Scoring Methods
Reference documentation for every scoring method used in Virtual CP Series.
Max Flare Time
Scores the longest flare duration in seconds.
Versioning policy
Minor refinements become new versions; fundamentally different measurements become new scorer methods.
Uses exactly the same flare detection algorithm as Max Flare v1, but scores duration rather than altitude gain. The reported value is the longest flare in seconds — from the moment the canopy starts climbing to the first moment altitude returns to the climb-start level.
Flare measurement
Score = flare time (the horizontal bracket) — the elapsed time from climb start until altitude first returns to the climb-start level, in seconds. Same flare detection as Max Flare; different metric.
Scoring window
Default window: 8 000 – 4 000 ft MSL. Adjustable per competition.
Algorithm
Identical to Max Flare v1, except the final step:
- 1–3.Same as Max Flare v1 — skip plane ride, clip to window, detect flares.
- 4.Score. Return the maximum durationS (endTime − climbStartTime) in seconds.
Parameters
| Parameter | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| window_hi_ft | 8 000 | Top of the scoring window in feet MSL. |
| window_lo_ft | 4 000 | Bottom of the scoring window in feet MSL. |
| freefall_threshold_ms | 25 m/s | velD threshold used to locate freefall start and skip the plane ride. |
| min_flare_m | 0.5 m | Minimum altitude gain for a candidate event to be counted. Smaller events are GPS noise. |
Score breakdown
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| window_hi_m / window_lo_m | Scoring window bounds converted to metres. |
| freefall_start_t | Time (s from track start) where freefall was detected. |
| points_in_window | GPS samples within the scoring window. |
| flares[].climb_start_alt_m | Altitude at the start of each flare (m MSL). |
| flares[].max_alt_m | Peak altitude reached during each flare (m MSL). |
| flares[].gain_m | Altitude gain for each flare (m). |
| flares[].duration_s | Duration of each flare (s). |
| flares[].climb_start_t / end_t | Start and end times of each flare (s from track start). |