An engineering firm specialising in the development of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) required a robust and precise barometric pressure sensor for a demanding meteorological application. The sensor was to be integrated into an autonomous vessel tasked with tracking hurricanes in the Caribbean. The primary challenges involved ensuring long-term operational reliability and measurement accuracy in a harsh, corrosive marine environment. This application demanded a solution that could withstand constant saltwater exposure while delivering highly accurate data crucial for weather forecasting models.
- Application: Measuring atmospheric pressure on an uncrewed marine vessel.
- Challenge: Constant exposure to high humidity, high temperature, and corrosive saltwater spray.
- Requirement: A verified IP67 ingress protection rating for the sensor and its electrical connection.
- Solution: An absolute pressure sensor with a customised absolute pressure range and materials suitable for marine deployment.
A developer of innovative, wave-powered uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) was tasked with equipping a new fleet of autonomous boats for the local meteorological services organisation. These USVs are designed for long-duration missions at sea, navigating into the path of developing tropical storms to gather critical real-time meteorological data that is transmitted via satellite. This data, including atmospheric pressure, is vital for scientists to improve the forecasting of hurricane intensity and direction, ultimately enabling more timely and accurate warnings to the public.
The customer’s engineering team needed to source a particularly robust sensor to measure barometric pressure. The specific requirement was for a measurement range of 500 to 1100 mbar absolute, capturing the full spectrum of pressures from calm weather to the extreme lows found within a powerful storm. The sensor would be installed on the USV at a height of 1.5 metres above sea level, operating in a relentlessly challenging environment. The location in the tropics meant constant high ambient temperatures of around 32°C, combined with corrosive salt spray, high humidity, and heavy rain. A critical requirement from the customer was that both the sensor and its associated cable assembly be certified to IP67, ensuring protection against water ingress, even during rough seas where the vessel could roll or be washed over by waves.
The proposed solution was the Titan TPTLRa series absolute pressure sensor. This instrument was specifically configured to meet the demanding technical and environmental requirements of the application. The selection of the high-accuracy version, with precision better than ±0.10% of the full scale, ensures that even subtle changes in barometric pressure are detected, a key factor in predicting storm development. The specified 4-20mA 2-wire output provides robust signal transmission from the sensor back to the vessel’s central data logger.
To combat the harsh marine environment, the sensor was specified with a 316L stainless steel housing and Viton seals, offering excellent resistance to the corrosive effects of saltwater. A key feature that directly addressed the customer’s primary concern was the M12 electrical connector, which provides a secure, reliable, and waterproof connection rated to IP67. This ensures the internal electronics are completely sealed from moisture, preventing signal failure and sensor damage. Furthermore, the instrument’s high level of temperature compensation and wide operating ambient temperature range of -20°C to +85°C guarantee that the readings remain stable and accurate despite the fluctuating temperatures encountered at sea. By combining a customised pressure range with carefully selected materials and a certified high-ingress-protection design, the solution provides the necessary reliability and precision for this critical climate research application.
TPTLRa Wide Barometric Range Pressure Sensor
- Part No: TPTLRa-AB-AG-BV-SR40A-00
- Pressure Range: 500 – 1100mbar
- Pressure Datum: Absolute
- Output Type: 4-20mA / 2-wire
- Power Supply: 9-32V dc
- Accuracy Class: 0.1% FS
- Electrical Connection: M12, 4-pin connector
- Process Connection: G1/4″ male DIN 3852
- Housing Material: 316L Stainless Steel
- Seal Material: Viton
- Special Options: None