Traversing system for full-scale wind tunnel

Measuring acoustic and aerodynamic properties of full-scale automobiles in a wind tunnel with a 250 km/h airstream demands a traversing system that is rigid enough to withstand the airstream without affecting measurement accuracy; sufficiently aerodynamic to reduce the effects of own noise on measurements; and highly accurate in positioning measurement instruments. The traversing system described here, installed at the University of Stuttgart, meets these requirements by combining laser and computer technology, aerodynamics and traditional high-precision mechanical engineering.