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New Smartphone App for pilots

 
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rampil



Joined: 04 May 2007
Posts: 870

PostPosted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 2:01 pm    Post subject: New Smartphone App for pilots Reply with quote

Greetings All,

While being grounded for the past many months with a cracked engine block,
I have been amusing myself by writing software.

Allow me to introduce avAltimeter

Not many many people are aware that in the iPhone 6 and later, Apple
has incorporated a Bosch barometer chip. I recently released to the
App Store a unique app which emulates an analog flight altimeter with
a number of "smart" features including a Kollsman window for setting
the current pressure, calculation of Density Altitude, true airspeed and
takeoff performance. The App also provides a warning for supplemental
oxygen consistent with US FARs.

Obviously avAltimeter is not FAA TSO approved and so I provide it for
entertainment only. At present it can only be run on iPhone 6 and later,
and not iPads or iPods. I understand the new Samsung Galaxy S7 now
has a barometer chip as well and I plan to transfer the code to Android
soon.

My software web site is http://www.aviametrix.com
or search for "avAltimeter" on the Apple App Store!

Thanks for your attention!

Cheers,


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PostPosted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 1:29 am    Post subject: New Smartphone App for pilots Reply with quote

On 2016-06-27, at 23:01, rampil <ira.rampil(at)gmail.com> wrote:

Quote:
Allow me to introduce avAltimeter

Ira - thanks for your posting. The app looks nicely done and seems to provide a number of useful functions to back up other instruments or calculations in a handy way. I’ve not yet downloaded it to try as there appears to be a drawback that, for me, would make it very inconvenient to use.

I note that there is a single switch for imperial and metric units. We here in the UK (and I think the same applies in in a few other territories) use hectoPascals (equivalent to millibars) as the pressure unit and feet as the altitude unit. I can’t see from the descriptive info on the App Store how that combination of units might be displayed. If it were possible, I’d suggest having separate switches for the altitude units and the pressure units.

in friendship

Rowland

| Rowland Carson ... that's Rowland with a 'w' ...
| <rowlandcarson(at)gmail.com> http://www.rowlandcarson.org.uk
| Skype, Twitter: rowland_carson Facebook: Rowland Carson


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rampil



Joined: 04 May 2007
Posts: 870

PostPosted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 7:56 am    Post subject: Re: New Smartphone App for pilots Reply with quote

Hi Rowland!

Several folks have requested this feature, so I have incorporated it this
morning. I will test it over the next day or two and then submit it to
App Store review. Hopefully, the new version will be available in the Store
by the weekend.

The new version splits metric into input and output. In for the altimeter
setting and the OAT. Out for the altitude and the Density Altitude.

I appreciate the suggestions!

Cheers,

Ira


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zwakie



Joined: 03 Aug 2009
Posts: 157

PostPosted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 1:48 pm    Post subject: Re: New Smartphone App for pilots Reply with quote

Hi Ira,

First let me say that I really like your app and how you present the information. Good to learn that you already incorporated Rowland's suggestions!

I would be interested to find out how accurate the barometric sensor is with increasing altitude. Have you done some tests/validations of this yet?

A friendly word of caution: providing a estimate for T/O length compared to ISA might be dangerous from a liability point of view. Having developed hundreds of programs during my professional life that provide users with information, I have learned that after some time of using such programs people will take estimated information as an absolute truth, and base real-life decisions on it. This human behavior especially manifests itself when the numbers seem to be within the user's perceived margin of accuracy. My advise would be to carefully think this feature over, and if you decide to show an estimated T/O length make sure that it is clearly accompanied with a warning that T/O length should always be manually calculated using the official performance data that came with the airplane.

I can certainly see the future potential of your app, very well done and keep up the good work!


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rampil



Joined: 04 May 2007
Posts: 870

PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2016 6:42 am    Post subject: Re: New Smartphone App for pilots Reply with quote

Hi Marcel!

Thank you for your kind comments!

The new version of the app is in the Apple system pending review and
it has a revised preferences selection which allows qnh in millibars and
displays output in feet if desired. I also caught and squashed a rare
bug in the input picker logic.
The question of high altitude accuracy is a bit complex. The actual
sensor is the Bosch Sensortec BMP280 Barometric Sensor which is rated
as accurate to FL200. The raw pressure reading then must be converted to
altitude using an exponential equation which takes into account lapse
rate and compressibility, etc. Lapse rate does change a bit from ideal
with daily weather. The equation I use is held to be generally accurate
up to about 11 km MSL. I personally have taken the app to as high as
8000 MSL and it is usually about ± 50-75 feet of panel altimeter.
I also appreciate the warning about errant pilots and rapacious lawyers.


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rampil



Joined: 04 May 2007
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 01, 2016 9:58 am    Post subject: Re: New Smartphone App for pilots Reply with quote

Hi All,

Just a very quick note to let you know that the revised version of avAltimeter
is now available from the Apple App Store. It is version 1.0.4

The new revision allows QNH entry in millibars and Altitude reading in Feet

Also, I caught and squashed a nasty little bug which might have caused crashing.

