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Garrecht Ingenieurgesellschaft
Technical Data - Garrecht VL-1.0 (Standard Model) GPS-Data Logger (VOLKSLOGGER)
Specifications Aluminum Case, .080" (2 mm) Wall Thickness, black anodized
Technical Changes and Improvements reserved
Concept The VL-1.0 is a very compact, electronic cross-country flight documentation system, which was developed according to the latest guidelines and requirements of the International Gliding Commission (IGC). The VL-1.0 has the capability of continuously recording the actual positions and corresponding altitudes during the complete flight. A 12-Channel Garmin GPS-Receiver supplies the required Position Coordinates, an integral pressure transducer measures the ambient air pressure and the Microprocessor converts this value into usable altitude information. The VL-1.0 enables a complete electronic cross-country flight documentation, which limits the effort required for the evaluation to a minimum. It simultaneously replaces the camera and the barograph. Due to its compact shape the logger is easily mounted on the camera bracket, without further complicating air space observation through restriction of the field of vision. The mounting threads (3) are M-5 (metric)as a convenience for European customers, (knurled mounting screw supplied). A conversion to camera thread (1/4"-20) is being considered for the American market. Power is supplied by the on-board battery system of the sailplane. With a current consumption of only about 120 mA the instrument does not add excessively to the load on the battery. However, the VL-1.0 offers more: On the integral, high-contrast LCD-display, the most important information
is displayed continuously. The pilot can read the direction
and distance to the turn-point. Additionally, the display shows
speed and course over ground. Other display pages give information
about the instrument status, GPS-status, remaining memory and time of day.
The pilot can navigate by logger data in the vicinity of the turn-point
and thereby assure the precise approach to and rounding of the turn-point.
When the logger has accumulated sufficient valid data points in the turn-point
sector, the pilot receives an acoustic signal and can select the next turn-point.
This sensible arrangement leads to the avoidance of incorrect rounding
procedures, which often result in the loss of points. Additionally,
even pilots without a GPS-flight computer have the advantage of using the
integral GPS-receiver of the VL-1.0 as a navigational aid. Furthermore,
the GPS-data are available at an external connection to supply appropriate
navigational data (NMEA0183-Format) to flight computers with GPS-connection
capability. Through unique data blocks in the data stream additional
information, such as barometric altitude or status information becomes
available. These may be used in our own instruments.
At this time the VL-1.0 can be coupled to the following cross-country
flight computers, proper connection cables can be supplied by us.:
The VL-1.0 has a recording capacity of 100 hours max. (with the corresponding setting of the recording interval). The recording is done in two separate intervals (for on-course and turn-point areas) which are freely selectable by the pilot between 1 and 60 seconds. When entering the turn-point area (which is detected by the logger) the logging interval is automatically switched over to the previously selected turn-point interval. When the logger has recorded a sufficient number of data points within the turn-point sector, the pilot receives an acoustical signal and a report on the display, which indicate a valid rounding of the turn-point. The number of necessary data points (fixes) for a positive report of completed rounding is freely selectable in the menu. After this, the logger returns to the normal recording interval. By this means, the duration of presence in the sector is limited to a minimum. The VL-1.0 also has an event-button which enables additional recording and marking of actual positions. The position so marked is later emphasized with a position and time mark during the evaluation. The operation of the VL-1.0 is designed to be as easy as possible. Through three push buttons all selections are accomplished. The internal data base accepts 500 turn-points, 25 tasks, 25 aircraft and 25 pilot names, which can be used as the basis for a flight report. This can be done on a PC with the evaluation and configuration program and transferred to the logger. Of course free alphanumeric input over the push buttons is also possible. After the completed flight the VL-1.0 is connected to a PC by means of a built-in serial port and a list of all flights in the memory is transferred. The user selects the flights of interest and transfers them selectively. This procedure reduces the transfer time to a minimum and prevents a flood of data from the logger, which can quickly lead to a loss of clarity. An integral asymmetric encoding procedure according to the latest IGC-requirements in connection with a sophisticated security system, reliably prevents any undetected manipulation of the recorded and transferred data, as well as of the instrument itself. Furthermore the VL-1.0 is equipped with a seal, the integrity of which has to be verified and documented by an official observer. After the readout it is possible to display the complete flight, the specific turn-points, as well as the barogram of the flight by means of the DOS- and Windows-software supplied with the instrument. The official observer provides the evaluation diskette, which is then sent to the proper authority together with the filled out forms. This enables the processing of flight data in the shortest possible time. Garrecht Ingenieurgesellschaft
Authorized Representatives for the USA:
ENTEC Technical Services, Inc.
Download Volkslogger Data Sheet (.doc file)
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