VE6AB Technical
Radio Control Sailplane with Telemetry
Below is a link to a audio sound file recorded while I launched and flew my radio control sailplane as pictured above.....
What your hearing at the beginning of the audio file is the sound of the electric motor as I launch the sailplane, followed by the audio coming from the transmitter that I am using to fly the model.
The audio heard from the transmitter being used to control the sailplane, is being received on 2.4 GHz from the TM1000 telemetry module located on board the sailplane and connected to the flight systems receiver also communicating with the transmitter on 2.4GHz. This telemetry module is reporting the changes in altitude of the sailplane, the voltages of the flight battery and the receiver voltage, as well as the time remaining in the flight.
The aircraft telemetry variometer sensor located in the sailplane is connected to the TM1000 telemetry module. This vario is similar to the variometers found in a full scale sailplane (glider), allowing me to monitor when the sailplane is climbing or sinking as it search's out thermals allowing the sailplane to climb without the aid of the electric motor.
When the sailplane had reached 355 feet, I shut down the motor which allowed the propeller blades to fold against the fuselage cleaning up the sailplane. The audio tone increases in frequency as the vario shows a higher rate of climb and decreases in frequency towards a deep groan as the vario shows a faster rate of descent. The vario is typically silent in still air or in lift which is weaker than the typical sink rate of the sailplane at minimum sink.
I reached a maximum altitude of 735 feet on this flight as indicated on the Vario graph, before I landed the sailplane to make an adjustment to the CG (center of gravity).
The graph with the image was generated by the telemetry module on board the sailplane, and shows the flight from launch to landing.
telemetry module and Variometer sensor.....
http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/VE6AB-Technical/i-gbZcV78
APRS package to be installed.....
http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/VE6AB-Technical/i-3S4DbPV
Click on the photo for a closer look.....
Audio file.....
https://soundcloud.com/user-8677165/rc-sailplane-vario
