1 ![Altus Metrum Logo](logo.png)
3 <link href="https://plus.google.com/109995815990298399569/" rel="publisher" />
5 Open hardware and software designs
6 for high powered model rocketry by
7 [Bdale Garbee](http://gag.com/bdale) and
8 [Keith Packard](http://keithp.com/keithp).
10 Bdale and Keith share a strong commitment to
11 [Free Software](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software), and as long time
12 contributors to the [Debian](https://www.debian.org/) project are fully
14 [Debian Social Contract](https://www.debian.org/social_contract). In the
15 context of what you find here, this translates into an absolute commitment
16 to respect user freedom:
18 <li> all of our hardware designs are licensed under the
19 [TAPR](http://www.tapr.org/)
20 [Open Hardware License](http://www.tapr.org/ohl.html)
22 <li> all of our software is under the [GNU](http://www.gnu.org/)
23 [General Public License](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/#GPL) or
26 <li> all of our design tools and the software we use to run our business
31 Bdale's online store has a form you can use to
32 [contact us](http://shop.gag.com/contact/).
34 # Download the latest [AltOS](AltOS/) software version #
36 # [Latest News](News) #
38 # [Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)](FAQ) #
40 # Where to Buy the Hardware #
42 Altus Metrum products are available directly from
43 [Bdale's web store](https://shop.gag.com), and from these distributors:
46 * [AMWPro-X](http://amwprox.com)
47 * [Apogee Components](http://www.apogeerockets.com)
48 * [Bay Area Rocketry](http://bayarearocketry.com)
49 * [Chris' Rocket Supplies](http://csrocketry.com)
50 * [Mile High Rocketry](https://www.milehighrocketry.com)
51 * [RCS Rocket Motor Components](https://www.rocketmotorparts.com/Avionics/cat1577810_4805783.aspx)
52 * [Rocketarium](https://www.rocketarium.com)
53 * [Science Education Center](http://sciedcenter.com/)
54 * [Wildman Rocketry](https://wildmanrocketry.com/)
56 * [Canadian Rocket Store](https://www.allrockets.ca)
58 * [SierraFoxHobbies](http://www.sierrafoxhobbies.com)
60 * [Reliable Rocketry](https://sites.google.com/view/reliable-rocketry)
64 These products are available for purchase:
66 * [TeleMetrum](TeleMetrum/)
67 was our original (and still our most popular!) product, a dual-deploy rocketry
68 altimeter with GPS and RF telemetry link.
70 * [TeleMega](TeleMega/)
71 is a high-end flight computer with 6 pyro channels, tilt limits, more and
72 better sensors, GPS, and RF telemetry link.
74 * [TeleMini](TeleMini/)
75 is our smallest dual-deploy rocketry altimeter with telemetry using only a
76 barometric pressure sensor
78 * [EasyMega](EasyMega/)
79 is a high-end flight computer with 6 pyro channels, tilt limits, etc. The
80 design is essentially identical to [TeleMega](TeleMega/), but without the
81 GPS receiver and radio telemetry link.
83 * [EasyMini](EasyMini/)
84 is a small, low-cost, dual-deploy rocketry altimeter using just a barometry
87 * [EasyMotor](EasyMotor/)
88 is an in-flight data logger for research motor characterization.
90 * [EasyTimer](EasyTimer/)
91 is a timer-based 2-channel pyro controller with tilt limits
93 * [TeleDongle](TeleDongle/)
94 is a simple USB to RF interface for use in ground stations interacting with
95 rockets using any of our products with RF telemetry.
97 * [TeleBT](TeleBT) is a variation on [TeleDongle](TeleDongle/) that adds
98 [Bluetooth](http://www.bluetooth.com) as an alternative to USB. Particularly
99 useful with the [AltosDroid](http://www.altusmetrum.org/AltosDroid/) app for
100 Android devices, or the compatible iOS application available for sale from
101 our friends at [Iron Sheep Productions](http://altosui.ironsheep.biz/).
103 * [TeleGPS](TeleGPS/)
104 is a GPS tracker and logger.
106 * [TeleLaunch](TeleLaunch/)
107 is a wireless launch control system capable of operating up to 792 pads.
109 * [LipoCharger](LipoCharger/)
110 is a standalone battery charger for the Lithium Polymer batteries used in
111 Altus Metrum products.
113 * [MicroPeak](MicroPeak/)
114 is a rocket altimeter that is both precise and tiny, designed to be the
115 ideal altimeter for model rocket contests.
