PPGMate - flight parameters monitor for a powered paraglider
Device designed for PPG and PPPG pilots. The flight parameter monitor takes the form of a small plastic box that attaches to the frame of the paramotor. The device connects to:
- power supply (12 – 26V, or Li-Pol 3-6S) – this can be a starter battery,
- the module can power an LED strobe (available voltage 8 – 12V/5A),
- RPM measurement wire (signal taken from the spark plug wire – a few turns around the cable),
- CHT probe,
- EGT probe.
The device uses any mobile phone as a display (connecting wirelessly with the module). No application is needed; just a web browser on the phone is sufficient. All data refreshes in real-time on the screen. Similarly, all buttons and switches function like in a normal dedicated application. A sample home screen is shown in the attached photo.
The device has the following functions:
- engine RPM measurement,
- measurement of CHT and EGT temperatures (currently, only the CHT probe is made, but the device is prepared for connecting the EGT probe in the future),
- engine hour meter,
- flight time measurement,
- displaying the current time,
- controlling LED strobe lights; you can define any pattern so that the LEDs blink in your favorite way,
- automatic activation of LEDs upon detecting takeoff; manual on and off is also possible,
- measuring the voltage of the power supply battery,
- navigational measurements: speed and flight direction, AGL (pressure) and AMSL (GPS) altitude, distance traveled, distance and direction to the starting point,
- wind speed and direction estimation; displaying the wind direction arrow relative to the paraglider,
- vertical speed (variometer) – measurements are performed using a pressure sensor,
- flight statistics after landing,
- complete logging of all flight data to a file,
- internal memory of flight logs with the possibility of downloading/sharing these files.
