Jeroen Smits
Business Development Manager
LI-560 TriSonica Sphere Ultrasonic Anemometer
The LI-560 TriSonica® Sphere Ultrasonic Anemometer delivers high-accuracy 3-dimensional wind speed, direction, and air temperature measurements in a patented spherical design that minimizes structural shadowing and distortion of the wind field.
The LI-560 is an advanced 3-dimensional ultrasonic anemometer that measures wind velocity (U, V, W components), wind direction, and air temperature at high sampling rates. Its unique spherical design dramatically reduces flow distortion and structural shadowing, enabling highly accurate vertical and 3-axis wind measurements in both stationary and mobile research applications.
Built with durable all-aluminum construction and optimized for size, weight, and power (SWaP), the LI-560 is ideal for atmospheric science, meteorological studies, atmospheric boundary layer profiling, environmental research, and integration on unmanned systems such as drones and UAS platforms.
Key Features
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True 3-D measurements of wind speed and direction (U, V, W) with minimal flow disturbance
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Patented spherical geometry for reduced structural interference and enhanced vertical accuracy
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High sampling rates up to 100 Hz for rapid atmospheric capture
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Integrated air temperature measurement
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Lightweight and rugged (≈225 g), suitable for airborne platforms and field deployments
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Wide environmental operating range (−20 °C to +72 °C, up to 5000 m altitude)
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Digital outputs via RS-232, RS-422, UART
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Low maintenance, no moving parts
Applications
The LI-560 Sphere is designed for demanding wind and atmospheric measurement applications such as:
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Atmospheric boundary layer research
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Meteorological and climatological studies
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UAV/UAS wind profiling and flight testing
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Mobile atmospheric stations
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Boundary layer turbulence measurements
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Environmental and air quality monitoring
Why Choose the LI-560 Sphere?
The LI-560 combines precision with performance:
✔ Accurate 3-axis wind measurement in complex conditions
✔ Reduced aerodynamic interference thanks to spherical design
✔ Lightweight and low-power for mobile and airborne systems
✔ Rugged for harsh field environments
Whether you’re doing high-resolution atmospheric research, deploying on a drone platform, or building environmental monitoring networks, the LI-560 delivers reliable, research-grade wind data.
Technical specifications
LI-560 Specifications
Power Supply Voltage: 5 - 32 VDC
Power: 600 mW (500mW typical)
Operating Environment:
Altitude: Up to 5000 meters
Temperature: -20 to 72 °C
Relative Humidity: 0 to 100% (non-condensing)
The 550USB is not rated for outdoor use.
Transient Overvoltage: Category I
Temporary Overvoltage: 40 V
Pollution Tolerance: Level 3 (enclosure must be intact)
Sampling Frequency: 100 Hz maximum
Ultrasonic Frequency: 60 kHz ±5 kHz
Weight: 225 grams
Size: 10.2 x 10.2 x 24.9 cm
Digital Output: RS-232, RS-422, UART-3V
Output Rate: 1 Hz, 2 Hz, 5 Hz, 10 Hz, 20 Hz, 25 Hz, 50 Hz, 100 Hz
Wind Speed Measurements:
Range: 0-50 m/s
Resolution: 0.01 m/s
Accuracy: (0-10 m/s): ±1*
Accuracy: (11-30 m/s): ±1%
Accuracy: (31-50 m/s): ±2%
*Averaged over 10 seconds
Wind Direction Measurements:
Range (u/v): 0-359°
Range (w): ±60°
Resolution: 1.0°
Accuracy: ±1.0°
Accuracy: (31-50 m/s): ±2%
Temperature Measurements:
Range: -20 °C to 72 °C
Resolution: 0.01 °C
Accuracy: ±2.0 °C
Accelerometer:
Range (u, v, w): ±2 g
Tilt (pitch, roll): ±90°