Cheers


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PostPosted: Sun Jul 03, 2016 1:09 pm    Post subject: New Smartphone App for pilots Reply with quote

Hi Ira,

I've downloaded your app and am currently experimenting with it. However, this morning, I set the QNH according to the current METAR and as I drove past the airport, avAltimeter reported the altitude as ~50ft below the published altitude of the airport (published altitude of the airport is 40ft, my reported altitude was -10ft!).

Does there need to be an option to calibrate the iPhone?

Cheers
Chris
Sent from my iPad

Quote:
On 2/07/2016, at 05:58, rampil <ira.rampil(at)gmail.com> wrote:



Hi All,

Just a very quick note to let you know that the revised version of avAltimeter
is now available from the Apple App Store. It is version 1.0.4

The new revision allows QNH entry in millibars and Altitude reading in Feet

Also, I caught and squashed a nasty little bug which might have caused crashing.

Cheers

--------
Ira N224XS




Read this topic online here:

http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=457597#457597












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PostPosted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 12:37 am    Post subject: New Smartphone App for pilots Reply with quote

Chris, That sounds pretty accurate to me! If you are always within 50ft you are doing well regardless of how much you pay for an altimeter. But if the discrepancy is consistent you can always apply your own correction factor at the rate of 1mbar/hectopascal per 30ft.
Regards, David Joyce, GXSDJ

On 2016-07-03 22:09, Chris Cameron wrote:
Quote:
Quote:
--> Europa-List message posted by: Chris Cameron <chris(at)cameron.org.nz (chris(at)cameron.org.nz)>

Hi Ira,

I've downloaded your app and am currently experimenting with it. However, this morning, I set the QNH according to the current METAR and as I drove past the airport, avAltimeter reported the altitude as ~50ft below the published altitude of the airport (published altitude of the airport is 40ft, my reported altitude was -10ft!).

Does there need to be an option to calibrate the iPhone?

Cheers
Chris
Sent from my iPadOn 2/07/2016, at 05:58, rampil <ira.rampil(at)gmail.com (ira.rampil(at)gmail.com)> wrote: --> Europa-List message posted by: "rampil" <ira.rampil(at)gmail.com (ira.rampil(at)gmail.com)> Hi All, Just a very quick note to let you know that the revised version of avAltimeter is now available from the Apple App Store. It is version 1.0.4 The new revision allows QNH entry in millibars and Altitude reading in Feet Also, I caught and squashed a nasty little bug which might have caused crashing. Cheers -------- Ira N224XS Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=457597#457597
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rampil



Joined: 04 May 2007
Posts: 870

PostPosted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 5:02 am    Post subject: Re: New Smartphone App for pilots Reply with quote

Hi Chris,

I'm sorry you are finding the altimeter reading inaccurate. One could put
a calibration in, but it would complicate the user interface and one should
be aware that the calibration curve would not be expected to be constant
with altitude, so what you adjust on the ground will be off in the air.
Still I appreciate the PIREP!

I don't know about the specs for NZ aircraft, but in the US a range of
±75' is typically what you would expect between aircraft on the ground,
all set to the QNH. For present, I would have to agree with David. Please
remember, this app is for "educational and entertainment" value.

Please do not attempt to perform an ILS approach to minimums using the
app for vertical guidance Wink

In other app news, I have discovered my knowledge of Apple hardware
was somewhat dated and that some new iPads do indeed have barometric
sensing. I am currently modifying the app to Universal mode where it will
run on all qualified hardware. That would include iPad Mini 4, iPad Air 2,
and the iPad Pro series.


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PostPosted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 12:39 pm    Post subject: New Smartphone App for pilots Reply with quote

Ira and David,

This is my favourite altimeter app ( there is one other, Altimeter, that lets you set your current altitude, but no others that I've found that let you set the QNH), so I'll just have to remember to mentally adjust my altitude so I'm not below sea level!

I understand what you're saying about complicating the UX and look forward to the universal version.

Cheers
Chris
Sent from my iPad

Quote:
On 5/07/2016, at 01:02, rampil <ira.rampil(at)gmail.com> wrote:



Hi Chris,

I'm sorry you are finding the altimeter reading inaccurate. One could put
a calibration in, but it would complicate the user interface and one should
be aware that the calibration curve would not be expected to be constant
with altitude, so what you adjust on the ground will be off in the air.
Still I appreciate the PIREP!

I don't know about the specs for NZ aircraft, but in the US a range of
±75' is typically what you would expect between aircraft on the ground,
all set to the QNH. For present, I would have to agree with David. Please
remember, this app is for "educational and entertainment" value.

Please do not attempt to perform an ILS approach to minimums using the
app for vertical guidance Wink

In other app news, I have discovered my knowledge of Apple hardware
was somewhat dated and that some new iPads do indeed have barometric
sensing. I am currently modifying the app to Universal mode where it will
run on all qualified hardware. That would include iPad Mini 4, iPad Air 2,
and the iPad Pro series.

--------
Ira N224XS




Read this topic online here:

http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=457707#457707












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