The automated laboratory container
Together with the engineering company impres GmbH (www.impres-gmbh.de), we developed and manufactured a 20-foot laboratory container for the Polytechnic University of Catalonia BarcelonaTech. The laboratory container was designed to be permanently installed on the roof of a building and to house various technical measuring instruments. The measuring instruments include a 3D LIDAR system (acronym for Light Detection and Ranging) as well as a radar system (acronym for Radio Detection and Ranging). The LIDAR consists of a high-power (class 4) laser and a telescope equipped with photodetectors. In order for the LIDAR to be able to generate 3D images, both the transmission equipment (laser) and the receiving equipment (telescope and photodetectors) must be able to rotate freely in a 180° field of view. However, all pieces of equipment also needed to be integrated in the container such that they are protected from moisture, dirt and mechanical influences. A further objective was to enable unmanned, automated operation of the laboratory container.
The 3D LIDAR system can measure the concentration of aerosols such as dirt and water vapour in the atmosphere at ranges of up to 15 km and analyse them in three dimensions. However, carrying out these measurements can also be hazardous for aviation. Aircraft pilots can be blinded by the laser beam! For this reason, the LIDAR is automatically switched off if the installed radar system detects an approaching aircraft. In order to protect the LIDAR and radar systems against external influences, both are installed on lifting equipment that can be extended and retracted through an opening in the roof. If the weather is unfavourable, then the lifting device automatically retracts into the equipment room of the container. A sliding roof hatch then seals the container roof, making it weatherproof. This allows automated, unmanned measurements to be carried out.
The air-conditioned laboratory room of the container houses the control electronics, data recorders and data-processing technology. The integrated workspaces also allow additional measurements to be carried out directly. The photos show external and internal views of the container as well as the roof of the university building where the laboratory container is installed. The animation shows the lifting equipment being extended and retracted. The laboratory container has been on the roof of the University for some time now, and it provides reliable measurement results.
Further information is available at: Website of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia BarcelonaTech
