One of the keys to success for the ONSPEED project is collaboration. We've been working on this project for over four years and continually meet new folks interested in the work we are doing. There is a tremendous amount of knowledge in the experimental amateur-built (EAB) aviation community. As a volunteer, non-profit, open source organization, we welcome participation by anyone interested. We can use the help of engineers and flight test professionals for our system development work and flight training experts for our educational mission. We can also use the help of any experimenter that is interested in the project for input and assistance with beta test. Any input or questions are valuable, so participation by everyone is welcome and we'd like to encourage discussion on our forum page and this blog.
I'd also like to mention that FlyONSPEED.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public safety organization and we always welcome fully tax-deductible donations. If you would like to donate to the project, follow the PayPal link on our home page. Our budget goes to hardware acquisition. For example, during beta test we build the AOA computer and harness and provide it to our beta testers free of charge. All we ask in return is for calibration and flight test data (no small "ask," by the way; since that requires time, a desire to learn and experiment, and 100LL to accomplish!). Additionally, we have procured dedicated test equipment such as calibrated test booms, etc. to help us with our work.
We are currently consolidating software and hardware information on the FlyONSPEED GitHub site so that anyone can download design information or software. Tinkerers should find enough information there to build a system from scratch if they desire. Manufacturer's can sniff check our logic for incorporation in existing systems as well. Lenny and Phil, our electronics gurus, are currently finishing up the final design iteration of our Gen 2 motherboard and we will be producing approximately 25 units for beta test. Part of our beta test project will be to equip the airplanes at the Sling Flight Academy in Torrence, California to obtain research data in a flight school/training environment. We are currently in the design of experiment phase and would welcome any input from folks about how to frame the beta test work to allow for a quantitative analysis of data, which is really just a fancy way of saying "how well does this work in an operational environment?" One of the other objectives of beta test will be to equip airplanes with different types of AOA differential pressure configurations to determine the feasibility of using our system with any AOA sensor. After initial equipage is complete in the beta test fleet, we will move on to testing more advanced features including beta (sideslip) cuing and incorporating the accelerometers in the AOA computer as well as tackling the 800lb gorilla in the room: automating calibration.
The bottom line is that we would like to hear from you! Contribute to the forum, guest blog or join us on discussion on the Safety Page for Van's Air Force if you are an RV'er.