Poor man's FTI

[Genghis the Engineer]

Just flagged up to me by a colleague:

http://www.assetmonitoring.eu/msr145.html

I know nothing more than you can read there at the moment - but what a wonderful cheap, non-intrusive, poor-man's or backup FTI (if it works!).

Dear santa...

G

[Shawn Coyle]

The kit by Appareo is also quite amazing. $5,000 for a GPS, three axis accelerometers, rate gyros, magnetometers.
See their website www.appareo.com for details.

[Genghis the Engineer]

I've got an Appareo setup on order at the moment and hopefully we'll be trying it out in the next month or two, but the flight training package (http://www.appareo.com/php/product.php?product=27) of recorder, active antenna and six sets of analysis software came to nearer US$2000, they must have seen the size of your bank balance Shawn!

I'll let you know how it works out - all going to plan, we'll probably use it as primary FTI for evaluation of a little GA single seater next summer.

(But I have some discrete applications where that little coin-sized recorder might just come in very useful, and at that price, it won't take much justification).

G

[ArthurR]

Just passed it on to colleagues here :ok:


After reading the data sheet, I think my boss will order a few.
Thanks for link Gengis :D

[infinity-it]

Did you already have the chance to test this Appareo system? I'm also looking for such a system. It would be great if you could give us a short report about the system.

Thank you very much

[Genghis the Engineer]

Right at the moment the damn thing seems to be stuck in UK customs whilst an argument is ensuing about whether we have to pay import duty on it or not!

Or in other words, no - we've not tested it yet!

G

[Shawn Coyle]

infintity-it:
I was impressed by the simplicity of the installation. I have used the GAU-1000 (which is the lower priced version that doesn't take other data, like engine data and can be temporarily mounted nearly anywhere - their other model requires a permanent installation). Runs for up to three hours on internal battery and can be powered with 12v adapter.
Setup was easy, and calibration was also easy (I nearly said straightforward, but that would be misleading - calibration requires two 360° turns on the ground…).
It sits there and quietly gives attitude in pitch and roll, heading, pitch and roll rates and accelerations and speed (obviously groundspeed).
Software was easy to use for post-flight processing, and you can export the data to Excel very easily.
I've used in in a helicopter and also on a car and will be using it on trucks for coast-down testing. Impressive stuff and very inexpensive.

[infinity-it]

Shawn Coyle:

Thank you very much for your report. That really sounds like a good device. Do you have the GAU 1000-A or 1000-P? Are there any sensors needed (e.g. temperature). Some of the attitude and heading reference systems which also use accelerometers have to be installed close or at the C of G. Can the GAU 1000 be placed anywhere in the aircraft? At what interval is the GPS position updated?

[Shawn Coyle]

infinity-it:
The device can be placed pretty much anywhere in the aircraft. Goes on with a velcro patch on the back. We initially used the GAU-1000 with the integral antennae, but have decided to purchase the GAU-1000A with the GPS antennae on a 5m lead.
Data update rate is 4Hz, using WAAS, so if you don't have WAAS, it might not be as good.
I have noticed the vertical channel is a bit less accurate than the horizontal position, but that's to be expected.

[infinity-it]

In this case you would recommend GAU-1000A?