Kinetic Avionic Products Upgrades Its ADS-B Ground-Station Software

Kinetic Avionic Products has upgraded the software of its low-cost ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast) ground station that it believes should encourage third-party developers to increase its functionality.

Kinetic's SBS-1 Basestation is a portable ADS-B receiver that is equipped with an antenna and power supply to display, identify, and track aircraft with Mode-S (select) transponders.  While some of the company's customers are merely "aviation enthusiasts" who enjoy such activity, Kinetic believes it can be used by flight schools, and other organizations, such as emergency responders, who want to track their aircraft.  If necessary, these aircraft can use Kinetic's L.A.S.T transponder for this purpose.

The software upgrade, which was developed under the code-name "Snoopy," adds an embedded database and additional reporting and logging software to allow historical analysis of aircraft sightings as well as an open database interface and data socket that together will allow third-party developers to create companion applications and general BaseStation enhancements to increase its functionality.

Kinetic says it tested Snoopy as an open-beta program, which resulted in a number of third-party developers creating add-on applications, some of which are already available, and others are being tested.

Snoopy is available as a free download to existing users, and can be installed as a simple upgrade to existing BaseStation software, Kinetic says.  12-04-2006.

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