Novel Variometer for Gliders using Global Navigation Satellite System and Inertial Navigation System data
Abstract
A novel type of variometer for gliders is presented here that avoids the use of pressure data as its primary input signal. An uncompensated variometer signal is created by combining the vertical position and velocity signals from a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver with the vertical acceleration signal from a low-cost Inertial Navigation System (INS). To be useful for gliders a total energy compensation (TEC) is required that corrects the uncompensated variometer signal for changes of the kinetic energy over time. This information is calculated by differentiating the speed of the glider within the system of the surrounding air. Adding the signals from the uncompensated variometer with the speed-compensation yields a total energy compensated variometer with unprecedented accuracy and with a very short response time.
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