Design and Development of a Piezoelectric Wind Sensor for Mars Exploration

This work proposes and preliminarily evaluates a piezoelectric sonic anemometer designed to measure Martian wind speed and direction. Building on existing rover experience with hot-film sensors, the study first maps the extreme thermal, pressure, and dust storm constraints of Mars onto functional requirements for the transducer system. A systematic Ashby-plot material screening compares ceramics (soft/hard lead zirconate titanate, quartz, barium titanate) and polymers (polyvinylidene fluoride) with respect to piezoelectric charge coefficient, electromechanical coupling constant and low-temperature stability in the demanding conditions of the martian environment. Soft PZT emerge as leading candidates for the dual sensor/actuator in the sonic anemometer. These results motivate the fabrication of a laboratory prototype and validation in Mars-analog wind tunnels.