PRODUCTS

Many of our products are custom-made so this is mainly to give a flavour for what we can do. If you have any specific requirements, please contact us.

AWS-02 Watchdog System for Tethered or Moored Blimps

The AWS-02 is a telemetry system for tethered blimps or for free blimps / airships while moored. It is capable of monitoring a wide variety of parameters including helium pressure, ballonet pressure, ballonet fan state, air temperature, cable tension, blimp tilt and wind speed.

Data readout and logging is available on a laptop (RS232, RS422, USB or Ethernet interface options available) or a dedicated stand-alone display. An audible alarm can be set on any of the measured quantities. Data link is via radio or hardwired RS422 link. An option to send an SMS message to the blimp operator is also available.

The photograph shows a prototype version designed for use with moored airships. A stand-alone readout is on the left and the sender unit is on the right. The AWS-02 system can also be applied to applications other than blimps.

FPC-03 Pressure Controller

The FPC-03 was designed to control the pressure of a kerosene balloon burner, but will control any pump-and-accumulator type system. In fact, the FPC-03 will work with any system which requires a simple threshold control with hysteresis. The FPC-03 also has a timeout function to protect the load.

HCS-02 Hotwire Cutdown System for Tethered Blimps

The HCS-02 is designed to deflate a tethered blimp in the event of a line break. Barometric or radio actuation options are available. This product is available through Allsop Helikites.

T131 inductive pick-off signal conditioner

The T131 provides signal conditioning for up to 3 inductive pick-off tranducers. Using synchronous rectifiers, the T131 allows signals from, for example, older electromechanical rate gyros to be converted into a +/- 5v signal. The T131 can use an internal or external excitation supply and accepts an external DC output reference, allowing ratiometric measurements.

T132 low-power 400Hz inverter

Older electromechanical transducers such as rate-gyros can require a 400Hz AC supply to spin-up their motors. Certain aircraft instruments and senders also require 400 Hz supplies. The T132 inverter generates a 26v AC 400Hz output (output voltage adjustable, other voltage ranges available on request) from a 12v DC input. Output power is in the 10-20 watt range. The output waveform is a "pseudo sine" type. The duty cycle is adjustable, which allows the AC peak-to-RMS ratio to be set correctly, or certain harmonics to be minimised. Synchronisation input and output options are available. The design of the T132 enables the main transformer to work at over 50KHz, which makes for a compact and light weight unit.

Magnetometer for paramagnetic particles in buffer solutions

The "magmeter" was produced in conjunction with the University of the West of England to determine the concentration of suspensions of paramagnetic particles for use with immunoassay machines. The magmeter uses an innovative circuit for measuring very small changes in inductance to a high resolution. The device is described in: Peter Hawkins, Richard Luxton & James Macfarlane, 'Measuring system for the rapid determination of the concentration of coated micrometer-sized paramagnetic particles suspended in aqueous buffer solutions', Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol 72, 1, January 2001, 237 to 242.