</para>
</legalnotice>
<revhistory>
+ <revision>
+ <revnumber>1.5</revnumber>
+ <date>6 September 2014</date>
+ <revremark>
+ Major release adding EasyMega support.
+ </revremark>
+ </revision>
+ <revision>
+ <revnumber>1.4.1</revnumber>
+ <date>20 June 2014</date>
+ <revremark>
+ Minor release fixing some installation bugs.
+ </revremark>
+ </revision>
+ <revision>
+ <revnumber>1.4</revnumber>
+ <date>15 June 2014</date>
+ <revremark>
+ Major release adding TeleGPS support.
+ </revremark>
+ </revision>
<revision>
<revnumber>1.3.2</revnumber>
<date>24 January 2014</date>
EasyMini is a dual-deploy altimeter with logging and built-in
USB data download.
</para>
+ <para>
+ EasyMega is essentially a TeleMega board with the GPS receiver
+ and telemetry transmitter removed. It offers the same 6 pyro
+ channels and integrated gyroscopes for staging/air-start inhibit.
+ </para>
<para>
TeleDongle was our first ground station, providing a USB to RF
interfaces for communicating with the altimeters. Combined with
“starter kit” is to charge the battery.
</para>
<para>
- For TeleMetrum and TeleMega, the battery can be charged by plugging it into the
+ For TeleMetrum, TeleMega and EasyMega, the battery can be charged by plugging it into the
corresponding socket of the device and then using the USB
cable to plug the flight computer into your computer's USB socket. The
on-board circuitry will charge the battery whenever it is plugged
deeply discharged battery.
</para>
<para>
- TeleMetrum v2.0 and TeleMega use a higher power battery charger,
+ TeleMetrum v2.0, TeleMega and EasyMega use a higher power battery charger,
allowing them to charge the battery while running the board at
maximum power. When the battery is charging, or when the board
is consuming a lot of power, the red LED will be lit. When the
EasyMini and TeleMini v2 are designed to use either a
lithium polymer battery or any other battery producing
between 4 and 12 volts, such as a rectangular 9V
- battery. TeleMega and TeleMetrum are not designed for this,
+ battery. TeleMega, EasyMega and TeleMetrum are not designed for this,
and must only be powered by a lithium polymer battery. Find
instructions on how to use other batteries in the EasyMini
and TeleMini sections below.
<entry>40mW</entry>
<entry>3.7V</entry>
</row>
+ <row>
+ <entry>EasyMega <?linebreak?>v1.0</entry>
+ <entry><para>MS5607 30km (100k')</para></entry>
+ <entry><para>MMA6555 102g</para></entry>
+ <entry>-</entry>
+ <entry><para>MPU6000 HMC5883</para></entry>
+ <entry>8MB</entry>
+ <entry>-</entry>
+ <entry>3.7V</entry>
+ </row>
</tbody>
</tgroup>
</table>
<entry>3¼ inch (8.26cm)</entry>
<entry>38mm coupler</entry>
</row>
+ <row>
+ <entry>EasyMega</entry>
+ <entry><para>
+ Debug<?linebreak?>
+ Companion<?linebreak?>
+ USB<?linebreak?>
+ Battery
+ </para></entry>
+ <entry><para>
+ Apogee pyro <?linebreak?>
+ Main pyro<?linebreak?>
+ Pyro A-D<?linebreak?>
+ Switch<?linebreak?>
+ Pyro battery
+ </para></entry>
+ <entry>1¼ inch (3.18cm)</entry>
+ <entry>2¼ inch (5.62cm)</entry>
+ <entry>38mm coupler</entry>
+ </row>
</tbody>
</tgroup>
</table>
</para>
</section>
</section>
+ <section>
+ <title>EasyMega</title>
+ <informalfigure>
+ <mediaobject>
+ <imageobject>
+ <imagedata fileref="easymega-v1.0-top.jpg" width="4.5in" scalefit="1"/>
+ </imageobject>
+ </mediaobject>
+ </informalfigure>
+ <para>
+ EasyMega is a 1¼ inch by 2¼ inch circuit board. It was
+ designed to easily fit in a 38mm coupler. Like TeleMetrum,
+ EasyMega has an accelerometer and so it must be mounted so that
+ the board is aligned with the flight axis. It can be mounted
+ either antenna up or down.
