Digital Variometer SSDV12
Faster, more accurate climb/descent indication for paragliding — powered by soft-sensor data fusion.
What Is a Variometer?
A variometer (also: rate-of-climb indicator, vertical speed indicator) is an essential flight instrument that shows the pilot the near-instantaneous rate of climb or descent. In paragliding and free-flight, it is the primary instrument for locating thermals and maximising cross-country distance.
Conventional Variometers
Most variometers differentiate barometric pressure to derive vertical speed. Barometric differentiation is inherently noisy and requires smoothing, which introduces lag. At low climb rates or in turbulence, the response is slow and the reading unreliable — exactly when accurate information matters most.
The SSDV12 Approach
The SSDV12 applies soft-sensor technology — the same estimation principles used in industrial process control and aerospace — to combine barometric, inertial (IMU), and GPS measurements into a single optimal vertical speed estimate. The result is faster response, lower noise, and reliable readings during turbulence and low-sink-rate flight phases.
Key Technologies
- Moving Horizon Estimation (MHE) — same algorithm as used in cryogenic and industrial process control
- IMU (accelerometer + gyroscope) fusion — removes barometric lag
- GPS vertical velocity as long-horizon cross-check
- Adaptive noise estimation — adjusts filter aggressiveness to flight conditions
The SSDV12 is currently in development. The estimation algorithms have been validated in simulation; hardware prototype is planned. Target price is designed to make the improved accuracy accessible to a wide range of paraglider pilots.
Interested in the SSDV12?
If you are a paraglider pilot, instrument designer, or manufacturer interested in the SSDV12, get in touch to follow development progress or discuss collaboration.