iPods to be Used as Flight Data Recorders 200
udamahan writes "Flight Global reports small aircraft manufacturer LoPresti is introducing a system that uses an iPod as a flight data recorder. The company states that they chose the iPod for its size, low power requirements, and the 'thousands of developers passionate about writing applications for the iPod.' The article notes that data recorders are typically used for maintenance, flight/safety analysis, or, assuming proper protection, crash investigation."
Hmm (Score:2, Interesting)
Flash drives would be better.. (Score:4, Interesting)
Mine has been dropped, smashed, been through both washing machine and dryer. All with no noticable damage and no dataloss.
My HDD recorder, on the other hand, was destroyed by a small amount of coca cola
Re:Flash drives would be better.. (Score:3, Interesting)
The most notable would be flying off a lecture room table and hitting the floor two meters below.
Still works perfectly.
Re:Without certification (Score:4, Interesting)
On experimental aircraft, yes. On certified aircraft, no.
I'm not sure what value would be gained, though... about the best that could be recorded is OBS position and CDI deflection, maybe turn rate and bank angle if the turn coordinator/artificial horizon can provide feedback.
If the aircraft has a GPS (big if), I guess you could record position and velocity data.
Trouble (Score:4, Interesting)
I finally fixed it by ripping the thing apart and re-seating the drive cable. But still...
Re:Shocking... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Shocking... (Score:1, Interesting)
iPod's don't like to get high... (Score:2, Interesting)
what about the car? (Score:2, Interesting)
AND WHAT ABOUT MY FLYING CAR!!! I WANT MY FLYING CAR!!! With the iPod option!
Re:Shocking... (Score:3, Interesting)
They say the case they sell is crushproof, waterproof, airtight and they make iPod enclosures.
www.otterbox.com
I might buy one eventually because I like listening to music when I swim, and I've heard good things about them. Does anyone know if the iPod stops working at something like 35000 feet or so, and would the container somehow negate this effect? I'm pretty clueless about this stuff, but I assume that case would help somewhat...
Streaming Blackbox? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Shocking... (Score:2, Interesting)
I am sure these guys [ntscorp.com] can help you out there.
The MIL-STD-901D light weight hammer test [aerospacet.com] will get you there (we see over 2,000 Gs all the time), but I my personal favorite is the 901D heavy weight barge test [hitestlabs.com]. It will only get you about 300Gs worst case (although the shock duration is much longer), but you get to set off 65lb TNT charges. Well worth the price of admission.