Technology Cloud Cap - Unmanned Aircraft & Drones

Cloud CapTechnologyPO Box 1500, No 8 Fourth StreetHood River, OR 97031(541) 387-2120 ph (541) 387-2030faxIf you have access to a network analyzer or signalsource and a SWR meter you can check the matchand fine-tune your antenna system for maximumperformance. Again, the best way to verifyperformance is to test it. More on the testing partlater.4 Air Data SystemsPiccolo has pressure port inputs for total (or pitot)pressure and static pressure. A 4KPa differentialpressure sensor measures the difference between thetotal pressure and static pressure to determine thedynamic pressure. A 115KPa absolute pressuresensor measures the static pressure. An accurate airdata system is critical to the performance of Piccolo.Both the dynamic and static pressures are used in theprimary control loops. In addition the dynamicpressure is used to calculate the true air speed, whichis used for wind measurement.Figure 8 – 2.4 GHz COMM antenna (bottom)4.1 Pitot SystemThe pitot reference is created by facing a simple tube into the airflow. The primary requirementsare that the tube should face the prevailing wind for all possible pitch and yaw attitudes. As anexample, consider the installation of the pitot tube on our trainer vehicle shown in Fig. 9.Figure 9 –Pitot tube mountThis simple pitot tube is made with soft aluminum tubing bent for optimal exposure throughoutflight. The location on the bottom of the wing places the pitot tube out of the way of thepropeller wake, and keeps the prevailing flow facing the tube even for a wide range of pitchattitudes. Inside the wing the aluminum tubing is fastened to soft Tygon tubing, which runsthrough the fuselage back to the Piccolo avionics. Virtually any installation position will workas long as you satisfy these basic requirements:• The pitot tube must face into the airflow.Piccolo Aircraft Integration Guidelines Page 11 of 20