ParaBaro User Manual

1. Introduction

What is ParaBaro?

The ParaBaro Receiver is a wrist-mounted paragliding flight computer built on the Waveshare ESP32-S3 Touch LCD 2.8" platform. It receives real-time differential pressure data from up to four wireless transmitter sensors mounted along the wing's leading edge, displaying wing inflation status as twin semicircular arcs on a 240×320 pixel IPS touchscreen.

Key capabilities include:

Real-time wing inflation monitoring — 4-sensor BLE mesh at 10 Hz
Audio vario — XCTracer-style climb/sink tones via PCM5101A I2S DAC
Voice announcements — 38 spoken alerts for flight events, thermals, and safety
Automatic flight recording — GPS-based launch & landing detection with IGC + CSV logging
Pressure chart — 60-second scrolling differential pressure overlay
3-tier battery warnings — FAR 25.1322 compliant aviation alert colours
Bluetooth dashboard — Pilot profile, WiFi, and OTA firmware updates via web app

What's in the Box

Main Display Unit — 2.8" IPS colour touchscreen receiver with GPS, WiFi, audio DAC, and SD card slot
4 Pressure Sensors — Wireless BLE transmitters: Left A, Left B, Right A, Right B
USB-C Charging Cable
Mounting Hardware — Magnetic attachment for wing and cockpit

You will also need a FAT32-formatted microSD card (max 32 GB, not included).

2. Getting Started

Charge the Receiver

Connect the USB-C cable. A full charge takes 2–3 hours and provides 6–8 hours of continuous use.

Insert Sensor Batteries

Each transmitter uses a CR2032 coin cell (or CR2450 for extended life). Expected battery life: 17+ months (CR2032) or 48+ months (CR2450).

Insert a Memory Card

With the receiver powered off, insert a FAT32 microSD card into the side slot. This stores your flight recordings.

Create Your Account

Visit aviometrics.com/register to create your pilot account and enter your wing details.

Power On & Pair

Press the power button for 1 second. The device announces "ParaBaro ready. Have a safe flight." and boots to the Flight Screen. Swipe left twice to reach Settings and tap Pilot Dashboard to pair with your web account via BLE.

Tip: Set up your profile first Visit the Pilot Dashboard (Settings → Pilot Dashboard) to configure your pilot name, wing details, and WiFi credentials before your first flight.

Swipe Gestures

The ParaBaro has three main screens. Navigate between them by swiping horizontally on the touchscreen. The gesture system is optimised for gloved hands with generous thresholds.

Flight

Screen 1

↔

Sessions

Screen 2

↔

Settings

Screen 3

Swipe Left → move to the next screen (Flight → Sessions → Settings)
Swipe Right → move to the previous screen (Settings → Sessions → Flight)

Navigation Dot Indicators

Three small dots appear at the bottom of every screen, showing which screen is currently active. The white dot indicates the current screen; grey dots indicate the other screens.

4. Flight Screen

The Flight Screen is the primary instrument display, showing real-time wing inflation, flight data, and recording controls. It is the default screen on boot.

Flight Screen — Standby Mode

1 Header Bar — Time, date, GPS satellites, WiFi status, and battery icon. Teal background.

2 Sensor LEDs — Four indicators showing BLE transmitter connection status. Grey = disconnected, green = paired.

3 Flight Time — Elapsed recording time (HH:MM). Yellow text for cockpit visibility.

4 Distance — Total GPS track distance in kilometres.

5 Inflation Arcs — Twin semicircular arcs representing left and right wing inflation. Sky blue (#00BFFF) fills proportionally to differential pressure.

6 CALIB Button — Press and hold for 1.5 seconds to zero-calibrate pressure sensors.

7 Ground Speed — GPS speed in km/h with large digits.

8 Altitude — Barometric altitude in metres. Shows "---" until calibrated.

9 REC Button — Tap to start/stop flight recording. Turns red with "STOP" label when recording.

10 Navigation Dots — Three-screen position indicator. White dot = active screen.

Inflation Arcs — Colour Coding

The arc colour changes based on pressure thresholds, following FAR 25.1322 aviation alert standards:

Sky Blue (≥ 40 Pa) — Normal inflation. Wing is fully pressurised.