+ </para>
+ <section>
+ <title>EasyMega Screw Terminals</title>
+ <para>
+ EasyMega has two sets of nine screw terminals on the end of
+ the board opposite the telemetry antenna. They are as follows:
+ </para>
+ <table frame='all'>
+ <title>EasyMega Screw Terminals</title>
+ <?dbfo keep-together="always"?>
+ <tgroup cols='3' align='center' colsep='1' rowsep='1'>
+ <colspec align='center' colwidth='*' colname='Pin #'/>
+ <colspec align='center' colwidth='2*' colname='Pin Name'/>
+ <colspec align='left' colwidth='5*' colname='Description'/>
+ <thead>
+ <row>
+ <entry align='center'>Terminal #</entry>
+ <entry align='center'>Terminal Name</entry>
+ <entry align='center'>Description</entry>
+ </row>
+ </thead>
+ <tbody>
+ <row>
+ <entry>Top 1</entry>
+ <entry>Switch Input</entry>
+ <entry>Switch connection to positive battery terminal</entry>
+ </row>
+ <row>
+ <entry>Top 2</entry>
+ <entry>Switch Output</entry>
+ <entry>Switch connection to flight computer</entry>
+ </row>
+ <row>
+ <entry>Top 3</entry>
+ <entry>GND</entry>
+ <entry>Ground connection for use with external active switch</entry>
+ </row>
+ <row>
+ <entry>Top 4</entry>
+ <entry>Main -</entry>
+ <entry>Main pyro channel connection to pyro circuit</entry>
+ </row>
+ <row>
+ <entry>Top 5</entry>
+ <entry>Main +</entry>
+ <entry>Main pyro channel common connection to battery +</entry>
+ </row>
+ <row>
+ <entry>Top 6</entry>
+ <entry>Apogee -</entry>
+ <entry>Apogee pyro channel connection to pyro circuit</entry>
+ </row>
+ <row>
+ <entry>Top 7</entry>
+ <entry>Apogee +</entry>
+ <entry>Apogee pyro channel common connection to battery +</entry>
+ </row>
+ <row>
+ <entry>Top 8</entry>
+ <entry>D -</entry>
+ <entry>D pyro channel connection to pyro circuit</entry>
+ </row>
+ <row>
+ <entry>Top 9</entry>
+ <entry>D +</entry>
+ <entry>D pyro channel common connection to battery +</entry>
+ </row>
+ <row>
+ <entry>Bottom 1</entry>
+ <entry>GND</entry>
+ <entry>Ground connection for negative pyro battery terminal</entry>
+ </row>
+ <row>
+ <entry>Bottom 2</entry>
+ <entry>Pyro</entry>
+ <entry>Positive pyro battery terminal</entry>
+ </row>
+ <row>
+ <entry>Bottom 3</entry>
+ <entry>Lipo</entry>
+ <entry>
+ Power switch output. Use to connect main battery to
+ pyro battery input
+ </entry>
+ </row>
+ <row>
+ <entry>Bottom 4</entry>
+ <entry>A -</entry>
+ <entry>A pyro channel connection to pyro circuit</entry>
+ </row>
+ <row>
+ <entry>Bottom 5</entry>
+ <entry>A +</entry>
+ <entry>A pyro channel common connection to battery +</entry>
+ </row>
+ <row>
+ <entry>Bottom 6</entry>
+ <entry>B -</entry>
+ <entry>B pyro channel connection to pyro circuit</entry>
+ </row>
+ <row>
+ <entry>Bottom 7</entry>
+ <entry>B +</entry>
+ <entry>B pyro channel common connection to battery +</entry>
+ </row>
+ <row>
+ <entry>Bottom 8</entry>
+ <entry>C -</entry>
+ <entry>C pyro channel connection to pyro circuit</entry>
+ </row>
+ <row>
+ <entry>Bottom 9</entry>
+ <entry>C +</entry>
+ <entry>C pyro channel common connection to battery +</entry>
+ </row>
+ </tbody>
+ </tgroup>
+ </table>
+ </section>
+ <section>
+ <title>Using a Separate Pyro Battery with EasyMega</title>
+ <para>
+ EasyMega provides explicit support for an external pyro
+ battery. All that is required is to remove the jumper
+ between the lipo terminal (Bottom 3) and the pyro terminal
+ (Bottom 2). Then hook the negative pyro battery terminal to ground
+ (Bottom 1) and the positive pyro battery to the pyro battery
+ input (Bottom 2). You can then use the existing pyro screw
+ terminals to hook up all of the pyro charges.
