Airspeed indicator for $99  
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All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Extreme Speed Prop Planes >> Airspeed indicator for $99
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[Poll]

Airspeed indicator for $99
would buy for $99
  75% (12)
too expensive
  25% (4)
wouldn't need one
  0% (0)


Total Votes : 16
(last vote on : 2/25/2008 8:18:48 PM)
(Poll will run till: -- )
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Airspeed indicator for $99 - 8/19/2003 8:34:32 AM   
AirSpeed-RCU


 

Posts: 37
Joined: 7/22/2003
From: Ennismore, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		The unit will allow you to determine top air speed upon landing by visual display (led). A yet to be determined amount memory will be used to store airspeed data for later analysis on a PC. Upgradeable to include audible airspeed warning with 2 set points and possibly RPM.

< Message edited by AirSpeed-RCU -- 9/18/2003 4:34:46 AM >
       Post #: 1

Re: Airspeed indicator for $99 - 8/19/2003 3:13:17 PM   
Dansy



Posts: 355
Joined: 3/2/2002
From: Kingston, NS, CANADA
Status: offline 		You sell this unit ?


[QUOTE]Originally posted by AirSpeed
The unit will allow you to determine top air speed upon landing by visual display (led). An yet to be determined amount memory can be used to store airspeed data for later analysis on a PC. Upgradeable to include audible airspeed warning with2 set points and possibly RPM. [/QUOTE]

_____________________________

Daniel D.

(in reply to AirSpeed-RCU)
       Post #: 2

Airspeed indicator for $99 - 8/19/2003 7:10:04 PM   
AirSpeed-RCU


 

Posts: 37
Joined: 7/22/2003
From: Ennismore, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		Depends on the response I get. Including the " it should do this" replies. In other words suggestions are welcome.

(in reply to AirSpeed-RCU)
       Post #: 3

Airspeed indicator for $99 - 8/20/2003 4:13:24 AM   
AirSpeed-RCU


 

Posts: 37
Joined: 7/22/2003
From: Ennismore, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		Dansy

Sorry about evading your question it wasn't intentional.

I have research all the components needed for the basic functions and have done some prototyping. I will continue to develop the unit but I'm hoping for more feed back from this community for fine tuning and features to include.

Some have mentioned that engine temp would be nice. What do you think?

(in reply to AirSpeed-RCU)
       Post #: 4

Airspeed indicator for $99 - 8/20/2003 11:47:36 AM   
Selftaught



Posts: 16
Joined: 8/19/2003
From: USA
Status: offline 		Hi,
My friend has one of those new ones. It uses a piece of fuel tubing to gather the information. It's kind of neat but gets boring pretty quick fooling with it. Also he can't retrieve the information until he gets home and downloads it and by then all the excitement is gone and your left with no one to brag to.
Now if three or four guys went in on it together the novelty wouldn't wear off so quick possibly.
Unless your constantly into speed planes that is.

(in reply to AirSpeed-RCU)
       Post #: 5

Airspeed indicator for $99 - 8/20/2003 8:23:37 PM   
daven



Posts: 7013
Joined: 12/7/2001
From: Andover, MN, USA
Status: offline 		Heres my thoughts on this. If the unit was inexpensive (under $100), I could see a need for this type of product.

My questions would be:

How big would the unit be?
Could it be plugged into your current receiver battery, or would it need a seperate battery?
How quick and easy would it be to swap out into another plane?
Would it max out? In other words at what speed, would it no longer work?

I think simplicity, ease of use, and a low cost will make a product like this a winner. There are already several products out there that seem to do everything including PC interface.

Keep it simple and cheap, and I think you have a market.

_____________________________

Dave Norman

klasskote.com
supertrc.com

(in reply to AirSpeed-RCU)
       Post #: 6

Airspeed indicator for $99 - 8/20/2003 11:54:14 PM   
smchale



Posts: 844
Joined: 6/19/2002
From: Malvern, PA, USA
Status: offline 		It would also be nice to be able to move it from plane to plane without much effort. ie. you fly, then your buddy flys, then someone else uses it...then you can compare the speeds for that same flying session.

_____________________________

Cheers, Sean McHale
www.strictlyscale.com....and Revver Brotherhood #101

(in reply to AirSpeed-RCU)
       Post #: 7

Airspeed indicator for $99 - 8/21/2003 5:16:21 AM   
Dansy



Posts: 355
Joined: 3/2/2002
From: Kingston, NS, CANADA
Status: offline 		I think it would be nice....but it would also depend on the size and weight....I fly pattern and 3D plane mainly, so weight is always on my mind...

Also I would not want additional battery, I use Duralites plus with 6 volt regulator..so a unit that work with 6 volt would be also very nice.

If the same unit could also include RPM I think it would give a better idea of what is happening with the set-up, mind you that one can always guess the in-flight RPM.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by AirSpeed
Dansy

Sorry about evading your question it wasn't intentional.

I have research all the components needed for the basic functions and have done some prototyping. I will continue to develop the unit but I'm hoping for more feed back from this community for fine tuning and features to include.

Some have mentioned that engine temp would be nice. What do you think? [/QUOTE]

_____________________________

Daniel D.

