Before we tar Crossbow with its own PDA, we should ask if the update rate
observed
was a function of the AHRS unit or the PDA. I vote the PDA off the island.
Take a look at Crossbow's website, click on their "pilot's guide", and you
will see the
dynamic response of their AHRS, measured through the data link, in
comparison with
a ring gyro and a high quality rotating-mass gyro. It is nearly
indistinguishable from the
ring gyro and worlds better than the rotating-mass gyro. These guys make
inertial units
for missiles and ground vehicles.
Crossbow is developing a certificated version of the unit they displayed.
It is intended for
IFR replacement. It will cost about $7-$8K. Their uncertificated unit
costs about $2K.
Dynon Development is just north of me in Seattle. Tom Friedland's actually
visited them,
and is quite impressed with their product. I've talked to them a couple of
times, and they've
been very open, and very serious about making a good quality, cost-effective
panel-mount
EFIS. Top of the wish list for a followon product for me is a bigger
screen.
At present, the cheapest solid-state gyro system that is IFR-quality ( and
not even certified!)
is the Sierra Flight Systems unit, at well over $30K. Crossbow looks to
bring that down to
maybe $10K when you factor in the unbelievable cost of a daylight readable
screen (over $1K!).
We will have to wait for Dynon's (and Icarus') test results to see if the
inertial sensors they're
using can hold up under the harsh environment of a light plane.
Ferg's right. Without a robust sensor design, these new products are so
much panel candy.
But given how much the price for solid state has dropped in the 2 years
since Sierra introduced
their EFIS, I am very hopeful that my front panel will cost only $29.95 when
I begin stuffing it
in about 18 months!
Shaun
A207
----- Original Message -----
From: <tonyk@kaon.co.nz>
Subject: Re: The Solid-State Gyro PDA
> I had a look at the Crossbow unit at Oshkosh and wasn't very impressed. It
is
> rather expensive and the screen updates were slow. Considering that an AH
is
> designed to be a life saver I think they'll have to do better than the
rather
> jerky updates that they have at the present time. I'd also question as to
why
> you would use a PDA as a primary flight instrument.
>
> The Dynon developments unit on the other hand is a real work of art and is
> worth looking at.
>
> There was a Velocity on the stand just over from Europa with two Blue
Mountain
> Avionics systems as the panel. We worked out that the panel cost more than
a
> Europa!!
>
> Tony
>
> ps ZK-TSK had the master contacter and fuel pumps turned on for the first
time
> today. No smoke :-)
>
> Quoting ScramIt@aol.com:
>
> > Great Zot! Look at this:
> > http://www.xbow.com/html/the_Gyro_Guide3.htm
>
>
|