The flight simulation is available on the cal/test tab of the FIP. Follow the on-screen
directions and button labels to perform the flight. You can control the duration of the 5G
acceleration, even turning it on and off to simulate multiple-stage flights or air-starts.
The Raven records all the data just as if it were a real flight, so you can familiarize
yourself with the Raven operation and data review.
The simulated flight assumes that the Apo output channel is used for apogee deployment,
and the Main output channel is used for main deployment. When the apogee channel
fires, the simulation applies a 100 ft/second descent rate. When the main output fires, a
descent rate of 20 feet/second is applied. The other two outputs have no effect on the
simulated flight trajectory.
Although the Raven can be mounted in your rocket with either end up, the simulated
flight must be conducted with the screw terminal block up. This is because the simulated
thrust is implemented as a test mode of the accelerometer chip that applies the
acceleration in a single direction, only
Caution: Do not run a flight simulation with e-matches or igniters connected unless
the igniters/e-matches are located away from flammable materials and adequate
ventilation is provided. In particular, do not run a flight simulation with black powder
charges or motors connected!
Viewing the data
A data file from a previous download can be opened for viewing using the File/Open
command. The default set of measurements shows the altitude above the pad in feet, and
the axial accelerometer trace. Additional traces can be added to the plot using the
Parameter selection tool bar. Multiple measurements can be plotted on the same time
scale by holding down the <control> key when selecting the traces.
The lower section of the parameter selection toolbar allows you to select flight event
logic that was recorded during the flight. The flight event logic states are the conditions
that are measured by the Raven and used in the deployment control logic. The
deployment output fires when all of the checked logic conditions are true. By plotting the
voltage on each of the outputs and the flight event logic that was checked during the
flight, you can verify exactly what the altimeter was firing, when, and why. This is
useful for verifying a flight program by looking at the data recorded in a simulated flight,
which records data just as a real flight would.
To zoom in on a particular range of time, drag with the left mouse button just underneath
the time axis. Click the right mouse button to zoom out or type in the axis ranges. To
zoom in on the vertical axis for a measurement, drag with the left mouse button on the
measurement axis you want to change.
To export formatted data into a separate analysis tool (such as Matlab or a spreadsheet),
right-click in the parameter selection window, which brings up options for saving as a
delimited file or copying data to the clipboard, where it can be pasted directly into a
spreadsheet.