117 * [MicroPeak USB Interface](MicroPeakUSB/)
118 provides an interface between [MicroPeak](MicroPeak/) and USB to
119 download flight log data.
123 These are projects we're working on that may become products someday:
126 is the name of the firmware and related utilities that Keith maintains for
127 the set of hardware projects here.
129 * [AltosDroid](AltosDroid/)
130 is the name of our Android app based on AltOS.
132 * [ChaosKey](ChaosKey/)
133 is a true hardware random number generator that connects over USB.
135 * [OpenAlt](OpenAlt/)
136 was Bdale's original project here, a dual-deploy rocketry altimeter. One
137 prototype was built, but never flown.
139 * [QuantiMotor](QuantiMotor/)
140 is a wireless system for operating rocket motor test stands.
142 * [TeleNano](TeleNano/)
143 is a tiny rocketry altimeter with telemetry using only a barometric
146 * [TelePyro](TelePyro/) is a companion board for [TeleMetrum](TeleMetrum/)
147 that adds 8 additional pyro channels.
149 * [TeleScience](TeleScience/) is a companion board for
150 [TeleMetrum](TeleMetrum/) that adds 12 channels of thermistor or generic
151 analog sensor input, and 5 general purpose I/O lines.
153 * [TeleShield](TeleShield/) is an [Arduino](http://arduino.cc) radio shield.
155 * [TeleTerra](TeleTerra) is a hand-held ground station for use with
156 [TeleMetrum](TeleMetrum/) and [TeleMini](TeleMini/).
158 # [Documents](Documents) #
159 # [Awards and Recognition](awards) #
163 The motivation for the circuits and software you will find on this site is
164 our loosely-knit group's shared interest in hobby rocketry. This very brief
165 [Ted presentation by Steve Jurvetson](http://www.ted.com/talks/steve_jurvetson_on_model_rocketry.html)
166 quickly conveys at least part of why we do this. John Coker
167 has published an excellent
168 [overview of hobby rocketry](http://www.jcrocket.com/welcome.shtml)
169 on his web site. Keith has also put together some useful notes about the
170 process of [certification](http://keithp.com/rockets/certification/) to
171 fly high power rockets. And thanks to Maddie for pointing out the paghes that
172 [Lisa Richards](http://www.mapcon.com/model-rocket-maintenance-technology) maintains.
174 To find more information about the rockets Bdale and his son have built, see
175 [Garbee Rockets](http://www.gag.com/rockets).
177 As Bdale and Robert became more experienced in the hobby and started to build
178 and fly more sophisticated projects, we started to feel limited by the
179 existing electronics products available. OpenAlt was Bdale's first
180 attempt to address this situation with a completely open hardware and software
181 design... other project have since followed, and it's cool to have help from
182 Keith and other friends!
184 # [Using Altus Metrum Products](Uses) #
186 # [Presentations](talks) #
190 If you aren't already playing with model rockets, that's a good place to
191 start. Finding a local [NAR Section](http://nar.org/NARsect.html) or
192 [Tripoli](http://tripoli.org) Prefecture is a good idea, since you can
193 learn a lot and see some great flights by showing up at a club launch.
195 As we make progress, you can read about it in our [News](News) feed. Feel
196 free to subscribe to our
197 [mailing list](https://lists.gag.com/mailman3/postorius/lists/altusmetrum.lists.gag.com/).
198 We also hang out on IRC channel #altusmetrum on irc.oftc.net if you have
199 questions that aren't answered here. You can also find us on
200 [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=341167482968), though note
201 we don't check Facebook very often.
203 Our main projects include radio links. If you don't already have one,
204 getting an [Amateur Radio](./Radio) license would be a good thing to do!
206 And if you just can't wait to show your support for our efforts, visit
207 our [Cafe Press Logo Shop](http://cafepress.com/altusmetrum) and buy a
212 ![United States flag](USflag.png)
213 Altus Metrum products are designed and manufactured in the
214 United States of America.
218 This site is powered by [ikiwiki](http://ikiwiki.info),
219 and hosted by [Garbee and Garbee](http://www.gag.com)
220 using [Debian GNU/Linux](http://www.debian.org)
221 and [Apache](http://www.apache.org).