+ </para>
+ </section>
+ <section>
+ <title>Using Only One Battery With EasyMega</title>
+ <para>
+ Because EasyMega has built-in support for a separate pyro
+ battery, if you want to fly with just one battery running
+ both the computer and firing the charges, you need to
+ connect the flight computer battery to the pyro
+ circuit. EasyMega has two screw terminals for this—hook a
+ wire from the Lipo terminal (Bottom 3) to the Pyro terminal
+ (Bottom 2).
+ </para>
+ </section>
+ <section>
+ <title>Using an Active Switch with EasyMega</title>
+ <para>
+ As explained above, an external active switch requires three
+ connections, one to the positive battery terminal, one to
+ the flight computer positive input and one to ground.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ The positive battery terminal is available on Top terminal
+ 1, the positive flight computer input is on Top terminal
+ 2. Ground is on Top terminal 3.
+ </para>
+ </section>
+ </section>
<section>
<title>Flight Data Recording</title>
<para>
<entry>8MB</entry>
<entry>40</entry>
</row>
+ <row>
+ <entry>EasyMega</entry>
+ <entry>32</entry>
+ <entry>8MB</entry>
+ <entry>40</entry>
+ </row>
</tbody>
</tgroup>
</table>
Configuration data is also stored in the flash memory on
TeleMetrum v1.x, TeleMini and EasyMini. This consumes 64kB
of flash space. This configuration space is not available
- for storing flight log data. TeleMetrum v2.0 and TeleMega
+ for storing flight log data. TeleMetrum v2.0, TeleMega and EasyMega
store configuration data in a bit of eeprom available within
the processor chip, leaving that space available in flash for
more flight data.
The AltOS firmware build for the altimeters has two
fundamental modes, “idle” and “flight”. Which of these modes
the firmware operates in is determined at start up time. For
- TeleMetrum and TeleMega, which have accelerometers, the mode is
+ TeleMetrum, TeleMega and EasyMega, which have accelerometers, the mode is
controlled by the orientation of the
rocket (well, actually the board, of course...) at the time
power is switched on. If the rocket is “nose up”, then
first five seconds of operation.
</para>
<para>
- At power on, you will hear three beeps or see three flashes
- (“S” in Morse code for start up) and then a pause while
- the altimeter completes initialization and self test, and decides
- which mode to enter next.
+ At power on, the altimeter will beep out the battery voltage
+ to the nearest tenth of a volt. Each digit is represented by
+ a sequence of short “dit” beeps, with a pause between
+ digits. A zero digit is represented with one long “dah”
+ beep. Then there will be a short pause while the altimeter
+ completes initialization and self test, and decides which mode
+ to enter next.
</para>
<para>
Here's a short summary of all of the modes and the beeping (or
<row>
<entry>Startup</entry>
<entry>S</entry>
- <entry>dit dit dit</entry>
+ <entry>battery voltage in decivolts</entry>
<entry>
<para>
Calibrating sensors, detecting orientation.
and beep out the maximum height until turned off.
</para>
<para>
- One “neat trick” of particular value when TeleMetrum or TeleMega are used with
+ One “neat trick” of particular value when TeleMetrum, TeleMega
+ or EasyMega are used with
very large air-frames, is that you can power the board up while the
rocket is horizontal, such that it comes up in idle mode. Then you can
raise the air-frame to launch position, and issue a 'reset' command
isn't displaying position information, it's possible that this
is the cause.
</para>
+ <para>
+ APRS packets include an SSID (Secondary Station Identifier)
+ field that allows one operator to have multiple
+ transmitters. AltOS allows you to set this to a single digit
+ from 0 to 9, allowing you to fly multiple transmitters at the
+ same time while keeping the identify of each one separate in
+ the receiver. By default, the SSID is set to the last digit of
+ the device serial number.
+ </para>
<para>
The APRS packet format includes a comment field that can have
arbitrary text in it. AltOS uses this to send status
<entry>M3.7</entry>
<entry>Main Igniter Voltage</entry>
</row>
+ <row>
+ <entry>6</entry>
+ <entry>1286</entry>
+ <entry>Device Serial Number</entry>
+ </row>
</tbody>
</tgroup>
</table>
<para>
Here's an example of an APRS comment showing GPS lock with 6
satellites in view, a primary battery at 4.0V, and
- apogee and main igniters both at 3.7V.
+ apogee and main igniters both at 3.7V from device 1286.
<screen>
- L6 B4.0 A3.7 M3.7
+ L6 B4.0 A3.7 M3.7 1286
</screen>
</para>
<para>
mode.
