Analog Devices' MEMS gyroscopes to improve flight safety in helicopters

NORWOOD, USA: Analog Devices Inc. is furnishing its high performance iMEMS gyroscope technology for a new aircraft flight safety and training tool developed by Appareo Systems, a Fargo, North Dakota, a company that makes light weight flight data recorders and award winning 3-D flight analysis software.

In an international push to improve helicopter safety, the ALERTS (Aircraft Logging and Event Recording for Training and Safety) Vision 1000 flight data monitoring solution was designed in partnership with Eurocopter, a Division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defense and related services and the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer serving the civil and parapublic market.

Among Appareo’s clients are companies working in the oil and natural gas industries, Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) operators, and the United States military, all of whom benefit from significantly improved flight data monitoring.

“The ability to track, record and analyze the exact pitch, roll and yaw of the aircraft provides operators with an incredibly valuable tool to improve the flying performance of student pilots and experienced aviators alike,” said Robert Weinmann, embedded systems director for Appareo Systems. “Analog Devices’ iMEMS gyroscope was selected because it aligned perfectly with the needs of our customers for a small, light-weight gyroscope that was cost-effective and delivered exceptionally accurate performance.”

“The Vision 1000 is already being heralded by the avionics industry as one of the best training tools to come to this market,” said Mark Martin, vice president, MEMS and Sensor Technology Group, Analog Devices.

“ADI’s ability to provide Appareo with a single-chip, high-performance gyroscope that meets rigorous aviation industry performance and quality standards is another example of how the need for high-performance MEMS motion sensors is spurring a revolution and the next wave of MEMS sensor adoption in many technologically advanced markets.”

The ALERTS Vision 1000 system will be deployed initially in helicopters to capture and analyze large volumes of flight data, including inertial and position information, such as location and pitch/roll attitude as well as provide acoustic data and cockpit imagery, such as instrument panels and flight controls.

The data can then be played back using Appareo Systems’ AS Flight Analysis 3-D flight virtualization software to accurately portray the aircraft’s entire flight record.

At just a fraction the cost of other flight data recorders, the ALERTS Vision 1000 weighs less than 300 grams, requires only 28-VDC (Volts Direct Current) and ground to install, and is easily mounted in the cockpit, eliminating the extensive integration of other flight data monitoring systems.