Updates

1)    What's new? Release notes:

User Interface (may not apply to external displays or all hardware versions):

·         Encounters between traffic involving a non-glider aircraft will result in much earlier alerts. (all HW versions)

·         New "INFO Alerts" (not yet available on external displays)
To improve situation awareness any aircraft entering a range of 1500m horizontal and 500m vertical will trigger an "INFO Alert". This alert is never repeated unless contact to that aircraft is lost for more than four minutes or the other aircraft leaves a radius of 2km.
This alert consists of two short tones, 1 second apart while the display shows the direction of the approaching aircraft
No "INFO Alerts" are issued if there are more than 20 aircraft within range.
"INFO Alerts" can be disabled (by SD or FlarmTool configuration)

·         During alerts, buzzing is now intermittent and synchronous with the flashing of the LED (FLARM 04-07, ECW 100)

·         Receive LED is only lit when at least one other aircraft is within range (all HW versions)

·         Receiver Selftest  (not yet available on external displays)
While on the ground pressing the button for 5-8 seconds will display the number of received aircraft.
Two seconds after the button is pressed, Flarm will show how many other FLARM are received with reduced sensitivity (50% of the normal range). It will then emit a long beep and light one vertical LED for every 10 and a short beep and one horizontal LED for every single received aircraft. (e.g. 14 received FLARM is: "beeeeep bep bep bep bep", with one vertical and 4 horizontal LED's)

Dataport:

·         GPGSA Messages on satellite configuration change

·         Extended v4.0 protocol can be activated by smart displays (additional data-fields, INFO Alert, etc), also on "Extension Port"

·         RF Frequency automatically chosen by location, manual override is possible

·         Operating range can be set (default 3km) command: ($PFLAC,S,RANGE,xxxx)

·         New, improved "Privacy Mode" renamed to "Stealth Mode" to prevent abuse of data in competitions. See separate documentation.

Internal:

·         Improved motion prediction and performance based on accrued flight data and pilot feedback.

·         Gliders can choose two sensitivity settings: "Normal" (default) and "Competition"
When in "Competition" the "Alarm horizon" is typically 2 seconds less and alert distances are reduced by 10m. This reduces "nuisance" alarms in high traffic areas but requires the pilot to react faster to alerts.

·         Flight recording software is identical to the code used in the soon to be released IGC approved version.

·         When a fast altitude drop is detected, the RAM memory is saved to non volatile FLASH memory to prevent loss of recorded flight data in case of power failure. Over the last years we often worked with accident investigation experts to read out devices that were involved in accidents. Oftentimes crucial data was missing, as it was lost when power became interrupted due to impact forces.

·         Statistical information on transmissions is saved in the IGC flight record (as LFLA record).
This allows 3D analysis of the receive- and transmit range. To have your data analyzed go to www.flarm.com/support/analyze after March 15, 2008

Look outside !

Never rely on FLARM. A vigilant effective lookout is required at all times!

Additional Information

How do I update?. 2

How does the 2008 update process work?. 2

What if I do not update by May 1, 2008?. 2

I can’t figure it out! 2

Is the update free?. 2

Do I need to know the serial number to update?. 2

Why scheduled, mandatory updates?. 3

When is the next scheduled service update due?. 3

How about other manufacturer's devices?. 3

How do I get the latest news about FLARM?. 3

Look outside ! 3

Advanced “Privacy” mode -> renamed to “Stealth mode” 5

Improved transmission confidentiality, integrity verification, and discontinuation of ID hopping. 5

Temporary, stationary obstacle profile. 5

 

How do I update?

The free software is available from www.flarm.com/support/

If your device has an SD card reader, you only need a suitable SD card and a PC with SD card reader.
Otherwise you need an IGC standard serial cable, as used to read out all other modern flight recorders.

Detailed update instructions will come with the update software. The actual update process only takes a few seconds.

Hint: Most FLARM shipped after 2006 have an SD card slot. Check for a small slit on the face or side of the unit.

How does the 2008 update process work?

Users may update their devices at any time once the update is available. Devices with v3.xx firmware will remain fully functional up to April 1, 2008. Updated devices will remain fully compatible with v3.xx firmware devices until April 1, 2008. This means that updates must be done anytime during March 2008.

The following restrictions apply for devices with v3.xx firmware:

After the end of February, the device will power up with a recoverable error, indicated by blinking lights and error code 0x11. The user may simply wait 30 seconds (or, depending on model, click the button, see your manual) and the device will work as always.

On April 1, 2008 the devices with v3.xx (i.e. no update done) will refuse to start-up as compatibility is not given. This is indicated by permanently displaying the error code 0x11 (see manual for details).

Also on April 1, 2008 the new features and algorithms automatically get activated.

Beta versions of the firmware as it will run after April 1, 2008 are available to interested parties on a restrictive level and will not interfere or interoperate with the rest of the FLARM network.

What if I do not update by April 1, 2008?

Your FLARM will start up with a permanent error code. You need to do a firmware update prior to using it.

There will be no alerts and others will not receive your signal!

I can’t figure it out!

Your friendly local FLARM distributor is there to help you. See the list at www.flarm.com/contact/

For tough problems, send email to support@flarm.com

Is the update free?

Yes. Firmware to maintain the core functionality will always be available for free.

Do I need to know the serial number to update?

No.

Why scheduled, mandatory updates?

The ability to update the whole network without being limited by constraints of the past is one of the key features of FLARM and has allowed it adapt to rapidly expanding requirements. Many parts of aircraft require scheduled maintenance, this is not a concept which is new to aviation.

