Ask HN: Real-time Altitude API useful?

[preetnation]

Hey all,

Want your feedback!

We have a way to provide the real-time vertical altitude of a device, accurate to 5 feet, queried through an API. Seems to us that it’d be helpful for drone coordination to continuously adjust AGL and avoid collision. Also so that you'd be able to know a smartphone user's vertical position and take action accordingly.

Would this be something interesting to you as developers and drone enthusiasts?

If you're curious, here's how it would work

To calibrate:

- Use API to locate the nearest verified calibration location

- Provide the raw barometric reading of your pressure sensor at that location

- Receive a corrected barometric pressure

- Save the offset and apply it to all future readings for your device

At any time after calibration:

- Provide your device's pressure sensor's latitude, longitude and corrected barometric reading

- Receive absolute altitude and accuracy estimate

The API doesn't rely on the barometric formula. It is supported by a network of strategically located reference sensors which would automatically compensate for weather.