PilotAware
British Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: Ian Melville on October 17, 2019, 04:05:21 pm
-
The website now says available to order from 29th Oct :)
-
(https://i.imgur.com/Yatbe6p.png)
-
I was interested in this but have grown sceptical of it since the launch date keeps being amended. I have sent them an email regarding their marketing strategy.
-
Hi cyclone,
From my own personal (though limited) involvement in this product’s development, I think the ‘problem’ (if you’d call it that) is that James is a perfectionist and feels a responsibility to get his product as near perfect as he can before taking money from his customers.
I appreciate how frustrating that can be when we are all waiting, but the end result will certainly be a much more effective and robust product than the initial prototype I first tested - and you certainly can’t grumble at the price.....
Regards
Peter
-
I note your comment but many have viewed this continuing change of date as the product not working hence lack of faith in a possible purchase. I'm sure those who will find this instrument of use will purchase but many will hold off who would have done immediately until reviews are made. Marketing is the key to any new product and I feel Jamez could have been more informative as to why it's taken so long after the initial set date.
-
Has anyone bought an Aircrew instrument yet?. It’s not easy to get any information on how well it works. I believe they are available to order as of End of November (at last!!!).Does anyone know how it order one as the website gives very little information.
Any help greatly appreciated
-
I sent a message to James as this is getting a bit silly.
I have been patient with the website and IIRC until yesterday it was advising they would be available today, the 22nd. That message has now gone, but there is no option for a shop or any other means to actually buy one.
-
Hi All,
There are not any devices available to order as I am currently having a serious problem with getting the devices made properly. This is down to me being personally inexperienced with manufacturing. I'm am going to be partnering with another company who I have worked for in the past who has and had experience with this to hopefully get the devices out as soon as possible. I will update the order page as soon as I have more information.
-
Thanks James for your candid reply. I got your email as well.
All the best with the manufacturing, which would be a leap into the unknown for me.
Cheers
Ian
-
Hi All,
There are not any devices available to order as I am currently having a serious problem with getting the devices made properly. This is down to me being personally inexperienced with manufacturing. I'm am going to be partnering with another company who I have worked for in the past who has and had experience with this to hopefully get the devices out as soon as possible. I will update the order page as soon as I have more information.
I feel your pain. It took me a while to sort out getting the various products I make assembled. I Have avoided the Far East for components or assembly, it’s an absolute minefield unless you have someone on the ground there doing independent QA. I have stuck with UK or EU based production for parts and assembly. I hope you get it all sorted soon.
-
Hi,
Are there any updates on this? Is it now available to order?
-
Hi,
Are there any updates on this? Is it now available to order?
Hi Skrswift - there will be an update on the website next week.
A few people were interested in a video of the device in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk_nGHQtknM
-
Nice video :)
Thank you
-
Looks like the first batch of AirCrew's have sold out.
If anyone has purchased one can you please let us know whats its like and how your are getting on with it.
Thank you!
-
Hi All,
Sorry, no photos available, but I managed a couple of flights last Thursday with my Aircrew to test firmware update v1.0.1 in my flexwing (firmware v1.0.2 is now available but Wx not currently conducive to flying). Whilst not technically a ‘production unit’ (it was originally one of Jame’s prototypes), this unit has just been fitted with a new main board and high-definition display screen to upgrade it to the same as the production versions.
The unit was temporarily attached to the front strut at near eye level by mounting it to a mini tripod then cable-tying the tripod tight against the front strut. This proved to be an excellent mounting position in a flexwing, so a more permanent mount is on order. I did check for compass deviation as my compass is mounted just above this point, but the Aircrew didn’t seem to have any effect. I am also discussing weatherproof (or at least weather-resistant) case/cover options with James.
Test results were as follows...
Traffic Screen
Excellent clear reporting of aircraft traffic from PilotAware. There was a lot of GA and Commercial traffic about, comprising a good mix of PAW, ADSB and Mode-S/3D (MLAT). Individual aircraft (plane size set to medium) were easy to identify against the black background. I particularly liked the ‘easy zoom’ facility via the control knob, which makes separating a gaggle, or zooming out to see the ‘big picture overview’ really easy. Aircraft Registrations and relative altitudes (Aircraft Altitude set to Large font) were also easy to read against the black background. A useful feature - by zooming to place an individual aircraft on the outer ring, its ‘range’ is displayed at the bottom right of the screen (this is actually indicating the range of the outer ring) though in bright head-on sunlight, the green text used for ‘ring range’ was very difficult to read. I have since discussed this with James - he will look at improving the text font and has also asked me to test a prototype ‘sunshade’.
Artificial Horizon
‘Zero Alignment’ is now much improved from early versions. This is now very easy to set on the ground and once in level flight, can be re-adjusted by one press of the ‘Level’ button or by using the separate ‘Pitch’ and ‘Roll’ settings. Once set, the AH was very stable and reliable and remained unaffected by ‘normal’ movement of the flexwing pod. Both GPS and Baro altitude were reliable (within expected limits). I did notice some apparent anomalies with GPS ground speed, when compared to SkyDemon, which is strange as both get their data from PilotAware. James is looking into this and we will let you know what we find.
Track/Heading Indicator
With the previous test firmware, I had some issues when heading ‘due north’ (dial ‘spinning as it passed through 0/360 degrees) and reported these back to James. To work effectively this function requires calibration of the magnetometer - which I had tried to do on the ground - but apparently the best way to do this is from a previous track file. This facility has now been incorporated into v1.0.2 but I have not been able to test this yet.
