D3 GPS/IMU Telemetry

Title

D3 describes the use of high frequency GPS loggers (1 Hz) combined with inertial units (IMU: accelerometer + gyroscope + magnetometer) to reconstruct the 3D trajectory of the bird in free flight. It is the most powerful observation method for the flight dynamics (E10) and flight modes (E15) modules because it directly provides the system state variables: position, speed, trajectory angle and climb speed. The separation between ground speed (GPS) and aerodynamic speed (necessary for aerodynamic modules) requires replacing the wind vector, obtained from radiosondes or meteorological models. D3 is especially critical for studying A6 (altitudinal distribution under extreme conditions) and A7 (detection of migratory stops as an indicator of energy depletion), as both produce distinctive trajectory signatures that can be automatically extracted.

ID:4223