</para>
</section>
+ <section>
+ <title>Telemetry baud rate</title>
+ <para>
+ This sets the modulation bit rate for data transmission for
+ both telemetry and packet link mode. Lower bit
+ rates will increase range while reducing the amount of data
+ that can be sent and increasing battery consumption. All
+ telemetry is done using a rate 1/2 constraint 4 convolution
+ code, so the actual data transmission rate is 1/2 of the
+ modulation bit rate specified here.
+ </para>
+ </section>
<section>
<title>APRS Interval</title>
<para>
recommend sending packets no more than once every 5 seconds.
</para>
</section>
+ <section>
+ <title>APRS SSID</title>
+ <para>
+ This selects the SSID reported in APRS packets. By default,
+ it is set to the last digit of the serial number, but you
+ can change this to any value from 0 to 9.
+ </para>
+ </section>
<section>
<title>Apogee Delay</title>
<para>
way quite happily, including Keith's successful L3 cert.
</para>
</section>
+ <section>
+ <title>Apogee Lockout</title>
+ <para>
+ Apogee lockout is the number of seconds after boost where
+ the flight computer will not fire the apogee charge, even if
+ the rocket appears to be at apogee. This is often called
+ 'Mach Delay', as it is intended to prevent a flight computer
+ from unintentionally firing apogee charges due to the pressure
+ spike that occurrs across a mach transition. Altus Metrum
+ flight computers include a Kalman filter which is not fooled
+ by this sharp pressure increase, and so this setting should
+ be left at the default value of zero to disable it.
+ </para>
+ </section>
<section>
<title>Main Deployment Altitude</title>
<para>
<section>
<title>Pad Orientation</title>
<para>
- TeleMetrum and TeleMega measure acceleration along the axis
+ TeleMetrum, TeleMega and EasyMega measure acceleration along the axis
of the board. Which way the board is oriented affects the
sign of the acceleration value. Instead of trying to guess
which way the board is mounted in the air frame, the
<title>Configurable Pyro Channels</title>
<para>
In addition to the usual Apogee and Main pyro channels,
- TeleMega has four additional channels that can be configured
+ TeleMega and EasyMega have four additional channels that can be configured
to activate when various flight conditions are
satisfied. You can select as many conditions as necessary;
all of them must be met in order to activate the
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>
- Orientation. TeleMega contains a 3-axis gyroscope and
+ Orientation. TeleMega and EasyMega contain a 3-axis gyroscope and
accelerometer which is used to measure the current
angle. Note that this angle is not the change in angle
from the launch pad, but rather absolute relative to
dark blue for main, and black for landed.
</para>
<para>
- The map's scale is approximately 3m (10ft) per pixel. The map
+ The map's default scale is approximately 3m (10ft) per pixel. The map
can be dragged using the left mouse button. The map will attempt
to keep the rocket roughly centered while data is being received.
</para>
+ <para>
+ You can adjust the style of map and the zoom level with
+ buttons on the right side of the map window. You can draw a
+ line on the map by moving the mouse over the map with a
+ button other than the left one pressed, or by pressing the
+ left button while also holding down the shift key. The
+ length of the line in real-world units will be shown at the
+ start of the line.
+ </para>
<para>
Images are fetched automatically via the Google Maps Static API,
and cached on disk for reuse. If map images cannot be downloaded,
before you leave home; check out the 'Preload Maps' section below.
</para>
</section>
+ <section>
+ <title>Ignitor</title>
+ <informalfigure>
+ <mediaobject>
+ <imageobject>
+ <imagedata fileref="ignitor.png" width="5.5in"/>
+ </imageobject>
+ </mediaobject>
+ </informalfigure>
+ <para>
+ TeleMega includes four additional programmable pyro
+ channels. The Ignitor tab shows whether each of them has
+ continuity. If an ignitor has a low resistance, then the
+ voltage measured here will be close to the pyro battery
+ voltage. A value greater than 3.2V is required for a 'GO'
+ status.
+ </para>
+ </section>
</section>
<section>
<title>Save Flight Data</title>
</para>
</section>
<section>
- <title>Radio Frequency</title>
+ <title>Apogee Lockoug</title>
+ <para>
+ Apogee lockout is the number of seconds after boost where
+ the flight computer will not fire the apogee charge, even if
+ the rocket appears to be at apogee. This is often called
+ 'Mach Delay', as it is intended to prevent a flight computer
+ from unintentionally firing apogee charges due to the pressure
+ spike that occurrs across a mach transition. Altus Metrum
+ flight computers include a Kalman filter which is not fooled
+ by this sharp pressure increase, and so this setting should
+ be left at the default value of zero to disable it.
