App Preview: Attitude 27
Thu, 19 Nov 2009 8:21 pm EST
Following up on his recently-released Altimeter app, Rob of 185vfx has put together a new application that we’re happy to preview for you today: Attitude. Just as Altimeter is based on the gauge from a Cessna airplane, Attitude apes the analog gauge design of the aircraft. Essentially, Attitude uses your phone’s accelerometer to measure your attitude, i.e. your angle from vertical.
The screen displays both an analog-style gauge tracking both your pitch (angle respective to fore and aft) and roll (angle with respect to left and right). The precise angle is also displayed digitally below the gauge, with warnings if you end up pointed in the wrong direction. If you’re wondering, in an airplane the wrong direction to be pointed is up or down - generally horizontal is the preferred orientation.
All in all, Attitude is a simple app, but it is artfully packaged, reasonably precise, and actually kind of fun to play around with. There are many ways to make a basic accelerometer app, but it takes a special touch to wrap it in a layer of aviation gadgetry. We shouldn't have to note that Altimeter and Attitude are no replacement for real gauges in your plane, as if you were a pilot you would know that you want FAA-certified stuff guiding your way.
Attitude will be available soon in the App Catalog for $0.99.
27 Comments
Wait, wouldn't that be FAA-approved? :)
comment settings fixed.
... in an airplane the wrong direction to be pointed is up or down - generally horizontal is the preferred orientation...
Except when climbing, descending, maneuvering, slow flight, slowing down, etc. The only time you shouldn't be pointed up or down is during straight and level flight (and non-climbing/descending turns).
Love the 142 degree roll though. :-)
And yes, it should be FAA, not FCC.
But even then you're still more horizontal than you are vertical. Unless you're in a fighter jet, but still pointing mostly up or mostly down generally isn't a great thing for a pilot.
Damn all these acronyms! I spend so much time with FCC that if it starts with F it must end with two C's. Right?
Warning: Only works accurately when never moving. :) Although that brings back memories of serious unusual attitudes training in an aerobatic aircraft. When you look up to see the horizon upside down, it is weird.
So hopefully, we'll start seeing some more apps that use the accelerometer like this one!!
I tried to build one of these as well - I have it in case anyone wants to tinker with it.
The concern I have is that, to properly know which way "down" and "up" are in a device like this, you need both magenetometers in addition to accelerometers... a nice level smooth *coordinated* turn with this app running (no cheating! keep the pre itself stationary with respect to the airframe!) will likely prove the point...
Additionally, the accelerometers are pretty noisy in the Pre... so accuracy may be another concern.
While this app looks really cool, I would strongly caution its use... I have doubts that the app will really know which way "down" is and can possibly ruin your flying day.
Right. The inexpensive accelerometer in the Pre cannot replace the FAA certified Gyro an airplane for creating a real artificial horizon gauge. While Attitude and Altimeter are very fun to use in the passenger seat of an airplane (or a car for that matter), they should never be used by the pilot.
Also mentioned in the info page for the apps:
http://www.185vfx.com/webos/attitude/
-Rob
I wish the Pre had a flux gate. Apparently the Iphone does, because they have apps that show heading. I would like a compass like they have for the Iphone.
is it not Altitude rather than attitude?????
No.
An altitude is shown on the altimiter (along with rate of climb/descent).
An attitude indicator shows your aircraft's orientation. It shows your pitch (nose up/down), roll (wings up/down) and yaw (nose left/right).
OK sorry for my Ignorance
Nothing wrong with asking!
Altitude is height relative to mean sea level or ground at your location. This is determined by air pressure, corrected as needed.
Attitude is the 3D orientation of your aircraft, relative to established gravity at your location.
You can be the same Altitude, but be inverted, which is a significant Attitude difference.
I think the most impressive thing about this app is the sophisticated look. So many of the webOS apps are really plain-looking. Just to see this app, where somone has taken teh time to make it look authentic, makes me hopeful for the future of Pre apps.
It does look nice. Doesn't look like the bank angle is rendered though (maybe that's just part of the background image).
No doubt it is just using rotation and translation of the image. That is the best way to do something like this.
I agree. CSS transitions makes it easy. Just saying the bank indicator is not rendered correctly.
now if we can get a Garmin 496 app.. I'd pay at least $20 for that ;) Can the Pre pull in XM weather? hahaha... These apps are cool and fun though.. looking forward to telling my friends, you need to check your attitude and then pull this out.
Who wastes their money on this kind of crap? What good is it? Hey developers, put your time into things with real application!
It looks good and shows off the Accelerometer.
It would be very useful for a CFI as an tool to teach how the artificial horizon works to students. It would be good for students to work on it to get a feel for what the horizon can look like.
Good to show off the Accelerometer. Yes.
Use as a teaching aid. Uhm...I wouldn't.
It's pretty and fun for some. Not sure I'd try to take it beyond that.
sweet now I can be a smart ass with both apps when my flight instructor simulates instrument failure
Go up in a G1000. It's a lot harder for them to do instrument failure without blocking instruments that aren't supposed to have failed. :)
Did everyone else notice the use of Top Bar patches ("Add Date - MM/DD" and "Battery Icon and Percent") in the screen shots? Gotta love patch developers!
Looks like a cool but but will def not spend .99 cents on a useless app that I never plan on using. To bad it isn't free. If it was i would download it then.
Bought the app, tried it a few minutes. Liked it. answered a call and then hung up the phone app and put back in pocket. Took Pre out about 1 or 1.5 hours late and battery was down to 30 percent. I have never seen drain this fast! Now will be extra careful to close out app before putting away the Pre. Just thought others should know that apparently this keeps eating battery juice in the background. The altimeter app may be the same way; will have to check with the developer.