MRI: Development: SWIMS--Standalone WIreless Magnetometer System

独立无线磁力计系统（SWIMS）将通过提供创建由100多个地面磁力计站组成的下一代网络所需的技术，满足电离层-磁层（M-I）研究的关键需求。地磁活动时间是最重要也是最具挑战性的研究，目前我们还没有在磁暴期间跟踪M-I系统电动力学所需的基础设施。这给我们的理解留下了根本性的空白。需要新的观测能力来跟踪电离层电动力学，使其在高活跃期具有足够的空间和时间分辨率，以解决电离层电动力学的全球和小尺度特征。SWIMS项目将开发一种新的、低成本的、高性能的磁力计和独立的天文台技术，可以用最少的后勤支持和维护进行部署。一个SWIMS装置将由多达三个太阳能/电池供电的传感器模块（SM）组成，这些模块通过无线、射频（RF）连接到一个中央节点（CN）。CN也可以是太阳能/电池供电，并提供通信到中央数据设施。在可能的情况下，通过固定线路或必要时通过手机/卫星链路传送状态信息和科学数据。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体系结构。其次，需要一个能够容忍和区分瞬态局部磁污染的系统。SWIMS解决这些挑战如下。新型磁力计：SWIMS采用新型镜像差分感应振幅磁力计（MIDIAM）技术，其性能已证明可满足电离层电动力学地面观测的需要。MIDIAM传感器和电子设备很容易适应低功耗应用和批量生产，同时保持与地面磁力计科学所需的现有科学级磁力计相当的性能。无线：SWIMS通过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RF链路，解决了传感器布线和后勤（电源）限制。该技术将允许SMs和CN之间的无线安装距离达到300码，CN还通过无线链路与中央数据设施进行通信。这种完全独立的系统对于减少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，因此SWIMS可以在单个站点使用多个SM来减轻噪声问题。对来自多个传感器的信号进行分析，可以去除局部噪声源，如车辆。根据该项目，将开发和测试由三个传感器模块组成的原型SWIMS系统，该系统通过本地射频链路与CN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.