Anyone know of any inexpensive devices for planes that could possibly track speed, altitude, g forces etc?

Perhaps something that could be connected to a computer later on via usb and upload multiple flight data.

Kinda new to advanced rc stuff.. so I wasnt sure if they exist (for a reasonable price) or what their exact name is..

Side question: how do most people gather data such as MPH.. via radar guns? Arent these pricey for long range ones?

What sort of device can measure both the watts put out by a power system and the thrust generated? (just a plain old watt meter)?

Thanks

For some cheap ones that won't do all the things you're asking for you can check united hobbies... I know they have a couple data recorders for cheap

Use your watt meter to determine watts. If you're under 5 pounds of thrust any postal scale from your local office supply store will work. Create a 90 degree jig to hook the motor to with a pivot point. Equal length distance between the motor and the scale. Most people just do a rough calculation for speed based on rpm and which propeller they are using. Not quite accurate but good enough to get a relative idea.

Check the Eagle Tree Data recorder. Does some of this stuff with more data coming down the rd. Works very well for picking props,etc . Fits in my smallest foamys.

As far as watt meters go.. is this one fairly universal/good.. http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LX3605&P=ML .. Any cheaper than this out there?

EDIT: Or this watt meter with usb ability for about $6 more?: http://www.medusaproducts.com/Power-.../pa-60100T.htm


That system from Eagle Tree looks very sweet..

I'm confused on what is needed though.. http://www.eagletreesystems.com/Plane/plane.html Appears to indicate about $369.. but I'm not sure what they are giving you at that price. It appears you need to add more money to get GPS ability, track RPMs? You have to add on electric expanders for voltage, air tube for air speed?

Then on Tower Hobbies they have the recording device that comes with the main kit above: http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXHBZ0&P=FR

Either way it looks like a good system.. but I think if you want gps tracking that jacks the total cost to around $500 and doesnt include any of the rpm/voltage/speed/altitude sensors?

The one I use from Eagletree is the Micropower. Much smaller and lighter and more reasonably priced. not as many functions but does what I want to know. Just another choice.

Ah .. I didnt see that one.. did you have to buy all the sensors seperately.. Which rpm sensor are you using (which is better, the optical or the one that connects to the motor)? It appears you have to add $40 for lcd sensor (which doesnt show live data remotely while your flying.. only attached to the plane?), then $29 for altitude, $14.99 for rpm, $9.99 for temp.. looks like about $200 for the whole deal right? Will that lcd show the max altitude/speed, after you land, or do you have to hook up to a laptop to see this info?

I guess I wouldnt need to spend $50-$60 on a watt meter if I used something like this?


How are most people measuring thrust?

This gadget doesn't do everything you want but it is a fun start.

Wayne

http://www.kennedycomposites.com/accessories-zlog.html

Yeah I saw that before.. I wasnt sure if it would do multiple flights, then download them to a PC at home later on, or if you have to reset/download after each flight.

I did buy the optical tach which was pretty well useless. They came out with the magnetic tach later which apparently works fine. Also bought the LCD display for picking props for performance and load, also two temp senders to monitor motor and batt. temp. Laptop or home comp. really tells the story by instrument or graph readout with many parameters. With the LCD there is no need for a Wattmeter. You can program it for multiple flights with a line after each flight and a two hr run time if I remember right, or start a new program each time you unplug it and plug it in. Hope this helps.

Cool.. did you have to buy the altimeter or any other things that you didnt mention (IE: What did it come with ability wise out of the box for the $70 or whatever the price tag is)

Mark

Basically it just monitors the motor, Mark. Volts, amps, watts, and run time.

I use the RAM2, altimeter logger. Works like the ZLOG, but have no display. It samples for 9 hours, and every time the receiver is turned off/on it logs a new flight. Can read it all on my computer. Some pics can be seen in my review, but the language might be a problem: http://www.modellflynytt.no/articles.php?articleId=135

In my large sailplanes I use the Picolario. This is a telemetri-system which sends vario-signal, height, battery voltage and glitchwarnings down to a receiver on the ground and to an earpiece I use. This system is about to be upgraded with GPS allowing speed and position to be monitored too. This system is a must for everyone who do aerotowing large gliders searching thermals in hights where it is hard to read thelmal on the aircraft. Typically we reach heights of 4000ft before we have to add spoilers and get lower. The nicest gadget among all available

Well based on what I've read and gathered so far from everyone.. here are the current top data recorders (unless I'm missing one):

Cheapest might be the Garmen Geko 201 ($65), will soon have OSD ability with artificial horizon, in conjunction with software like Garmin Mapsource.

Zlog mod4.. just does altitude, can track multiple flights? $90, post flight

Ram2 zlogger .. altitude.. $99 (ram3 due out in 2007), post flight.

Micropower from EagleTree $200 ($69.99 for the base unit, more for features like lcd, rpm, altitude, airspeed, temperature), no live data ability, only post flight.

Picolario telemetry via earpiece $?? (couldnt find online), does height, battery info, etc

Seagull Glide System from Eagle Tree $369 plus more for other sensors.. lcd readout attaches to your radio transmitter for Live data, hookup to PC for live data (gauges) as well, including artificial horizon, dont believe there is an OSD version (for goggles).. does just about everything including googlemap 3d graphing ($150 for gps addon), gforce sensors too

**RTL (return to landing) device.. http://www.u-nav.com/picopilot/picopilotn.html $400 with GPS ability, will basically fly your plane back to a designated spot (what if the battery dies.. i guess it would still crash eh?


Money aside, my fav is the seagull.. for that live data stream.. or the Garmen device (if you had a laptop handy), though once garmen has the OSD, you wouldnt need a laptop, especially if using goggles.

I'm assuming even with 4oz camera gear and 2oz of a Seagull system, even a plane like the TwinStar II with brushless Hackers could handle this load easy


Thanks to all for the info thus far.

About the Picolario: http://www.picolario.de/picolario_ta...lario_talk.htm

You have to deceide if you want to read out graphs after flight or want to use the datas during flight. During flight you can`t watch a screen...

Then the picolario is unique because you get all the info you ask for to your ear. But the info is made for sailplanes especially.

Small altimeter-loggers like RAM" and ZLOG is meant for DLG and winch-launching to read out which zooming and throws that works best (best height). But I have used this to check out climb-performance on motor-gliders too; log the time it takes to climb to 200 meters on different setups.

All the logging-devices are (in my opinion) good if you want to explore how motors load/unload during flight etc, nice for the first flight on a setup, but after that useless. Or: a gadget, nice to have and play with...
But who can resist having a lot of gadgets???