On the basis of these tests and the extremely positive way in which James responded to my (not always positive) feedback, I would have no hesitation in recommending this device for use in a flexwing or 3-axis Aircraft.
Other developments and improvements (including a switch to ‘standby’ option) are in the pipeline.
I will report further once this abysmal weather improves and will try to get some pics next time.
Regards
Peter
-
Thanks Peter.
Good and factual feedback on what looks like a very useful device.
Gerry
-
(https://i.imgur.com/w59aTWX.png)
The Aircrew device is now in stock - photo from today checking the internal barometer calibration today at 6,000ft on a device from the latest batch.
http://aircrew.co.uk
-
For those of you who use the playback tool - you can now press Press the 'a' key on your keyboard and it will open up the Aircrew traffic display to see what it would be like to fly with Aircrew.
You can zoom in and out with the scroll wheel when hovering over the Aircrew instrument. When in flight the traffic screen would rotate to your heading, however for the demo below I have kept the traffic screen north up as the playback map is also north up.
More information about tracks can be found on the PilotAware site: https://pilotaware.com/knowledge-base/tracks/ (https://pilotaware.com/knowledge-base/tracks/)
(https://i.imgur.com/XsYD38D.png)
https://aircrew.co.uk/playback/20510d
(https://aircrew.co.uk/playback/20510d)
(https://i.imgur.com/xnWBzVM.png)
https://aircrew.co.uk/playback/6303c5/
(https://aircrew.co.uk/playback/6303c5/)
-
Hello to all
I have just acquired an aircrew module.
the functionning seems to be correct I'm waiting for the final placement in the dashboard to check the horizon function.
I was not able to obtain a correct magnetic heading identification...25 to 30 degrees of error after the calibration.
I have a question in the traffic function I only see adsb devices with no s-mode or c-mode, where are these detected and displayed on the module, if so how?
I am connected by wifi with a rosetta on which I have made all the traffic visible.
Thank you for your help
-
Hi DY691 - did you email the contact@aircrew.co.uk on Friday afternoon? I will get back to you tomorrow.
-
Yes it’s me :)
-
Has anyone got an update on long term use of the Aircrew Instrument? Reliability? I'm interested primarily for powering via PAW (if I have enough ports as have ADSB out) and using it for traffic and as a back up magnetic compass.
TIA
Sean
-
I would not reccoment powering through PAW. It is not difficult to upset a Raspberry Pi by drawing too much current, or voltage drop due to a iffy cable. Powering the Aircrew through it will compound the problem.
-
General usefulness Ian? Are you happy with it?
-
Yes, very.
I have mine on a RAM mount on the LHS of panel, close to me and easy to read. SkyDemon also has trafffic but due to tablet size is on RHS of panel and it is not as easy to see traffic through the map clutter. PAW is in the centre on top of coaming. PAW and Aircrew each have a small USB powerpack, and iPad mini uses internal battery topped up on the ground if needed from a third larger USB powerpack. There is no electrickery in the aircraft, even radio has it's own 12v gel battery.
-
Thanks Ian
-
Are Aircrew still in business? Sent an email enquiry a couple of weeks ago and no response....
-
The company behind it is dissolved, but the IP and assets may have been sold.
Given the shortage of parts it may have been a victim of that. I have been quoted lead times of 40 weeks plus recently.
-
Thanks for that information. Shame
-
Hi Sean,
I was speaking to James just last week, as a friend, (and because the small heatsink had come adrift off the voltage regulator in my own Aircrew prototype and I wanted to ask what to fix it back on with). I'm sure he won't mind me sharing the following with you.
The company has unfortunately become a victim of the parts shortage I'm afraid, but hasn't been fully shut down as far as I know - just 'mothballed' while James tries to make a living elsewhere and works out where to go from here. A great pity as he was just starting to see sales increase and was at an advanced stage of developing future products when the pandemic came along. Nothing has been sold on to my knowledge, except the Aircrew Track and Groundstation Replay Tools have been taken on by PilotAware. James still holds the IP and whatever other assets for Aircrew and we exchanged ideas about how he might be able to move things forward in future.
On the heatsink issue, BTW, he suggests opening Aircrew (4 small screws to remove the backplate) and checking the integrity of the obvious small black heatsink by applying gentle pressure. If it's loose and you aren't running the unit on 12 volts - simply gently remove the heatsink as the regulator isn't being used, rather than risk the heatsink coming loose in flight and shorting something out. If it's still stuck tight, leave it alone!
James still intends to support existing customers while waiting to see what develops. If you need to contact him urgently, PM me a number and some details and I'll pass it on.
Sorry I can't say more at present.
Peter
-
I feel his pain!
It has taken way too long to add USB-C to my chargers, a combination of Covid and parts. A 4-port version with 2 x Type A and 2 x Type C will be available shortly. Literally just waiting for the assembled PCB panels to arrive. The website will be updated in a couple of weeks, including options to upgrade a current v2 charger to USB-C.
Trying to get parts is still a huge problem, even for contract custom electronics projects. There can be 5000 processors on a Monday, go to order on Wednesday, and they've gone. Just left with the option to back order for delivery in 2024. Crazy.
-
For those of you who use the playback tool - you can now press Press the 'a' key on your keyboard and it will open up the Aircrew traffic display to see what it would be like to fly with Aircrew.
Is this feature still a thing, or is it platform dependent?
I've just tried on a Mac with both Safari and Firefox browsers and I didn't see an instrument pop-up.
-
Hi Sean,
......... (snipped)
Sorry I can't say more at present.
Peter
Thanks Peter. Understood. I hope he gets things going again satisfactorily