CAT Digital Controller™

CAT Digital Controller™

In 2003, after several years of working with modified versions of generic logic controllers, CAT initiated a project to develop and build the world's first dedicated digital controller for hypoxic altitude environments. The result revolutionized the industry and opened the door for a whole range of stabilized, hypoxic systems. With this device the user enters the desired altitude and it communicates with the remote equipment to bring the environment quickly to the set-point, and stabilizing it there. The controller also monitors other factors such as CO2 and responds accordingly.

Displays:

• Set-Point Altitude
• Current Altitude*
• CO2 (on demand)

Controls:

• On/Off (controls entire system)
• Feet/Meters
• Altitude Up/Down
• Altitude/CO2 display
• Dimmer

Features:

• Dual Oxygen Sensors for self error-checking
• CO2 Sensor
• Pressure transducer to determine natural elevation
• Temperature Sensor
• Self-calibrating (automatically each 42 days, or on-demand)
• Safety Alarms
• 3 Control channels for separate banks of equipment
• Data-Logging output

In 2007, at the request of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), an update was made to the firmware to allow for altitudes up to 30,000 feet.

*The altitude is displayed in feet or meters. The Partial Pressure of Oxygen is measured using the oxygen content and the measured local pressure (dependant upon weather conditions and natural elevation), and using an algorithm developed by Professor John West 1. the altitude at which this would be experienced naturally is determined.

1. John B. West Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego Prediction of barometric pressures at high altitudes with the use of model atmospheres Journal of Applied Physiology Vol. 81, No. 4, pp. 1850-1854, October 1996