diff --git a/libraries/AP_ADC/AP_ADC_HIL.cpp b/libraries/AP_ADC/AP_ADC_HIL.cpp
index 5ea1efaba1..d3b04b5bc5 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_ADC/AP_ADC_HIL.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_ADC/AP_ADC_HIL.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ const float AP_ADC_HIL::accelBias[3]    = {2025,2025,2025};
 // gyroScale = 1/[GyroGain*pi/180]   GyroGains (0.4,0.41,0.41)
 const float AP_ADC_HIL::gyroScale[3] = {143.239, 139.746, 139.746};
 const float AP_ADC_HIL::accelScale[3] = {418,418,418}; // adcPerG
+    
+uint16_t  AP_ADC_HIL::_count; // number of samples captured
 
 AP_ADC_HIL::AP_ADC_HIL()
 {
@@ -45,6 +47,7 @@ AP_ADC_HIL::AP_ADC_HIL()
 
 void AP_ADC_HIL::Init( AP_PeriodicProcess * scheduler )
 {
+    scheduler->register_process( AP_ADC_HIL::read );
 }
 
 // Read one channel value
@@ -56,6 +59,8 @@ float AP_ADC_HIL::Ch(unsigned char ch_num)
 // Read 6 channel values
 uint32_t AP_ADC_HIL::Ch6(const uint8_t *channel_numbers, float *result)
 {
+    _count = 0;
+    
     for (uint8_t i=0; i<6; i++) {
         result[i] = Ch(channel_numbers[i]);
     }
@@ -92,5 +97,5 @@ bool AP_ADC_HIL::new_data_available(const uint8_t *channel_numbers)
 // Get minimum number of samples read from the sensors
 uint16_t AP_ADC_HIL::num_samples_available(const uint8_t *channel_numbers)
 {
-    return 1;
+    return _count;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/libraries/AP_ADC/AP_ADC_HIL.h b/libraries/AP_ADC/AP_ADC_HIL.h
index b44147e891..3899a61907 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_ADC/AP_ADC_HIL.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_ADC/AP_ADC_HIL.h
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include "AP_ADC.h"
+ 
+#include <FastSerial.h>
 
 ///
 // A hardware in the loop model of the ADS7844 analog to digital converter
@@ -99,6 +101,13 @@ private:
     // TODO: implement
     void        setGyroTemp(int16_t val) {
     }
+    
+        // read function that pretends to capture new data
+    static void read(uint32_t tnow) {
+       _count++;
+    }
+
+    static uint16_t  _count;                    // number of samples captured
 };
 
 #endif