+ </para>
+ </section>
+ <section>
+ <title>Frequency</title>
<para>
This configures which of the frequencies to use for both
telemetry and packet command mode. Note that if you set this
at all.
</para>
</section>
+ <section>
+ <title>Telemetry baud rate</title>
+ <para>
+ This sets the modulation bit rate for data transmission for
+ both telemetry and packet link mode. Lower bit
+ rates will increase range while reducing the amount of data
+ that can be sent and increasing battery consumption. All
+ telemetry is done using a rate 1/2 constraint 4 convolution
+ code, so the actual data transmission rate is 1/2 of the
+ modulation bit rate specified here.
+ </para>
+ </section>
<section>
<title>APRS Interval</title>
<para>
sending any other telemetry during that time.
</para>
</section>
+ <section>
+ <title>APRS SSID</title>
+ <para>
+ Which SSID to report in APRS packets. By default, this is
+ set to the last digit of the serial number, but can be
+ configured to any value from 0 to 9.
+ </para>
+ </section>
<section>
<title>Callsign</title>
<para>
</para>
</section>
<section>
- <title>Ignite Mode</title>
+ <title>Ignitor Firing Mode</title>
<para>
- TeleMetrum and TeleMini provide two igniter channels as they
- were originally designed as dual-deploy flight
- computers. This configuration parameter allows the two
- channels to be used in different configurations.
+ This configuration parameter allows the two standard ignitor
+ channels (Apogee and Main) to be used in different
+ configurations.
</para>
<variablelist>
<varlistentry>
<section>
<title>Pad Orientation</title>
<para>
- Because they include accelerometers, TeleMetrum and
- TeleMega are sensitive to the orientation of the board. By
+ Because they include accelerometers, TeleMetrum,
+ TeleMega and EasyMega are sensitive to the orientation of the board. By
default, they expect the antenna end to point forward. This
parameter allows that default to be changed, permitting the
board to be mounted with the antenna pointing aft instead.
</varlistentry>
</variablelist>
</section>
+ <section>
+ <title>Beeper Frequency</title>
+ <para>
+ The beeper on all Altus Metrum flight computers works best
+ at 4000Hz, however if you have more than one flight computer
+ in a single airframe, having all of them sound at the same
+ frequency can be confusing. This parameter lets you adjust
+ the base beeper frequency value.
+ </para>
+ </section>
<section>
<title>Configure Pyro Channels</title>
<informalfigure>
</informalfigure>
<para>
This opens a separate window to configure the additional
- pyro channels available on TeleMega. One column is
+ pyro channels available on TeleMega and EasyMega. One column is
presented for each channel. Each row represents a single
parameter, if enabled the parameter must meet the specified
test for the pyro channel to be fired. See the Pyro Channels
configuration values, so you can use different values for
the same condition with different channels.
</para>
+ <para>
+ At the bottom of the window, the 'Pyro Firing Time'
+ configuration sets the length of time (in seconds) which
+ each of these pyro channels will fire for.
+ </para>
<para>
Once you have selected the appropriate configuration for all
of the necessary pyro channels, you can save the pyro
</mediaobject>
</informalfigure>
<para>
- Select this button and then select a TeleDongle Device from the list provided.
+ Select this button and then select a TeleDongle or TeleBT Device from the list provided.
</para>
<para>
The first few lines of the dialog provide information about the
individual configuration entries.
</para>
<para>
- Note that the TeleDongle itself doesn't save any configuration
+ Note that TeleDongle and TeleBT don't save any configuration
data, the settings here are recorded on the local machine in
- the Java preferences database. Moving the TeleDongle to
+ the Java preferences database. Moving the device to
another machine, or using a different user account on the same
machine will cause settings made here to have no effect.
</para>
</para>
</section>
<section>
- <title>Radio Calibration</title>
+ <title>RF Calibration</title>
<para>
The radios in every Altus Metrum device are calibrated at the
factory to ensure that they transmit and receive on the
- specified frequency. To change a TeleDongle's calibration,
+ specified frequency. To change a TeleDongle or TeleBT's calibration,
you must reprogram the unit completely, so this entry simply
shows the current value and doesn't allow any changes.
</para>
</section>
+ <section>
+ <title>Telemetry Rate</title>
+ <para>
+ This lets you match the telemetry and packet link rate from
+ the transmitter. If they don't match, the device won't
+ receive any data.
