INS system modelling

[Captain_Eirik]

I have a model of a DC-10 that doesn't use a flight computer but does use an inertial navigation system as the originals would. I am wondering if anyone has built a INS module for their sim.

If so, would you be willing to share some insight into what I would be facing if I wanted to try and build one myself?

[metamarty]

I have a model of a DC-10 that doesn't use a flight computer but does use an inertial navigation system as the originals would. I am wondering if anyone has built a INS module for their sim.

If so, would you be willing to share some insight into what I would be facing if I wanted to try and build one myself?
I'm not sure if you are referring to physical or software modeling of the INS unit. In our 737 cockpit there is an IRS system on the aft overhead panel. Physically, it is simply some LED's and selector switches. The software I wrote for it, models the behavior of the unit.

There are two drift layers involved:
- The first layer drifts the speed and attitude that the unit perceives. In the 737 this drift can be removed in the air with a quick alignment procedure.
- The second layer takes that perceived speed and attitude and calculates a position based on this. This drift can only be removed by a full alignment on the ground.

You simply let the code run and let the drift accumulate. Some fine-tuning is needed to get accurate drift numbers. Unfortunately, all PFD/ND packages available take their attitude and position info directly from FS, so at the moment there is no way to mess this up through the IRS.

[Captain_Eirik]

Oh, might have been nice to have been more specific huh? I think that the software end on that model is covered. I think I'm looking at the hardware side. I found a place that sells numeric keypads so that is an option I guess. But it wouldn't have the LED numeric display.

[metamarty]

Oh, might have been nice to have been more specific huh? I think that the software end on that model is covered. I think I'm looking at the hardware side. I found a place that sells numeric keypads so that is an option I guess. But it wouldn't have the LED numeric display.
We used a phidgets text LCD, but there are a lot of custom LED displays.

[dnoize]

Oh, might have been nice to have been more specific huh? I think that the software end on that model is covered. I think I'm looking at the hardware side. I found a place that sells numeric keypads so that is an option I guess. But it wouldn't have the LED numeric display.

why dont you get a real INS unit on ebay ?

They sell on a regular base for around 50$

Rip out all original electronics and replace them with a sim interface solution.

Does the software ins unit you use fsuipc offsets for easy interfacing ?

Stef

[Captain_Eirik]

I had not thought of that actually. Honestly it hadn't even occurred to me that such a thing would even show up.

I guess I should start haunting ebay for things like that.

I believe that this would interface by fsuipc fairly easily.

[TobiBS]

Their is another alternative beside ebay: http://www.angelfire.com/il2/aphs/forsale/forsale.html

Right now they have several INS panels:

http://www.angelfire.com/il2/aphs/msu.jpg (For integrated solutions)
http://www.angelfire.com/il2/aphs/aero.jpg (Classic INS)
http://www.angelfire.com/il2/aphs/litton.jpg (Modern pre-FMC INS)

[Captain_Eirik]

That site is getting bookmarked! Thank you very much

[HoustonFirefox]

As a 727 Captain, I use my INS all the time. For the software side, see http://www.simufly.com/ins/

[dnoize]

There's one ending on ebay today:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370320670131&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT


Stef

[David Withers]

yep...pull the guts out and interface it to fs. would work fine. take some doing but.