Jacek Pieniazek

The cheap air data computer for aviation applications

Purpose – To present both the construction and sample applications of the small, low‐cost air data computer (ADC) with CAN interface, which has been designed at Avionics Department of Rzeszow Technical University.Design/methodology/approach – The ADC has been developed as a partial task during realization of few aviation projects. It uses cheap piesoresistive pressure sensors with digital temperature compensation to calculate following flight data: altitude, airspeed computed in two ways as instrumental airspeed and true airspeed, altitude rate, and atmosphere parameters: pressure, temperature and air density. This device is small and lightweight then it can be used on boards of both small aircraft and unmanned flying vehicles.Findings – This paper provides information about designed ADCs measurements accuracy. Also it informs about possibilities of the presented device uses.Practical implications – The lightweight low‐cost ADC can reduce both price and weight of complete control systems different types ...

Software compensation for Air Data Computer sensors

Sensors for the Air Data Computer must be precise in wide operating environment conditions. Besides choosing the best sensor for these purposes further accuracy improvement is necessary. Calibration method, in which temperature effects and non-linearity are taken into consideration, is presented in the paper. Static pressure probe error is another problem. For Air Data Computers, assigned for the small aircraft with augmented control system, software compensation of the static pressure error is implemented using access from another devices information and angle of attack computation. The soft angle of attack simulation tests show the method property.

Improvement of control accuracy by display aids

This paper concerns to displays in the application of control of the dynamic processes. Theoretical analysis of the whole control system shows the importance of additional variables utilization for a human as a controller. The methods of presentation of this additional variable is the subject of the experimental part. Results of experimental investigation generally confirm the analysis but shows great importance of human factors in effective utilization of proposed display aids.