+ </para>
+ </section>
</section>
<section>
<title>Flash Image</title>
This reprograms Altus Metrum devices with new
firmware. TeleMetrum v1.x, TeleDongle, TeleMini and TeleBT are
all reprogrammed by using another similar unit as a
- programming dongle (pair programming). TeleMega, TeleMetrum v2
+ programming dongle (pair programming). TeleMega, EasyMega, TeleMetrum v2
and EasyMini are all programmed directly over their USB ports
(self programming). Please read the directions for flashing
devices in the Updating Device Firmware chapter below.
<para>
This listens for telemetry packets on all of the configured
frequencies, displaying information about each device it
- receives a packet from. You can select which of the three
- telemetry formats should be tried; by default, it only listens
- for the standard telemetry packets used in v1.0 and later
+ receives a packet from. You can select which of the baud rates
+ and telemetry formats should be tried; by default, it only listens
+ at 38400 baud with the standard telemetry format used in v1.0 and later
firmware.
</para>
</section>
and name of the site. The contents of this list are actually
downloaded from our server at run-time, so as new sites are sent
in, they'll get automatically added to this list.
+ If the launch site isn't in the list, you can manually enter the lat/lon values
</para>
<para>
- If the launch site isn't in the list, you can manually enter the lat/lon values
+ There are four different kinds of maps you can view; you can
+ select which to download by selecting as many as you like from
+ the available types:
+ <variablelist>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>Hybrid</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ A combination of satellite imagery and road data. This
+ is the default view.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>Satellite</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Just the satellite imagery without any annotation.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>Roadmap</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Roads, political boundaries and a few geographic features.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>Terrain</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Contour intervals and shading that show hills and
+ valleys.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ </variablelist>
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ You can specify the range of zoom levels to download; smaller
+ numbers show more area with less resolution. The default
+ level, 0, shows about 3m/pixel. One zoom level change
+ doubles or halves that number.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ The Tile Radius value sets how large an area around the center
+ point to download. Each tile is 512x512 pixels, and the
+ 'radius' value specifies how many tiles away from the center
+ will be downloaded. Specify a radius of 0 and you get only the
+ center tile. A radius of 1 loads a 3x3 grid, centered on the
+ specified location.
</para>
<para>
Clicking the 'Load Map' button will fetch images from Google
In the rocket itself, you just need a flight computer and
a single-cell, 3.7 volt nominal Li-Po rechargeable battery. An
850mAh battery weighs less than a 9V alkaline battery, and will
- run a TeleMetrum or TeleMega for hours.
+ run a TeleMetrum, TeleMega or EasyMega for hours.
A 110mAh battery weighs less than a triple A battery and is a good
- choice for use with TeleMini.
+ choice for use with TeleMini or EasyMini.
</para>
<para>
- By default, we ship flight computers with a simple wire antenna.
+ By default, we ship TeleMini, TeleMetrum and TeleMega flight computers with a simple wire antenna.
If your electronics bay or the air-frame it resides within is made
of carbon fiber, which is opaque to RF signals, you may prefer to
install an SMA connector so that you can run a coaxial cable to an
if the rocket is hiding in sage brush or a tree, or if the last GPS position
doesn't get you close enough because the rocket dropped into a canyon, or
the wind is blowing it across a dry lake bed, or something like that... Keith
- currently uses a Yaesu VX-7R, Bdale has a Baofung UV-5R
- which isn't as nice, but was a whole lot cheaper.
+ currently uses a Yaesu FT1D, Bdale has a Yaesu VX-7R, which
+ is a nicer radio in most ways but doesn't support APRS.
</para>
<para>
So, to recap, on the ground the hardware you'll need includes:
</section>
<section>
<title>Future Plans</title>
- <para>
- We've designed a simple GPS based radio tracker called TeleGPS.
- If all goes well, we hope to introduce this in the first
- half of 2014.
- </para>
<para>
We have designed and prototyped several “companion boards” that
- can attach to the companion connector on TeleMetrum and TeleMega
+ can attach to the companion connector on TeleMetrum,
+ TeleMega and EasyMega
flight computers to collect more data, provide more pyro channels,
and so forth. We do not yet know if or when any of these boards
will be produced in enough quantity to sell. If you have specific
<orderedlist inheritnum='inherit' numeration='arabic'>
<listitem>
<para>
- Make sure accelerometer-equipped products like TeleMetrum and
- TeleMega are aligned precisely along the axis of
+ Make sure accelerometer-equipped products like TeleMetrum,
+ TeleMega and EasyMega are aligned precisely along the axis of
acceleration so that the accelerometer can accurately
capture data during the flight.
