A low-cost aerometric sensor system for sport aviation

Abstract

Abstract This paper deals with the concept, the design and an experimental prototype of a low-cost aerometric sensor system for sport aviation. The performance of an experimental prototype of the sensor system is compared with the performance of a standard system. The possible further development of the system is also mentioned. The system presented here originates from and extends earlier basic work on an aerometric system for general aviation. The extension implements and focuses general designs from the earlier system for real use of the current system in the category of sport airplanes and gliders. The objective of the system is to reduce the cost of aircraft instrumental equipment, and to provide improved measurement performance of the aerometric system using an innovative approach of altitude measurements. In the experimental system, altitude is still determined based on the classic barometric principle. However, for measurements of atmospheric pressure, the differential pressure sensor is used primarily in combination with a low-cost absolute pressure sensor, which also measures in a differential mode.