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WEEK 7

This week I’ve accomplished a lot more compared to the previous weeks, and there is yet more to come. Now that I got the line, this week I focused on putting a model to follow that line. I first started this by making a placemark to follow the line. After the placemark, I decided to place a 3-d model. However, this came with its price, because unlike a 2-d placemark, a 3-d figure has many other variables that one has to keep in mind.

One of the variables I had trouble with, and still do, is the <heading> value for the glider. This value basically positions direction the glider is heading towards. One can use the ATan(dy/dx) equation to find the values for the <heading>; however, I soon found out that that formula alone is no good. The reason being is because the earth’s surface is not flat. I need to find a formula that will take the earth’s radius into accountability. I found many formulas in on many sites, but so far none seem to provide the answer that I need. Or maybe I am missing something here? Either way, hopefully I soon find out.

--Update Bearing has been fixed on Glider tour Mission. 7-27-2009

Below are a list of KML files that I have created in the previous weeks. Some of these files, were shown in my presentation. Anyone may download these files and view them on their computers. But before doing so, make sure that you have Google Earth installed on your system in order to view these files.