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>>

Graham Nutt asked about a type of attitude sensor that was developed

about 25 years ago by some of the model airplane crowd. If I remember

correctly, it was developed by a couple of fellows in the Washington,

DC area and, judging from how abruptly they disappeared from view,

I'm betting they were immediately sucked into the black hole of

secrecy. Either that or the concepts just didn't work out - though I'm

sure I remember them reporting successfully flying a model using the

sensors for autopilot input. (I believe they were actually from

Silver Springs, MD (?) but it's been quite a while.)



If anyone can dig up the information about those tests, it would

probably be the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) at their offices

in (I think) Wash., DC. You could pick up a copy of their magazine at

a bookstore or from a member and the get the contact info there. I'm

sure they could search their magazine data base for the article.



One thing that might help the search however; the sensors you mention

detected the vertical voltage gradient in the atmosphere and it's

differential from widely spaced sensors (like wing-tip to wing-tip or

nose to tail) to sense roll and pitch rather than a magnetic

parameter.



Hope you have success in your efforts.



Dan Schaefer

N235SP



(Note:

AMA Headquarters

5151 East Memorial Drive

Muncie, IN  47302

(765)-287-1256

http://www.modelaircraft.org



<Marv>)