(in reply to AirSpeed-RCU)
       Post #: 8

Airspeed indicator for $99 - 8/21/2003 7:15:02 AM   
AirSpeed-RCU


 

Posts: 37
Joined: 7/22/2003
From: Ennismore, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by smchale
It would also be nice to be able to move it from plane to plane without much effort. ie. you fly, then your buddy flys, then someone else uses it...then you can compare the speeds for that same flying session. [/QUOTE]

This could be achieved quite easily, the only thing required would be a second pitot. The pitot (still under development) will likely be a short brass tube conected to the unit via tubing.

Dansy

I was thinking of adding extra sensors capabilities to the unit. RPM and Temp are the most likely.

< Message edited by AirSpeed-RCU -- Aug 31 2003 1:59AM >

(in reply to AirSpeed-RCU)
       Post #: 9

Airspeed indicator for $99 - 8/21/2003 8:32:29 AM   
Selftaught



Posts: 16
Joined: 8/19/2003
From: USA
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by AirSpeed
convicted to the unit with via tubing.

Dansy
[/QUOTE]
Oh, that does it.
I hate convicts!~

(in reply to AirSpeed-RCU)
       Post #: 10

Sounds real good- - 8/21/2003 8:46:18 AM   
Razor-RCU



Posts: 5294
Joined: 3/21/2002
From: Ramona, CA, USA
Status: offline 		My question is- How accurate will it be?

You always hear about radar guns being out of whack, and no-one ever really knows what the speed is-

If I am driving down the street in my car, how accurate would it be compared to my speedometer (for example-)?

I have a Patriot and Jett-50 and I think I am a little over a buck- some folks say 150MPH (?)

I ould happily pay $100- if it is fairly accurate and easy to operate- Don't need RPM's or engine Temp. tho-


_____________________________

Revver #5

(in reply to AirSpeed-RCU)
       Post #: 11

I'm Back - 8/28/2003 8:26:22 AM   
AirSpeed-RCU


 

Posts: 37
Joined: 7/22/2003
From: Ennismore, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		Razor

Sorry about taking so long to reply, I've been away.

I'm not quite sure about the accuracy yet. I don't want to guess because the resolution of the pressure sensor is the most influential factor and I won't know which one I'm going to use.

What is the minimum accuracy you'd want?

(in reply to AirSpeed-RCU)
       Post #: 12

5-10? - 8/28/2003 8:36:20 AM   
Razor-RCU



Posts: 5294
Joined: 3/21/2002
From: Ramona, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Within 10MPH would be fine with me- I am just a sport flier that is curious about my different plane/prop. combos-

Put me on the list for one whenever it is ready to go-

Good luck and keep us all posted!
james


_____________________________

Revver #5

(in reply to AirSpeed-RCU)
       Post #: 13

Airspeed indicator for $99 - 8/30/2003 7:57:37 PM   
controlmech



Posts: 29
Joined: 11/10/2002
From: Friendswood, TX, USA
Status: offline 		The speed logger would be a great function if it could log say 10-15 minutes of data. If you're looking to add channels, my preferences, in order, would be engine rpm, temperature, & altitude.
The sensor technology is out there to do this accurately, but the trick will be to find something that you can use that is already in mass production (read cheap). A possibility would be a manifold pressure sensor from a popular make of car.
Calibrating the pitot won't be hard, but the mounting on the respective airframe will impact accuracy more than anything.

(in reply to AirSpeed-RCU)
       Post #: 14

Airspeed indicator for $99 - 8/31/2003 6:52:36 AM   
AirSpeed-RCU


 

Posts: 37
Joined: 7/22/2003
From: Ennismore, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		I not sure yet how much ram will be available for data collection. That will be determined when I choose which micro I'm going to use. The length of time you'll be able to store will be adjustable (samples/sec).

I'm thinking RPM will most likely be the extra function.

As far as sensor technology goes, I think a part used on a car would probably have an inflated price, due to the nature of the car parts business (auto = >$). Another problem in terms of the pressure sensor is it needs to be high resolution. The pressure created by a pitot at 200mph is only ~0.75 PSI and the PSI at 20mph is only 0.0075.

Yes, mounting of the Pitot will be critical it terms of accuracy. For this reason I've been trying to come up with a good way to mount the pitot on the top of the tail fin. I think this would be the cleanest air around the aircraft.

What do you think?

(in reply to AirSpeed-RCU)
       Post #: 15

Airspeed indicator for $99 - 8/31/2003 12:17:45 PM   
RampRat


 

Posts: 267
Joined: 1/11/2002
From: Stokke, NORWAY
Status: offline 		For planes with a prop in the nose, top of the vertical fin, or on the wing would probably be the best places. Just get it out of the propwash.

For pusher-props, DF, and turbine, the nose would be your best alternative....

Now, for functions... Speed and RPM would be great, but one should have some way of checking at least max speed and the RPM at said speed, in the field. Perhaps a small 3 digit display showing RPM in 100 RPM increments?

And one other thing: Switchable between KPH and MPH in the display.

This could be a really nice gadget for most planes if the size, weight, and price is right...

A feature i would like in addition is a altimeter that could display at least max altitude. Perhaps a addon-unit?

One question about the pitot-sensor: Would it use a static-port as reference pressure, or would one just calibrate it on the ground? Without a static-port, the unit would indicate less airspeed as you gain altitude...
After all, the pressure drops roughly 0.0145 PSI for every 10 meters / 40 ft of increased altitude...

(in reply to AirSpeed-RCU)
       Post #: 16

Airspeed indicator for $99 - 9/1/2003 1:30:01 AM