather or expected to collect data over long periods. If the instrument requires regular intervention, the measurement programme does too.
High-speed measurement
100 measurements a second changes what you can see
A measurement taken at one moment tells you what the wind was doing then. Higher-frequency measurement can reveal how rapidly that behaviour changes. R3-100 and HS-100 provide 100 Hz output, while R3-50 and HS-50 provide 50 Hz.
For studies of turbulent airflow, atmospheric behaviour and eddy covariance, sampling frequency is not simply another specification to compare. It determines how much of the changing flow is represented in the dataset.
Turbulence and flux measurementHow ultrasonic wind measurement works
Why the horizontal head matters
The instrument itself can influence the flow
An anemometer has to sit in the air it is measuring, so the physical geometry of the instrument can influence the flow around the measurement area. For specialist vertical-flow research, that can be significant.
The horizontal-head configuration used by HS-50 and HS-100 is designed to minimise that interruption when analysing vertical airflow. Both models also include a built-in inclinometer to assist with accurate positioning on towers and masts.
- Horizontal head on HS-50 and HS-100
- Built-in inclinometer for mast and tower set-up
- Stainless steel construction
Individual calibration
Provided as standard, giving a documented basis for understanding the performance of the specific instrument contributing to the dataset.
Calibration and traceability →Built to join the research system
RS422 native, RS232 and analogue through the PCI or PCIA interface, plus Wind for configuration and WindView for viewing data.
View wind software →Long-term deployment
IP65 across all models, with solid-state ultrasonic measurement for exposed and remote sites where access for maintenance is limited.
View specifications →Research applications
Where measurement quality becomes part of the question
The Research range is designed for applications where measurement accuracy, three-dimensional data and temporal resolution matter to the investigation itself, rather than simply requiring a general-purpose wind sensor.
Eddy covariance flux analysisHigh-speed, three-dimensional wind measurement forms part of the wider methodology used for eddy covariance, where the interaction between atmospheric movement and other measured variables is central to the research.Eddy covariance and flux towers →Turbulent-flow studiesTurbulence changes rapidly across both time and direction. Output rates up to 100 Hz provide the temporal resolution needed to characterise changing turbulent flow.Turbulence and wake measurement →
Wind-turbine site evaluationBefore a turbine produces anything, the wind resource has to be understood. Direction, vertical flow, turbulence and temporal behaviour all contribute.Site assessment →The numbers that matter
100 Hz. 3-axis. 45 m/s. Individual calibration.
| Specification | R3-50 | R3-100 | HS-50 | HS-100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data output | 50 Hz | 100 Hz | 50 Hz | 100 Hz |
| Head configuration | Standard | Standard | Horizontal | Horizontal |
| Construction | Aluminium and carbon fibre | Aluminium and carbon fibre | Stainless steel | Stainless steel |
| Operating temperature | -40 °C to +60 °C | -40 °C to +60 °C | -40 °C to +60 °C | 0 °C to +50 °C |
| Inclinometer | No | No | Built-in | Built-in |
| PRT input | Optional | Optional | Available | Available |
| Analogue inputs | Optional | Optional | 6 | 6 |
| Datasheet | 1210-0012 Iss 3 | R3_100 Iss 4 | 1199-0033 Iss 2 | 1199-0034 Iss 2 |
Configuration and interface options should be confirmed against the relevant model datasheet before specification.
Technical resources
Everything you need to specify and integrate the Research range
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is a research-grade 3-axis anemometer?
A research-grade 3-axis anemometer measures the three components of wind velocity, including the vertical component, while providing the measurement performance required for scientific and meteorological research. Gill's Research range combines three-axis ultrasonic measurement with output rates up to 100 Hz and individual calibration as standard.
Why do I need 3-axis wind measurement?
Wind does not only move horizontally. Three-axis measurement captures the vertical component of airflow as well as the horizontal components, making it useful for studying turbulent flow, vertical airflow, atmospheric behaviour and complex environmental conditions.
What is the difference between WindMaster and the Research range?
Both provide 3-axis ultrasonic wind measurement, but the Research range is specifically positioned around high-accuracy research applications and higher data rates, with models offering up to 100 Hz output and specialist horizontal-head configurations. WindMaster has broader engineering, commercial, marine and OEM positioning.
What is the difference between R3 and HS models?
The R3 models use a conventional head configuration. The HS models use a horizontal head designed to minimise the influence of the instrument geometry when analysing vertical airflow. The HS models also incorporate a built-in inclinometer to assist positioning on towers and masts.
What is the difference between R3-50 and R3-100?
The principal difference is data rate. R3-50 provides 50 Hz output, while R3-100 provides 100 Hz output. Both use aluminium/carbon-fibre construction and are specified for operation from -40°C to +60°C.
Why does the horizontal head matter?
The geometry of an anemometer can influence airflow around the measurement area. The horizontal-head configuration is designed to minimise that interruption when analysing vertical flow, making it particularly useful for specialist research applications.
Can the Research range be used for long-term environmental monitoring?
Yes. Long-term environmental monitoring is one of the intended applications for the range. Its solid-state design and IP65 protection support applications where instruments need to remain deployed for extended periods.
Are Research anemometers suitable for scientific publications?
The instruments are used by recognised experts to gather data for research and publications. More importantly, individual calibration, high data rates and three-axis measurement provide characteristics required where the measurement needs to withstand serious scrutiny.
Which Research model should I choose?
Start with the research question. Choose R3-50 when 50 Hz is sufficient and a lightweight standard-head configuration is appropriate. Choose R3-100 when 100 Hz is required without the horizontal-head design. Choose HS-50 when vertical-flow analysis is central, and HS-100 when both the horizontal-head configuration and 100 Hz output are required.
Have an application to discuss?
Speak to our team
Tell us what you need to measure, where and under what conditions. We’ll help you work out the appropriate approach.
Enquiring about Research
- Our team replies. Not an account manager, and not a queue.
- We aim to respond in one working day. Monday to Friday.
- No obligation. Just honest advice on whether Gill is the right fit.