Amber (20–40 Pa) — Warning. Reduced inflation detected.

Red (< 20 Pa) — Danger. Potential collapse.

Pressure Chart

During recording, a 60-second scrolling pressure chart appears at the centre of the arc gauge, showing real-time differential pressure from both wing halves:

Sky Blue line — Left wing differential pressure
Green line — Right wing differential pressure
Y-axis range: 0–100 Pa, scrolling at 1 Hz

Calibration

The large green CALIB button at the centre of the inflation arcs initiates a pressure sensor zero-calibration:

Press and hold the CALIB button for 1.5 seconds
The calibration process runs for 10 seconds, averaging sensor readings
All pressure values are then offset so that current ambient pressure reads as zero

Important: Calibrate on the ground Always calibrate before launch with the wing laid out flat and uninflated. Do not calibrate in flight or during wind gusts.

Recording

The full-width REC button at the bottom controls manual flight recording. Tap to start — the button turns red and shows "STOP". Tap again to stop recording. Two files are created per flight:

IGC File (1 Hz) — Standard paragliding track log for XC competitions
CSV File (10 Hz) — Detailed sensor data including pressure differentials, GPS, and IMU

Files are named with the recording start time: flight_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.csv and flight_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.igc.

In-Flight Recording (4 sensors, GPS fix)

Critical Battery Warning (≤5%)

5. Sessions Screen

Swipe left from the Flight Screen to access the Sessions Screen, which lists all recorded flights stored on the SD card.

Sessions Screen — Flight List

Each recorded flight displays:

Date & time of the flight start
Duration and total distance
File badges — IGC (teal) and CSV (blue) with green checkmarks when uploaded

Uploading

Press the UPLOAD button to transmit all un-uploaded flight files to the Aviometrics cloud via WiFi. WiFi credentials must be configured beforehand via the Pilot Dashboard. Progress is displayed on the Settings screen.

Tip You can also transfer files by removing the SD card and connecting it to your computer. Flight files are saved as flight_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.csv and flight_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.igc.

6. Settings Screen

Swipe left from Sessions to access Settings. This screen is vertically scrollable and organised into grouped sections.

Settings Screen — All Sections

Profile Section

Displays pilot name, wing details, and device name as configured through the Pilot Dashboard. Values persist in NVS (non-volatile storage) across power cycles.

Connectivity

Shows the current WiFi connection status. WiFi credentials are configured via BLE from the Pilot Dashboard web app.

Audio Vario Volume

Tap the volume button to cycle through four levels: OFF (muted), LOW (25%), MED (50%), and HIGH (78%).

Flight Settings

The Auto-start toggle enables or disables automatic flight recording. When ON (teal), the device will automatically begin recording when launch is detected and stop when landing is confirmed. This setting persists across reboots.

Action Buttons

Button	Colour	Action
Pilot Dashboard	Teal	Opens BLE GATT server for web dashboard pairing
Reset Sensors	Orange	Clears all BLE sensor pairings and rescans
Update Firmware	Teal	Initiates OTA firmware update (requires WiFi)

7. Audio System

Vario Tones

The ParaBaro generates XCTracer-style audio variometer tones through the PCM5101A I2S DAC at 44.1 kHz:

Condition	Sound	Description
Climbing (>0 m/s)	Beep-beep-beep	Frequency and tempo increase with climb rate
Sinking (<0 m/s)	Continuous low tone	Pitch drops with stronger sink
Dead band	Silent	Near-zero vertical speed — no audio

Voice Announcements

The ParaBaro includes 38 spoken voice announcements covering all flight phases. Announcements are prioritised to ensure safety-critical alerts are never delayed.

Safety Alerts

Event	Announcement
Collapse detected	"Collapse detected! Check your wing."
Speed warning	"Speed warning. Reduce speed."
Wind alert	"Wind speed warning. Check conditions."
Max altitude	"Maximum altitude warning."
Low battery	"Battery is low. Please land soon."