Improved and new features in the v4.00 firmware release that would not be possible without a firmware update in all devices of the FLARM network (see next pages for more detailed explanation of some items):

·         Increased range  for the use of amplifiers and high-gain antennas and increased performance for aircraft operation in close proximity of each other (team flying aircraft, helicopters, UAV)

·         New, advanced “Stealth Mode” to prevent abuse in glider competitions

·         Network wide data transport through addition of mesh network features

·         Temporary obstacles (via radio transmission from stationary, specially configured obstacle FLARM’s)

·         Improved transmission confidentiality and integrity verification

·         Discontinuation of ID hopping

·         Bandwidth improvements according to recommendations by 3^rd party R&D
See www.flarm.com/news/presscoverage/wsl_8232.pdf (German original) or
www.flarm.com/news/presscoverage/efficacy_warning_system_lds2007.pdf (English translation)

The obstacle database is constantly being updated and expanded. Users are encouraged to update their devices frequently for maximum safety.

When is the next scheduled service update due?

Since its creation FLARM has maintained scheduled updates, initially in a one year cycle, since 2006 a two year cycle. As the technology matures, we extend this period. This is more convenient for some users, but slows down the innovation cycle, possibly delaying the use in new applications.

	v4.0 update, 2008	v5.0 update , 2011
Firmware update available	February 26, 2008	October 1 2010
Device shows error at startup, but remains fully functional	March 1, 2008	January 1, 2011
Automatic RF protocol change	April 1, 2008	March 1, 2011

How about other manufacturer's devices?

All FLARM compatible devices, independent of type and manufacturer, run the same core hard- and firmware and are therefore compatible by design. This document applies to all of them.

Compatible manufacturers and their products are:

LX Navigation	RedBox, LX 7007, LX 8000, Colibri Flarm (full IGC approval), MiniBox
Triadis	FLOICE: with voice-Intercom output
Ediatec	ECW 100: 57mm with beeper -Intercom output and numeric distance indicator
RF Developments (Australia and New Zealand)	OzFlarm, MiniOz
Artronic	to be announced
FLARM Technology	Original FLARM  in March 08 with IGC approval up to diamond badge and ENL sensor

 

Please visit www.flarm.com/product/ for an updated list of compatible products.

How do I get the latest news about FLARM?

Please sign up to our mailing list at:

lists.flarm.com/mailman/listinfo/user-list_flarm.com

The list is moderated, we will not give your mail address away for non FLARM purposes and we will keep the number of sent mails to a minimum. Please use the forums at www.flarm.com/forum/ for any type of discussions.

 

Advanced “Privacy” mode -> renamed to “Stealth mode”

To prevent abuse of the received data in competitions (which is an IGC requirement) FLARM has since 2004 included a “Privacy” mode where not all the received information is forwarded to the serial data-port and therefore is not available to external, graphical displays or PDA’s.

 

For the mandatory 2008 update, “Privacy” mode is further refined with the following goals:

·         Discourage temporary powering off of FLARM during competitions

·         Discourage use of “Privacy” mode outside competitions

Modification for the mandatory, scheduled 2008 update:

The guiding principle is that the pilot will not receive more information than what he has visually available anyway.

a.     Renaming to “Stealth mode” as this better describes the purpose and operation. We clearly promote its non-usage.

b.     The status and any changes of the "Stealth mode" is recorded in the IGC file as an L-record (LFLA STEALTH [ON / OFF]) and is therefore protected by the G-record. Consequently a competition authority can easily enforce the use (or non use) if desirable.

c.     Manual changes to "Stealth mode" during flight are delayed by two minutes

d.     Full reciprocity: A pilot that enables “Stealth mode” will get the information as if all other aircraft had enabled “Stealth mode”, independent of their actual setting.

e.     If FLARM is rebooted during flight, other aircraft are treated as if in "Stealth mode" for the first two minutes, independent of their actual setting.

f.      Targets with enabled “Stealth Mode” are only displayed in NEAREST and are available on the serial data-port as a PFLAA message, if they meet at least one of the following requirements:
- target is a threat
- target is within 100m horizontal and 50m vertical
- target is within 2000m horizontal and 300m vertical and within ±45° of own flight track.

g.     If a PFLAA message is issued according to the rules above, all fields in Italic are empty:
PFLAA,<AlarmLevel>,<RelativeNorth>,<RelativeEast>,<RelativeVertical>,<IDType>,<ID>,<Track>,
<TurnRate>,<GroundSpeed>,<ClimbRate>,<AcftType>

h.     <RelativeVertical> degraded with random white-noise in the order of magnitude of (distance / 32) , as long as target is not a threat.

Improved transmission confidentiality, integrity verification, and discontinuation of ID hopping

Currently the central processing module of FLARM parses all radio messages received that match the network address as well as pass a two bytes error detection check done by the transceiver module. However the error detection routines offered by the transceiver itself are restricted, what - on very rare occasions - can cause the processing of random data. Furthermore manufacturers for devices using serial data from Flarm-compatible devices (e.g. PDA’s, voice-interfaces and displays) have since long asked to replace the random ID hopping option intended to comply with competition rules and to augment privacy (see above) with an alternative approach where ID’s – if available – are guaranteed to be stable.

Modification:

Remove ID hopping option in serial message PFLAC,,ID and instead include adding additional error detection encoding and encryption on the radio message to verify and ensure its correctness and integrity, but.

Temporary, stationary obstacle profile

A FLARM can be configured to broadcast stationary obstacle information. Other FLARMs, fitted in aircraft, will be warned before entering the airspace in vicinity of this static object.

Possible usage scenarios are:

·         Winch launch areas

·         Temporary transportation (cable railway)

·         Shooting ranges

·         Windmills