Ask HN: Real-time Altitude API useful?
Hey all,
Want your feedback!
We have a way to provide the real-time vertical altitude of a device, accurate to 5 feet, queried through an API. Seems to us that it’d be helpful for drone coordination to continuously adjust AGL and avoid collision. Also so that you'd be able to know a smartphone user's vertical position and take action accordingly.
Would this be something interesting to you as developers and drone enthusiasts?
If you're curious, here's how it would work
To calibrate:
- Use API to locate the nearest verified calibration location
- Provide the raw barometric reading of your pressure sensor at that location
- Receive a corrected barometric pressure
- Save the offset and apply it to all future readings for your device
At any time after calibration:
- Provide your device's pressure sensor's latitude, longitude and corrected barometric reading
- Receive absolute altitude and accuracy estimate
The API doesn't rely on the barometric formula. It is supported by a network of strategically located reference sensors which would automatically compensate for weather.
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