Flight Events

Event	Announcement
Boot	"ParaBaro ready. Have a safe flight."
Takeoff detected	"Takeoff detected. Recording started."
Landing detected	"Landing detected. Flight saved."
GPS fix acquired	"GPS position acquired."
Thermal entry	"Thermal detected."
Strong thermal	"Strong thermal. Core it."
Sink alert	"Sinking air." / "Strong sink. Caution."

Altitude Callouts

Automatic altitude announcements at: 100m, 200m, 300m, 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 2000m, 2500m, 3000m.

8. Automatic Flight Detection

When Auto-start is enabled, the ParaBaro automatically detects takeoff and landing to control flight recording without pilot interaction.

Launch Detection

Recording begins automatically when either condition is met:

Trigger	Threshold	Condition
GPS Speed	≥15 km/h	Sustained for 5 seconds
Altitude Change	≥20 m	Within a 30-second window

Landing Detection

Recording stops automatically when all conditions are met simultaneously for 30 seconds:

Condition	Threshold
GPS speed	<2 km/h
Vario (vertical speed)	<±0.3 m/s
Minimum flight time	>2 minutes

Flight Summary Upon landing detection, the device announces "Landing detected. Flight saved." and the flight data is written to the SD card.

Flight Statistics Tracked

Statistic	Description
Max Altitude	Highest barometric altitude during flight (m)
Altitude Gain	Total cumulative climb (m)
Max Climb Rate	Best sustained climb rate (m/s)
Max Sink Rate	Maximum descent rate (m/s)
Max Speed	Peak GPS ground speed (km/h)
Total Distance	GPS track distance (km)
Pressure Events	Number of collapse/deflation incidents
Min Inflation	Lowest recorded wing inflation percentage

9. Battery Warning System

The ParaBaro implements a 3-tier battery warning system with escalating visual and audio alerts, compliant with FAR 25.1322 aviation alert colour standards.

Tier	Level	Visual	Audio
Tier 1	≤20% battery	Battery icon turns amber	"Battery is low"
Tier 2	≤10% battery	Battery icon turns red	"Battery is low"
Tier 3	≤5% battery	Flashing "LAND NOW" banner	Repeated voice warnings every 500ms

TIER 3: LAND IMMEDIATELY At ≤5% battery, a flashing red banner reading "LAND NOW - BATTERY CRITICAL" overlays the flight screen and voice warnings repeat continuously. Land as soon as it is safe to do so.

10. Sensor Placement

The four BLE pressure sensors are positioned on the inside of the wing to measure internal cell pressure. Correct placement is essential for accurate readings.

Left A — Left side, inner cell (close to centre)
Left B — Left side, outer cell (near wing tip)
Right A — Right side, inner cell (close to centre)
Right B — Right side, outer cell (near wing tip)

Sensors attach magnetically and should be positioned between 20° and 90° from the leading edge. They use ambient light detection to activate automatically when the wing is opened.

Battery Life Each sensor runs on a single coin cell: CR2032 gives 17+ months; CR2450 gives 48+ months. Sensors enter idle beaconing mode when ambient light is detected and only take pressure readings when connected to the receiver.

11. Pilot Dashboard

Profile Tab — Edit your pilot name, wing details, and account settings
Logbook Tab — View, upload, and analyse flight data with interactive charts
Device Tab — Connect to your ParaBaro via Web Bluetooth (Chrome/Edge) to sync your profile, set the clock, and configure WiFi
Analytics Tab — View AI safety insights and flight statistics

Connecting via BLE

On the Settings screen, tap Pilot Dashboard
The BLE server starts advertising as your device name (e.g., "ParaBaro-A1B2")
Open the Aviometrics Pilot Dashboard in Chrome/Edge on your phone or laptop
Click "Connect Device" and select your ParaBaro from the Bluetooth list

Profile Synchronisation

The web dashboard syncs your pilot profile over BLE, including pilot name, wing brand, model, size, and class. Profile data is stored in NVS and persists across power cycles.

