Design of an application to control a fan array wind tunnel

Fan array wind tunnels (FAWTs) allow the generation of complex wind flows, with variability in space and time, for many applications. These include aeronautical engineering, civil engineering, architecture, and environmental sciences, among others. These tunnels can produce wind conditions tailored to specific requirements, for example, by recreating oscillating winds, speed gradients, or wind gusts. We propose an open-source Fan Array Wind Tunnel (FAWT) wireless control architecture that is ready to be used or modified, according to the user’s needs. The project required interdisciplinary knowledge in electronics and computer science, with a primary focus on the latter. Skills in networking, programming (Java and Python), and the integration of hardware components such as Raspberry Pi, Adafruit EMC2101, and NanoDAQ-LTS-32 were essential. Additionally, graphical user interface design played a crucial role. The resulting system went beyond the initial expectations, delivering a highly advanced FAWT and an adaptable remote control tool, continuously improved into a valuable resource for research and application.