</para>
<chapter>
<title>Updating Device Firmware</title>
<para>
- TeleMega, TeleMetrum v2 and EasyMini are all programmed directly
+ TeleMega, TeleMetrum v2, EasyMega and EasyMini are all programmed directly
over their USB connectors (self programming). TeleMetrum v1, TeleMini and
TeleDongle are all programmed by using another device as a
programmer (pair programming). It's important to recognize which
performance slightly.
</para>
<para>
- Self-programmable devices (TeleMega, TeleMetrum v2 and EasyMini)
+ Self-programmable devices (TeleMega, TeleMetrum v2, EasyMega and EasyMini)
are reprogrammed by connecting them to your computer over USB
</para>
<section>
<title>
- Updating TeleMega, TeleMetrum v2 or EasyMini Firmware
+ Updating TeleMega, TeleMetrum v2, EasyMega or EasyMini Firmware
</title>
<orderedlist inheritnum='inherit' numeration='arabic'>
<listitem>
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>EasyMega</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Connect pin 6 and pin 1 of the companion connector. Pin 1
+ can be identified by the square pad around it, and then
+ the pins could sequentially across the board. Be very
+ careful to <emphasis>not</emphasis> short pin 8 to
+ anything as that is connected directly to the battery. Pin
+ 7 carries 3.3V and the board will crash if that is
+ connected to pin 1, but shouldn't damage the board.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
<varlistentry>
<term>TeleMetrum v2</term>
<listitem>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
</variablelist>
+ <para>
+ Once you've located the right pins:
+ </para>
+ <orderedlist inheritnum='inherit' numeration='arabic'>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Turn the altimeter power off.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Connect a battery.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Connect the indicated terminals together with a short
+ piece of wire. Take care not to accidentally connect
+ anything else.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Connect USB
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Turn the board power on.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ The board should now be visible over USB as 'AltosFlash'
+ and be ready to receive firmware.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Once the board has been powered up, you can remove the
+ piece of wire.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </orderedlist>
</section>
</section>
<section>
</listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</section>
+ <section>
+ <title>
+ EasyMega Specifications
+ </title>
+ <itemizedlist>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Recording altimeter for model rocketry.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Supports dual deployment and four auxiliary pyro channels
+ (a total of 6 events).
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Barometric pressure sensor good to 100k feet MSL.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ 1-axis high-g accelerometer for motor characterization, capable of
+ +/- 102g.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ 9-axis IMU including integrated 3-axis accelerometer,
+ 3-axis gyroscope and 3-axis magnetometer.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ On-board 8 Megabyte non-volatile memory for flight data storage.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ USB interface for battery charging, configuration, and data recovery.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Fully integrated support for Li-Po rechargeable batteries.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Can use either main system Li-Po or optional separate pyro battery
+ to fire e-matches.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ 1.25 x 1.25 inch board designed to fit inside 38mm air-frame coupler tube.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </itemizedlist>
+ </section>
<section>
<title>
TeleMetrum v2 Specifications
<informalfigure>
<mediaobject id="TeleMegaTemplate">
<imageobject>
- <imagedata format="SVG" fileref="telemega-outline.svg"/>
+ <imagedata format="SVG" fileref="telemega.svg"
+ scalefit="0" scale="100" align="center" />
+ </imageobject>
+ </mediaobject>
+ </informalfigure>
+ </section>
+ <section>
+ <title>EasyMega template</title>
+ <para>
+ EasyMega has overall dimensions of 1.250 x 2.250 inches, and
+ the mounting holes are sized for use with 4-40 or M3 screws.
+ </para>
+ <informalfigure>
+ <mediaobject id="EasyMegaTemplate">
+ <imageobject>
+ <imagedata format="SVG" fileref="easymega.svg"
+ scalefit="0" scale="100" align="center" />
</imageobject>
</mediaobject>
</informalfigure>
<informalfigure>
<mediaobject id="TeleMetrumTemplate">
<imageobject>
- <imagedata format="SVG" fileref="telemetrum.svg"/>
+ <imagedata format="SVG" fileref="telemetrum.svg"
+ scalefit="0" scale="100" align="center" />
</imageobject>
</mediaobject>
</informalfigure>
<informalfigure>
<mediaobject id="MiniTemplate">
<imageobject>
- <imagedata format="SVG" fileref="easymini-outline.svg"/>
+ <imagedata format="SVG" fileref="easymini.svg"
+ scalefit="0" scale="100" align="center" />
</imageobject>
</mediaobject>
</informalfigure>
<informalfigure>
<mediaobject id="TeleMiniTemplate">
<imageobject>
- <imagedata format="SVG" fileref="telemini.svg"/>
+ <imagedata format="SVG" fileref="telemini.svg"
+ scalefit="0" scale="100" align="center" />
</imageobject>
</mediaobject>
</informalfigure>
<title>Calibration</title>
<para>
There are only two calibrations required for TeleMetrum and
- TeleMega, and only one for TeleDongle, TeleMini and EasyMini.
