Some of this instrumentation is now available as commercial products from Industrologic, Inc., founded by Gary Peek. For more information about the Group's instrumentation systems and electronics you can contact him at peek@pcprg.com

Other information about the specific instrumentation that has been used on a particular project can also be found the page describing that project.

• Pressure sensor array      Block Diagram
  The PRG has installed arrays of pressure sensors in a variety of ways. Plastic tubing is used to locate the point of pressure measurement, and static port openings are used on the surfaces of the canopy. Wires are finger-trapped into suspension lines to carry signals to the risers where they are amplified and sent to the data acquisition system.

• Load links (1996 model)
  This model of the load link was designed to connect in the middle of two sections of riser, and included an amplifier within the unit. Strain gauges are glued to both sides of the link in a manner that eliminates signal from twisting motions while allowing signals from pulling motions.

• Riser load system      Block Diagram
  This system consists of custom made load links, their amplifiers, and a data acquisition system to record the voltages produced by the strain gauges on the links during parachute deployment. An after-jump picture of Dr. Jean Potvin wearing the riser load system.

• Strain gauge amplifiers
  The low voltage signal from strain gauges mounted on the load links is amplified close to the strain gauges by an amplifier with switch selectable gain to accomodate the study of parachutes with wide ranges of opening forces. The amplifier is enclosed in a plastic box and is mounted on the riser.

• Portable Data Acquisition System      Block Diagram
  This data logging device is based on an IBM PC compatible Single Board Computer and an 8-channel 12-bit Analog to Digital conversion board. It can collect data up to 5000 HZ using a custom written assembly language program.

• Data download and plotting
  Data from the portable data acquisition system is downloaded after a parachute jump to a file on an IBM PC compatible computer, where viewing the data with a plotting program verifies successful data collection.

• Barograph
  This microprocessor based instrument can record altitudes and freefall speeds during a jump, and can download this fall rate data from the entire jump to a PC, where a program on the PC can plot the altitudes and speeds over time.