In Focus: IMOCA feedback improves FT Technologies wind sensor

Twenty plus years ago, FT Technologies plugged into the wind turbine control market, making wind sensors for offshore wind applications. It quickly grew into a global business.

In 2022 it decided that its core product ‘a reliable and dependable wind sensor’ could be adapted for other markets and the company set its sights firmly on leisure marine. Boasting that its sensors provide accurate wind data more than 99.99 per cent of the time, the FT742-SM’s take up was swift, especially by performance sailing teams.

Thus, FT began a close collaboration with its growing customer base in the IMOCA teams, utilising professional feedback. It says its new development model – destined for release in 2024 – is a direct result of that close collaboration.

“We’re looking at significant weight reduction on a product that suits the masthead application,” says Chris Trodden, business development manager, “plus simplified integration for both the physical product and software. Our end goal is to provide a robust solution for wind measurement on the masthead.

“Customer feedback from using our existing range was very promising,” he continues. “It was adopted by a number of top racing teams and their feedback instigated the new tailored solution.

“We’re working with IMOCA teams who have our newly designed prototype which provides data comparison between their incumbent performance mechanical wind sensors and our new design.

“Our current sensor range is made from hard-anodised aluminium, great for its industrial robustness and corrosion resistance in treacherous marine environments.”

Now the materials the engineering team selected include a high-quality, marine-grade plastic solution that significantly reduces the weight, Trodden explains. “Our aerodynamics and mechanical engineering teams have worked tirelessly on CFD modelling and physical testing in our world-class wind tunnel.”

While FT is looking to retain the strength, robustness, and precision of its technology in the new FT602, it’s also simplifying integration with NMEA 2000 built into the sensor.

“Over 90 per cent of the audiences at METS 2022 enquired about NMEA 2000,” says Trodden. “We made sure this was designed into this new wind sensor.

“It was a big win for us that the design team for this project included engineers with a background and knowledge of NMEA 2000. That forethought has delivered a great result for the end-user who will find that the FT wind sensor is plug-and-play for a wide range of commercially available marine navigation and control systems/devices.”