The SWUF-3D Drone Fleet: A Tool for High-Resolution In Situ Measurements of Wind Farm Aerodynamics

Accurate prediction of wind turbine performance and structural loads relies on understanding the complex, three-dimensional nature of wind farm flows. This encompasses not only atmospheric boundary layer turbulence in the inflow but also the wake dynamics critical for turbines operating in array configurations.
We present results from the SWUF-3D drone fleet, a novel measurement system deployed at the WiValdi research park in Krummendeich. Following validation against wind tunnel tests and meteorological masts, the drone swarm captured synchronized, multi-point measurements of the flow field surrounding operational turbines. The dataset reveals detailed profiles of mean wind speed deficits and wake turbulence, while also resolving the distinct signatures of tip vortex decay. These results highlight the potential of drone swarms to serve as flexible, high-precision references for validating wake models. Furthermore, they provide a crucial validation tool for Doppler wind lidar retrievals, bridging the gap between intensive in situ campaigns and continuous, long-term remote sensing.