Wind tunnel model measuring system and method

A wind tunnel incorporating a wind tunnel model measuring system, the wind tunnel comprising:

• a plurality of walls defining a wind tunnel structure, and at least one of the plurality of walls defining a closet portion;
• a motorized fan mounted within a fan portion of the wind tunnel structure;
• a wind tunnel model measuring system having a measuring assembly, the measuring assembly comprising:
• an automated movable structure with at least one measuring device mounted thereon and configured for placement within the wind tunnel;
• and,
• a measuring controller device located outside the wind tunnel to control the automated movable structure in order to remotely move the automated movable structure from a storage position within the closet portion of the wind tunnel to one or more operating positions with respect to a wind tunnel model within the wind tunnel and to allow the at least one measuring device to determine a relative position of at least one movable first component of the wind tunnel model with respect to a second component of the wind tunnel model, the second component coupled to the at least one movable first component;
• and,
• a computer configured for placement outside the wind tunnel and coupled to the measuring controller device to process an output of relational measurements obtained by the at least one measuring device of the at least one movable first component with respect to the second component.

A method for positioning and measuring wind tunnel model components within a pressurized wind tunnel, the method comprising:

• installing in a wind tunnel, a wind tunnel model and a wind tunnel model positioning and measuring system, the wind tunnel model having at least one movable first component and a second component coupled to the at least one movable first component, the wind tunnel model positioning and measuring system comprising a positioning assembly and a measuring assembly, the measuring assembly having an automated movable structure with at least one measuring device mounted thereon;
• adjusting with the positioning assembly a relative position of the at least one movable first component with respect to the second component;
• moving within a pressurized wind tunnel the automated movable structure with the at least one measuring device, from a storage position that does not influence an air flow across the wind tunnel model, to one or more operating positions with respect to the wind tunnel model;
• and,
• measuring and verifying with the at least one measuring device the relative position of the at least one movable first component with respect to the second component.