Hmm. <div><br></div><div>So I'm looking at section 4.4 of the AMA Competition regulations here: <a href="http://www.modelaircraft.org/files/2011-2012RCAerobatics1.pdf">http://www.modelaircraft.org/files/2011-2012RCAerobatics1.pdf</a></div>
<div><br></div><div>I see the following emphasis mine:</div><div><br></div><div><div>Radio control equipment shall be of the open loop type </div><div>(i.e. <b>no electronic feedback from the model to the </b></div><div><b>ground</b>) </div>
<div><br></div>It then goes on to provide examples of what is/is not permitted:</div><div><br></div><div><div>Examples of control functions not permitted:</div><div>8) Electronic or other signal or feedback </div><div>from the model of <b><i>any kind.</i></b></div>
<div><br></div><div>I believe the verbiage needs to be changed to reflect the spirit and intent of the rule, which is to prevent telemetry data (i.e. heading, airspeed, etc.) that would provide an advantage in precision to the pilot flying with said equipment. Basic telemetry data such as the state of charge for the reciever and main system batteries (in the case of an electric) model and/or engine/motor temperature, RPM, etc. provide no such advantage and should be permitted as it enhances flight safety and provides some protection for the airframes themselves.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Rex, says that "it goes on to say that the rule is to prevent pre-programmed control of the aircraft such as timed snaps" but I believe those are distinct sentences, the RC equipment must be open loop with no feedback from the model to the ground. Period, full stop. Then it goes on with additional requirements distinct from the RC TX/RX: Autopilots are prohibited (i.e. devices such as the UAVDev board or Ardupilot or the new AS3X from Horizon would be prohibited, even though they are not closed-loop control systems. Further, automatic control sequencing or control timing devices (which I have always read as preventing the use of snap button functions on modern computer transmitters) are prohibited. I've wondered how that last one is enforced given virtually every computer radio today has the ability to assign a snap of any form to any switch or button on the transmitter and it would be difficult to check that snap functions are inhibited in every contestent's TX. I have assumed the honor system applies. I would expect the same honor system, with, perhaps, a check of winning pilot's telemetry systems in high-stakes events would be sufficient to relax the telemetry rule to allow basic telemetry systems such as the Hitec, Graupner + Spektrum systems to be permitted.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Peter+</div><div><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Nov 18, 2011 at 2:35 PM, Richard Lewis <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:humptybump@sbcglobal.net">humptybump@sbcglobal.net</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;"><div><div style="font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:12pt"><div>The rule likely needs an update to verbage that is consistent with current technology, but as long as there is no closed loop on any of the telemetry it is well within the "spirit" of the rule to use/allow these systems in pattern...<br>
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<b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">From:</span></b> Peter Vogel <<a href="mailto:vogel.peter@gmail.com" target="_blank">vogel.peter@gmail.com</a>><br><b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">To:</span></b> "<a href="mailto:nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org" target="_blank">nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org</a>" <<a href="mailto:nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org" target="_blank">nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org</a>><br>
<b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">Sent:</span></b> Fri, November 18, 2011 4:20:02 PM<div class="im"><br><b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">Subject:</span></b> [NSRCA-discussion] No telemetry rule & new radio systems<br>
</div></font><div class="im"><br>I was just reading RCM&E (one of my favorite magazines) and noticed that the latest systems from Graupner and Hitec have telemetry built-in to all RX's, I suspect the others aren't far behind. With the current rule against any form of downlink from the aircraft, it seems the newer systems will be out of reach to those competing in pattern aerobatics. I'm just in sportsman, any thought to relaxing the rule to restricting telemetry that might actually be an advantage in competition as opposed to things
that can save an airframe like battery voltage data?<br><br>Peter+<br><br>Sent from my iPhone4S<br></div><div class="im">_______________________________________________<br>NSRCA-discussion mailing list<br><a href="mailto:NSRCA-discussion@lists.nsrca.org" target="_blank">NSRCA-discussion@lists.nsrca.org</a><br>
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