An inexpensive and easily implemented device to measure wind velocity is proposed. This prototype has the advantage of being able to measure both the speed and the direction of the wind in two dimensions. The device utilizes a computational interface commonly referred to as a mouse. The mouse proposed for this prototype contains an optical sensor which allows it to situate itself in space. The prototype utilizes a pendulum with an attached drag body. The pendulum's drag body interacts with the fluid in motion, causing an angle with respect to the vertical. The mouse measures the displacement of a sphere attached to the pendulum and calculates the angle. The resulting angle determines the relationship between the drag force and the wind speed, thereby allowing the mouse to calculate the velocity. A MATLAB script was written to process the data received from the mouse. After calibration, the program determines the relationship between the pixels measured and the pendulum's angle, and so obtains information about the wind. This system (device and software) eliminates human error in data collection and storage, thereby considerably reducing the time and cost associated with measuring wind velocity.
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