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Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1998 18:23:43
From: Dan Schaefer <dfschaefer@usa.net>
To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
Subject: attitude sensors
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>>
Graham Nutt asked about a type of attitude sensor that was developed
about 25 years ago by some of the model airplane crowd. If I remember 
correctly, it was developed by a couple of fellows in the Washington, 
DC area and, judging from how abruptly they disappeared from view, 
I'm betting they were immediately sucked into the black hole of 
secrecy. Either that or the concepts just didn't work out - though I'm
sure I remember them reporting successfully flying a model using the 
sensors for autopilot input. (I believe they were actually from 
Silver Springs, MD (?) but it's been quite a while.)

If anyone can dig up the information about those tests, it would
probably be the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) at their offices
in (I think) Wash., DC. You could pick up a copy of their magazine at
a bookstore or from a member and the get the contact info there. I'm 
sure they could search their magazine data base for the article.

One thing that might help the search however; the sensors you mention 
detected the vertical voltage gradient in the atmosphere and it's 
differential from widely spaced sensors (like wing-tip to wing-tip or 
nose to tail) to sense roll and pitch rather than a magnetic 
parameter.

Hope you have success in your efforts.

Dan Schaefer
N235SP

(Note: 
AMA Headquarters 
5151 East Memorial Drive
Muncie, IN  47302
(765)-287-1256 
http://www.modelaircraft.org

<Marv>)