Tracking Devices and Integration: Reliable Data Collection

ASLT is designed to be hardware-agnostic. While the mobile app is the primary method of tracking, the system can consume and process data from multiple sources.

1. The AirSports Mobile App (iOS & Android)

The AirSports app is the most integrated way to track flights.

High-Performance Tracking

• 1-Second Intervals: During an active competition, the app switches to a high-frequency recording mode.
• Adaptive Transmission: To conserve battery and data, the app only transmits when necessary, but always maintains a high internal recording rate.
• Offline Buffering: If an aircraft flies into a cellular dead zone, the app will continue to record GPS data locally. Once it reconnects to a network, it “burst transmits” the missing points to the server. The scoring engine then backfills the track and updates the results.

Essential App Settings

To ensure a reliable track, contestants must configure their devices:

• Always-On Location: Set location permissions to “Always Allow” (not “Only while using the app”).
• Background Data: Enable background data usage for AirSports.
• Battery Optimization: This is the most common cause of failure. You must exempt AirSports from your phone’s power-saving modes.
  • Android: Settings > Apps > AirSports > Battery > Unrestricted.
  • iOS: Settings > General > Background App Refresh (must be ON).

2. Hardware Trackers (Flymaster)

Many organizations prefer the reliability of dedicated aviation hardware. ASLT has a native integration for Flymaster devices.

Using a Flymaster Tracker

1. Configure the Team: In the ASLT Team Manager, change the Tracker Service to “Flymaster”.
2. Tracking ID: Enter the device’s hardware ID.
3. Data Ingestion: ASLT can receive Flymaster data via a direct HTTP POST integration (/display/flymaster/).
4. Buffering Support: Flymaster devices are excellent because they have robust internal memory and long battery life. Even if the entire flight is outside cellular coverage, the data can be uploaded post-flight to the ASLT server for scoring.

3. Network Aggregators (OGN, SafeSky, Traccar)

For events where pilots are not using the app or Flymaster, ASLT can pull data from existing tracking networks.

Open Glider Network (OGN) & SafeSky

• Global Coverage: If an aircraft is equipped with FLARM, FANET, or another OGN-compatible transmitter, ASLT can ingest its position.
• SafeSky Integration: ASLT can also consume data from the SafeSky network, which aggregates dozens of different tracking sources into one feed.
• Caveat: These services are “best effort” and may have gaps depending on ground station coverage. For official competition scoring, the AirSports App or Flymaster are highly recommended because they support local buffering.

4. Manual GPX Upload

As a failsafe, ASLT allows managers to manually upload a track.

• If a pilot’s tracker fails, but they have a backup log from their avionics (e.g., G3X, ForeFlight, SkyDemon), the manager can export a GPX file and upload it directly to the contestant’s record.
• The system will process this GPX file exactly like a live track, calculating all penalties and updating the scoreboard.