MRI: Development: SWIMS--Standalone WIreless Magnetometer System

独立的无线磁强计系统将提供建立由100多个地面磁强计站组成的下一代网络所需的技术，从而满足电离层-磁层研究的关键需求。地磁活动时期既是最重要也是最具挑战性的研究时期，目前我们还没有必要的基础设施来跟踪M-I系统在磁暴期间的电动力学。这在我们的理解中留下了一个根本性的鸿沟。需要新的观测能力，能够以足够的空间和时间分辨率跟踪电离层电动力学在整个高活动期，以解决动力学的全球和较小尺度特征。SWIMS项目将开发一种新的、低成本、高性能的磁强计和独立观测站技术，可以在最少的后勤支持和维护的情况下部署。SWIFS安装将由最多三个太阳能/电池供电的传感器模块(SM)组成，这些模块通过无线射频(RF)连接到中央节点(CN)。CN还可以是太阳能/电池供电的，并提供与中央数据设施的通信。CN通过陆上线路(如有)或在必要时通过手机/卫星链路传送状况信息和科学数据。有两个技术问题需要解决。首先，需要一个易于安装和维护的天文台架构。其次，需要一种能够容忍和区分瞬时局部磁污染的系统。SWIFS应对这些挑战如下。新磁力计：SWIFS使用新的镜像式差动感应幅度磁力仪(MIDIAM)技术，其性能可满足电离层电动力学地面观测的需要。MIDIAM传感器和电子设备易于适应低功率应用和大量生产，同时保持与地面磁强计科学所需的现有科学级磁力仪相当的性能。无线：SWIFS使用独立的无线系统，在单个独立的SM中使用太阳能/电池供电系统和低功率射频链路，从而解决了传感器布线和后勤(电力)限制。这项技术将允许在短信和CN之间长达300码的距离内进行无线安装，CN也通过无线链路与中央数据设施通信。这一完全独立的系统对于降低由数百个站点组成的未来网络的部署和运营成本至关重要。多个传感器：由于MIDIAM成本低，而且每个SM都是无线的，SWIFS可以在单个站点使用多个SM来缓解噪音问题。通过分析来自多个传感器的信号，可以去除本地噪声源，如车辆。在该项目下，将开发和测试一个由三个传感器模块组成的原型游泳系统，该系统通过本地射频链路与CN进行通信。

The Standalone WIreless Magnetometer System (SWIMS) will meet critical needs in ionosphere-magnetosphere (M-I) research by providing the technology required to create the next generation of networks consisting of more than 100 ground magnetometer stations. Geomagnetically active times are both the most important and most challenging to study and at present we do not have the infrastructure needed follow the M-I system's electrodynamics during magnetic storms. This leaves a fundamental gap in our understanding. New observational capabilities are needed that can follow ionospheric electrodynamics through highly active periods with sufficient spatial and temporal resolution to resolve both the global and smaller scale features of the dynamics. The SWIMS project will develop a new, low cost, high performance magnetometer and stand-alone observatory technology that can be deployed with minimum logistical support and maintenance. A SWIMS installation would consist of up to three solar/battery powered Sensor Modules (SM) that are linked via wireless, radio frequency (RF) connection to a Central Node (CN). The CN can also be solar/battery powered and provides communication to a central data facility. The CN communicates status information and science data via land line where available or via cell phone/satellite link when necessary. There are two technical problems that need to be solved. First, an observatory architecture is needed that is easy to install and maintain. Second, a system is needed that can tolerate and discriminate against transient local magnetic contamination. SWIMS addresses these challenges as follows. New magnetometer: SWIMS uses new Mirror Image Differential Induction Amplitude Magnetometer (MIDIAM) technology with demonstrated performance that meets the needs of ground observations of ionospheric electrodynamics. The MIDIAM sensor and electronics are readily adaptable to low power applications and production in quantity while maintaining performance comparable to existing science-grade magnetometers required for the ground magnetometer science. Wireless: SWIMS solves sensor cabling and logistical (power) constraints by using a wireless system that is self-contained, using a solar/battery power system and a low power RF link in a single stand-alone SM. The technology will allow wireless installation over distances up to 300 yards between SMs and the CN which also communicates via wireless links to the central data facility. This completely standalone system is essential to reduce deployment and operations costs for future networks consisting of hundreds of sites. Multiple sensors: Because the MIDIAM is low cost and because each SM is wireless, SWIMS can use more than one SM at a single site to mitigate noise issues. Analysis of signals from multiple sensors allows for the removal of local noise sources, such as vehicles. Under this project a prototype SWIMS system of three sensor modules communicating via local RF link to a CN will be developed and tested.