Developer Comment by Jean-Louis Naudin on April 9, 2012 at 9:43am

I use the Bosh pressure sensor from the APM v1.4 as the variometer with a double stage filtering and this is greatly sufficient due to the low speed of the glider. With the APM v2 pressure sensor it will be more sensitive but today is sufficiently good for me.

Developer Comment by Jean-Louis Naudin on April 9, 2012 at 9:47am

You will find some details of the features of the ThermoPilot in the previous blog at:

http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/full-autonomous-slope-soaring-w...

The V6 implement more improvements to increase the accuracy of the thermal upwards finding and automatic recording of the wp in flight. The v7 will use more IA...

Moderator Comment by Gary Mortimer on April 9, 2012 at 9:53am

We are not worthy, this is the beginning of a new age. 

Comment by Jan Detlefsen on April 9, 2012 at 11:42am

thinking of a fleet of small gliders that head out in every direction to sense uplifting air and collaboratively draw a map, then all adjust and use the strongest uplifts. maybe version 20.0 :)

Developer Comment by R_Lefebvre on April 9, 2012 at 11:47am

If only the sun didn't set, you could have a persistent aircraft!  

Comment by Stan Hinman on April 9, 2012 at 11:47am

Soaring conditions are typically very dynamic, and are changing constantly.  It sounds as if you are logging a waypoint as the approximate center of the thermal, and using that to circle around.  Does your algorithm have a way to "core" the thermal, and account for drift, so as to optimize rate of climb?

Developer Comment by R_Lefebvre on April 9, 2012 at 11:49am

Have you, or anybody, ever thought of the idea to have LiPo drop pods.  Like an external fuel tank on an airplane.  Use the external LiPo to get to altitude, and then switch over to an internal LiPo and drop the external one (with a parachute) over the Landing Zone for recovery.

Developer Comment by Jean-Louis Naudin on April 9, 2012 at 11:58am

Hello Robert, This can be a good idea to save weight... I need also to use mean to refuel the Lipo..

The NASA Albatross UAV uses the dynamic soaring to reload battery with small generator on the wings (may be the reverse use of the motors).

Developer Comment by Jean-Louis Naudin on April 9, 2012 at 12:06pm

Hello Stan, I have noticed that in major cases, a thermal upwards are created at the same place (without wind). So, during a day, if the weather conditions remains stable the thermal upwards are still located at the same location. Yes, my algorithm is able to find the core of the thermal. Look at some pictures below:

Comment by Andrew Rabbitt on April 9, 2012 at 6:38pm

Jean-Louis, that's superb stuff!  I love your work and wish you a great summer's testing!  Do keep us posted with your progress!

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