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iPods to be Used as Flight Data Recorders

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the cockpit-white-boxes dept.

udamahan writes "Flight Global reports small aircraft manufacturer LoPresti is introducing a system that uses an iPod as a flight data recorder. The company states that they chose the iPod for its size, low power requirements, and the 'thousands of developers passionate about writing applications for the iPod.' The article notes that data recorders are typically used for maintenance, flight/safety analysis, or, assuming proper protection, crash investigation."

5 of 200 comments (clear)

  1. Flash drives would be better.. by WarwickRyan · · Score: 3, Interesting

    ..as they are virtually indestructable.

    Mine has been dropped, smashed, been through both washing machine and dryer. All with no noticable damage and no dataloss.

    My HDD recorder, on the other hand, was destroyed by a small amount of coca cola :(

  2. Re:Without certification by AlphaOne · · Score: 3, Interesting

    can you hook this thing into the avionics?

    On experimental aircraft, yes. On certified aircraft, no.

    I'm not sure what value would be gained, though... about the best that could be recorded is OBS position and CDI deflection, maybe turn rate and bank angle if the turn coordinator/artificial horizon can provide feedback.

    If the aircraft has a GPS (big if), I guess you could record position and velocity data.

    --
    All opinions presented here aren't mine.
  3. Trouble by TrappedByMyself · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Without fail, my iPod used to die on me every time I flew. 20 minutes into the flight and BAM the drive goes into wacky mode. The unit locks, heats up, makes a sickening grinding noise as the battery quickly drains.

    I finally fixed it by ripping the thing apart and re-seating the drive cable. But still...

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  4. Re:Shocking... by spagetti_code · · Score: 4, Interesting

    My flash drive says its good for 2000Gs ! I've been wondering how to test that. iPod's flash is probably something similar. It doesn't matter if the circuitry survives, just the flash.

  5. Re:Shocking... by Joelfabulous · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Also, see the Otterbox...

    They say the case they sell is crushproof, waterproof, airtight and they make iPod enclosures.

    www.otterbox.com

    I might buy one eventually because I like listening to music when I swim, and I've heard good things about them. Does anyone know if the iPod stops working at something like 35000 feet or so, and would the container somehow negate this effect? I'm pretty clueless about this stuff, but I assume that case would help somewhat...

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    Sometimes I wonder if I think too much.