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In the 1950s, QED began production of a mechanical cockpit accelerometer. Using a seismic mass, this mechanical cockpit accelerometer converts the linear motion of the seismic mass to rotary motion to dynamically indicate the G force on the airframe and to position the positive and negative telltale pointers. The design of this instrument proved successful for half a century as a wide range of applications in trainer and transport aircraft demonstrates.
With the rapid rise of digital instrumentation and the "glass cockpits" of the 21st Century, it became clear that there was a need for an improved "electronic" version of the of the original all mechanical accelerometer. QED has developed a new instrument which has the look, envelope and form of the original with electronic sensing and an electrical drive system. Producing torque at a level only imagined by the original, the QED Electronic/Analog Accelerometer (EAA) offers the pilot the familiar dial, pointers and reset identical to the original. The dynamic pointer moves smoothly through the entire range and moves the telltale pointers with an authority simply not to be found on prior QED accelerometers or competitive products from any manufacturer. The goal is to produce an instrument that is easier to manufacture than the all mechanical analog instrument. This is expected to result in a reduction in the production lead time and the unit cost. More importantly, the new Electronic/Analog Accelerometer promises to offer improved reliability and maintainability. QED has test flown this instrument and it is also currently being tested by a trainer prime contractor. The EAA design is specifically intended to easily and completely replace the existing instrument.
While QED will continue to support the original all mechanical version of the accelerometer for the near future, we are encouraging our customers to evaluate and adopt the greatly improved Electronic/Analog Accelerometer.
QED looks forward to supplying our customers with the most advanced, reliable cockpit accelerometer available.