+ TeleMega, and only one for EasyMega, TeleDongle, TeleMini and EasyMini.
All boards are shipped from the factory pre-calibrated, but
the procedures are documented here in case they are ever
needed. Re-calibration is not supported by AltosUI, you must
</para>
</section>
<section>
- <title>TeleMetrum and TeleMega Accelerometers</title>
+ <title>TeleMetrum, TeleMega and EasyMega Accelerometers</title>
<para>
While barometric sensors are factory-calibrated,
accelerometers are not, and so each must be calibrated once
</para>
<para>
In the unlikely event an accel cal goes badly, it is possible
- that TeleMetrum or TeleMega may always come up in 'pad mode'
+ that TeleMetrum, TeleMega or EasyMega may always come up in 'pad mode'
and as such not be listening to either the USB or radio link.
If that happens, there is a special hook in the firmware to
force the board back in to 'idle mode' so you can re-do the
</para>
</section>
</appendix>
+ <appendix>
+ <title>Igniter Current</title>
+ <para>
+ The question "how much igniter current can Altus Metrum products
+ handle?" comes up fairly frequently. The short answer is "more than
+ you're likely to need", the remainder of this appendix provides a
+ longer answer.
+ </para>
+ <section>
+ <title>Current Products</title>
+ <para>
+ The FET switches we're using on all of our current products that
+ have pyro channels are the Vishay Siliconix Si7232DN. These parts
+ have exceptionally low Rds(on) values, better than 0.02 ohms! That
+ means they aren't making a lot of heat... and the limit on current
+ is "package limited", meaning it's all about how much you can heat
+ the die before something breaks.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ Cutting to the chase, the Si7232DN specs are 25 amps *continuous* at
+ 20V at a temperature of 25C. In pulsed mode, they're rated for 40A.
+ However, those specs are a little mis-leading because it really is
+ all about the heat generated... you can get something like 85A
+ through one briefly. Note that a typical commercial e-match only
+ needed about 13 microseconds to fire in tests on my bench a couple
+ years ago!
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ So a great plan is to use something like an e-match as the initiator
+ and build up pyrogen(s) as required to actually light what you're
+ trying to light... But if you want to use a high-current igniter,
+ we can probably handle it!
+ </para>
+ </section>
+ <section>
+ <title>Version 1 Products</title>
+ <para>
+ The FET switches used on TeleMetrum v1 and TeleMini v1 products
+ were Fairchild FDS9926A. The Rds(on) values under our operating
+ conditions are on the order of 0.04 ohms. These parts were rated
+ for a continuous current-carrying capacity of 6.5A, and a pulsed
+ current capacity of 20A.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ As with the more modern parts, the real limit is based on the heat
+ generated in the part during the firing interval. So, while the
+ specs on these parts aren't as good as the ones we use on current
+ products, they were still great, and we never had a complaint about
+ current carrying capacity with any of our v1 boards.
+ </para>
+ </section>
+ </appendix>
<appendix>
<title>Release Notes</title>
+ <simplesect>
+ <title>Version 1.4.1</title>
+ <xi:include
+ xmlns:xi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude"
+ href="release-notes-1.4.1.xsl"
+ xpointer="xpointer(/article/*)"/>
+ </simplesect>
+ <simplesect>
+ <title>Version 1.5</title>
+ <xi:include
+ xmlns:xi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude"
+ href="release-notes-1.5.xsl"
+ xpointer="xpointer(/article/*)"/>
+ </simplesect>
+ <simplesect>
+ <title>Version 1.4</title>
+ <xi:include
+ xmlns:xi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude"
+ href="release-notes-1.4.xsl"
+ xpointer="xpointer(/article/*)"/>
+ </simplesect>
<simplesect>
<title>Version 1.3.2</title>
<xi:include
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