WiFi Configuration

WiFi credentials (SSID and password) can be set from the dashboard. The device saves credentials to NVS and connects automatically on subsequent boots.

Over-the-Air (OTA) Updates

Firmware updates are delivered wirelessly:

Ensure WiFi is connected
The dashboard sends a firmware URL to the device via BLE
The device downloads and installs the update automatically
Progress is shown on the Settings screen

Do not power off during OTA Interrupting a firmware update may leave the device in an unusable state. Ensure adequate battery (>30%) before updating.

12. Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
Sensor LEDs stay grey	Ensure transmitters are ON and within 10 m. Try Reset Sensors in Settings to clear pairings and rescan.
GPS shows 0 satellites	Move to an open area with clear sky view. GPS cold start may take 30–60 seconds.
Altitude shows "---"	Press and hold CALIB button for 1.5s with wing on the ground.
No audio / vario silent	Check Audio volume in Settings. Cycle to LOW, MED, or HIGH.
Auto-start not working	Check Flight → Auto-start toggle in Settings (should show "ON").
WiFi won't connect	Re-enter WiFi credentials via the Pilot Dashboard BLE connection.
Arcs show red/amber on ground	This is normal on the ground. Arcs should fill sky blue during flight.
Upload fails	Ensure WiFi is connected (teal icon in header). Check signal strength and battery level.
Screen unresponsive	Press and hold the hardware reset button for 5 seconds.
BLE pairing won't start	Ensure you're using Chrome or Edge (Web Bluetooth is not supported in Firefox or Safari). The device must be on the Settings screen with Pilot Dashboard tapped.
Firmware update fails	Ensure stable WiFi and battery above 30%. Do not power off during an update.

13. Specifications

Receiver (Display Unit)

Processor	ESP32-S3, dual-core 240 MHz, 320 KB RAM
Display	2.8" IPS capacitive touchscreen (240 × 320)
Flash Storage	16 MB
Audio DAC	PCM5101A I2S, 44.1 kHz, 16-bit
GPS	Built-in GNSS module, 1 Hz logging
BLE	NimBLE 1.4.3, up to 4 simultaneous sensor connections
WiFi	802.11 b/g/n, 2.4 GHz
Storage	MicroSD (FAT32, max 32 GB)
Battery	6–8 hours continuous use, USB-C charging (2–3 hrs)
Data Formats	IGC (GPS track at 1 Hz), CSV (pressure + IMU at 10 Hz)

Transmitters (Pressure Sensors)

Pressure Sensor	High-precision barometric (differential)
Light Sensor	Ambient light — automatic wake-on-light
Battery	CR2032 (17+ months) or CR2450 (48+ months)
Quantity	4 per system (Left A, Left B, Right A, Right B)
Pressure Range	10–200 Pa
Connectivity	Bluetooth Low Energy

14. Safety Notes

Important Safety Notice The ParaBaro is a supplementary flight instrument. It does not replace proper pilot training, weather assessment, or visual monitoring of your wing. Always fly within your abilities and current conditions.

The wing inflation display is an aid, not a substitute for looking at your wing
Always calibrate pressure sensors on the ground before every flight
Respond immediately to "LAND NOW" battery warnings
Do not rely solely on auto-start/landing detection — use manual REC as backup
Ensure transmitter batteries are charged before flight (low battery = sensor dropout)
The device is not waterproof — avoid rain and submersion
GPS accuracy may vary; do not use for navigation in controlled airspace
Keep firmware up to date for the latest safety improvements

Thermal Detection Thresholds

Event	Threshold	Confirmation
Thermal	≥0.5 m/s climb	3 seconds
Strong thermal	≥3.0 m/s climb	3 seconds
Weak lift	≥0.1 m/s climb	3 seconds
Sink	≤-1.5 m/s	2 seconds
Strong sink	≤-3.0 m/s	2 seconds

Need more help? Check the FAQ or contact us.

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