M. Tech. (Engineering: Electrical; Department of Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology )-- Vaal University of Technology / In the ever growing sport of model aircraft, pilots are challenged with many obstacles. In the division of gliders, one of the biggest problems is the loss of model aircraft. Pilots launch their aircraft off mountain tops and if the aircraft crashes below, the pilot must make use of his best estimates in order to locate the aircraft. This either takes several hours, or the aircraft is never recovered. Pilots are also at a loss with regard to real time data, such as, but not limited to, battery levels, fuel levels, altitude and speed. Model aircraft competitions are also limited to the best estimate of officials. In this work an attempt has been made to design and develop a remote tracking device for model aircraft. This device will retrieve Global Positioning System (GPS) co-ordinates from the aircraft and relay them to the pilot on the ground. In the event of a crash, the pilot will retrieve the last GPS co-ordinates and then proceed to the location to collect the aircraft. An attempt will also be made to design add-on telemetry components that will allow for measurement and transmission of battery levels, fuel levels, altitude, G-Force, orientation, acceleration, wind and ground speed. Some of the data retrieved from the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) in trial 1 are: maximum altitude above sea level of 2139.20 m, maximum speed over ground which was 57.34 m/s and the average battery voltage for transceiver and servos was 15.2 v.

<p>The main purpose of a Flight Data Recorder (FDR) is to facilitate the investigation of incidents. In order to interpret the data that has been recorded in the FDR the data has to be visualized in some way. This can be done with software on a computer or with hardware that is specific for the model of aircraft that the data originates from.</p><p>The aim of this project is to visualize data for six parameters from the FDR of Saab 2000 in an avionics rig. The avionics rig resembles the cockpit of Saab 2000 and the displays in it are identical to the ones found in the plane. All six parameters are shown on the same display.</p><p>Due to safety regulation vital systems in aircraft are doubled, with one system on the left side and one on the right. Because of the architecture of the rig it was decided that data from the right-hand side systems were to be visualized on the right-hand side display. It is not possible to guarantee that no incorrect values are shown for the parameter altitude when values are taken from the right-hand side, but it can be done for values from the left side. This is the reason why values are taken from the left-hand side for altitude. In the rig a computer with an ARINC429-card and the software Data Bus Analyzer was accessible to transmit data to the displays. DBA can save received data in ASCII-files and also open and transmit the data in such files. Data that has been extracted from an FDR can be converted to the format which DBA can read with macros that have been written in the project. After conversion the data can be transmitted to the display on which it is supposed to be visualized.</p>

The main purpose of a Flight Data Recorder (FDR) is to facilitate the investigation of incidents. In order to interpret the data that has been recorded in the FDR the data has to be visualized in some way. This can be done with software on a computer or with hardware that is specific for the model of aircraft that the data originates from. The aim of this project is to visualize data for six parameters from the FDR of Saab 2000 in an avionics rig. The avionics rig resembles the cockpit of Saab 2000 and the displays in it are identical to the ones found in the plane. All six parameters are shown on the same display. Due to safety regulation vital systems in aircraft are doubled, with one system on the left side and one on the right. Because of the architecture of the rig it was decided that data from the right-hand side systems were to be visualized on the right-hand side display. It is not possible to guarantee that no incorrect values are shown for the parameter altitude when values are taken from the right-hand side, but it can be done for values from the left side. This is the reason why values are taken from the left-hand side for altitude. In the rig a computer with an ARINC429-card and the software Data Bus Analyzer was accessible to transmit data to the displays. DBA can save received data in ASCII-files and also open and transmit the data in such files. Data that has been extracted from an FDR can be converted to the format which DBA can read with macros that have been written in the project. After conversion the data can be transmitted to the display on which it is supposed to be visualized.

This diploma thesis deals with analysis of existing solutions for collecting maintenance data and technical condition of the aircraft. Based on this analysis, it proposes a trend monitoring system based on the existing structure and data from the flight data recorder.

This thesis describes the design of flight data recorder for UL aircraft. The theoretical part describes the basic principles of measurement of the quantities in relation to the operation of the aircraft, such as altitude, air speed. A separate chapter deals with systems for determining of GPS position. Furthermore, there are examples of instruments measuring these quantities. The practical part is focused on the description of selected components and their connection to PIC24FJ64GA004 microcontroller. This is followed by a description of the control of USB drives with USB Controller Vinculum-II. The work is finished by the functional test of the device.

In aviation, great emphasis is placed on aircraft safety. The current technical condition of the aircraft and its systems is an important parameter for its airworthiness. The technical condition of the elements measured during the flight should be compared to parameters specified by the manufacturer and measured in laboratory conditions. This thesis deal with the possibilities of the use of dimensionless numbers for the diagnostics of the hydrogenerator and deals with the diagnostics possibilities of selected elements.