<surname>Towns</surname>
</author>
<copyright>
- <year>2011</year>
+ <year>2013</year>
<holder>Bdale Garbee and Keith Packard</holder>
</copyright>
<legalnotice>
</para>
</legalnotice>
<revhistory>
+ <revision>
+ <revnumber>1.1.1</revnumber>
+ <date>16 September 2012</date>
+ <revremark>
+ Updated for software version 1.1.1 Version 1.1.1 fixes a few
+ bugs found in version 1.1.
+ </revremark>
+ </revision>
+ <revision>
+ <revnumber>1.1</revnumber>
+ <date>13 September 2012</date>
+ <revremark>
+ Updated for software version 1.1. Version 1.1 has new
+ features but is otherwise compatible with version 1.0.
+ </revremark>
+ </revision>
<revision>
<revnumber>1.0</revnumber>
<date>24 August 2011</date>
support optional capabilities in the future.
</para>
<para>
- The newest device is TeleMini, a dual deploy altimeter with
+ Our second device was TeleMini, a dual deploy altimeter with
radio telemetry and radio direction finding. This device is only
13mm by 38mm (½ inch by 1½ inches) and can fit easily in an 18mm
air-frame.
<para>
The TeleMini battery can be charged by disconnecting it from the
TeleMini board and plugging it into a standalone battery charger
- board, and connecting that via a USB cable to a laptop or other USB
- power source
+ such as the LipoCharger product included in TeleMini Starter Kits,
+ and connecting that via a USB cable to a laptop or other USB
+ power source.
</para>
<para>
The other active device in the starter kit is the TeleDongle USB to
apogee and main ejection charges. All Altus Metrum products are
designed for use with single-cell batteries with 3.7 volts nominal.
</para>
+ <para>
+ The battery connectors are a standard 2-pin JST connector and
+ match batteries sold by Spark Fun. These batteries are
+ single-cell Lithium Polymer batteries that nominally provide 3.7
+ volts. Other vendors sell similar batteries for RC aircraft
+ using mating connectors, however the polarity for those is
+ generally reversed from the batteries used by Altus Metrum
+ products. In particular, the Tenergy batteries supplied for use
+ in Featherweight flight computers are not compatible with Altus
+ Metrum flight computers or battery chargers. <emphasis>Check
+ polarity and voltage before connecting any battery not purchased
+ from Altus Metrum or Spark Fun.</emphasis>
+ </para>
<para>
By default, we use the unregulated output of the Li-Po battery directly
to fire ejection charges. This works marvelously with standard
tower with a screw-driver trying to turn on your avionics before
installing igniters!
</para>
+ <para>
+ TeleMini is configured via the radio link. Of course, that
+ means you need to know the TeleMini radio configuration values
+ or you won't be able to communicate with it. For situations
+ when you don't have the radio configuration values, TeleMini
+ offers an 'emergency recovery' mode. In this mode, TeleMini is
+ configured as follows:
+ <itemizedlist>
+ <listitem>
+ Sets the radio frequency to 434.550MHz
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Sets the radio calibration back to the factory value.
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Sets the callsign to N0CALL
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ Does not go to 'pad' mode after five seconds.
+ </listitem>
+ </itemizedlist>
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ To get into 'emergency recovery' mode, first find the row of
+ four small holes opposite the switch wiring. Using a short
+ piece of small gauge wire, connect the outer two holes
+ together, then power TeleMini up. Once the red LED is lit,
+ disconnect the wire and the board should signal that it's in
+ 'idle' mode after the initial five second startup period.
+ </para>
</section>
<section>
<title>GPS </title>
<para>
You can monitor the operation of the radio link by watching the
lights on the devices. The red LED will flash each time a packet
- is tramsitted, while the green LED will light up on TeleDongle when
+ is transmitted, while the green LED will light up on TeleDongle when
it is waiting to receive a packet from the altimeter.
</para>
</section>
incorrect data from being reported.
</para>
</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ The age of the displayed data, in seconds since the last
+ successfully received telemetry packet. In normal operation
+ this will stay in the low single digits. If the number starts
+ counting up, then you are no longer receiving data over the radio
+ link from the flight computer.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
</itemizedlist>
<para>
Finally, the largest portion of the window contains a set of
be below 10m/s when under the main parachute in a dual-deploy flight.
</para>
<para>
- For TeleMetrum altimeters, you can locate the rocket in the sky
- using the elevation and
- bearing information to figure out where to look. Elevation is
- in degrees above the horizon. Bearing is reported in degrees
- relative to true north. Range can help figure out how big the
- rocket will appear. Note that all of these values are relative
- to the pad location. If the elevation is near 90°, the rocket
- is over the pad, not over you.
+ For TeleMetrum altimeters, you can locate the rocket in the
+ sky using the elevation and bearing information to figure
+ out where to look. Elevation is in degrees above the
+ horizon. Bearing is reported in degrees relative to true
+ north. Range can help figure out how big the rocket will
+ appear. Ground Distance shows how far it is to a point
+ directly under the rocket and can help figure out where the
+ rocket is likely to land. Note that all of these values are
+ relative to the pad location. If the elevation is near 90°,
+ the rocket is over the pad, not over you.
</para>
<para>
Finally, the igniter voltages are reported in this tab as
your local radio regulations.
</para>
</section>
+ <section>
+ <title>Imperial Units</title>
+ <para>
+ This switches between metric units (meters) and imperial
+ units (feet and miles). This affects the display of values
+ use during flight monitoring, data graphing and all of the
+ voice announcements. It does not change the units used when
+ exporting to CSV files, those are always produced in metric units.
+ </para>
+ </section>
<section>
<title>Font Size</title>
<para>
</para>
</section>
</section>
+ <section>
+ <title>Configure Groundstation</title>
+ <para>
+ Select this button and then select a TeleDongle Device from the list provided.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ The first few lines of the dialog provide information about the
+ connected device, including the product name,
+ software version and hardware serial number. Below that are the
+ individual configuration entries.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ Note that the TeleDongle itself doesn't save any configuration
+ data, the settings here are recorded on the local machine in
+ the Java preferences database. Moving the TeleDongle to
+ another machine, or using a different user account on the same
+ machine will cause settings made here to have no effect.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ At the bottom of the dialog, there are three buttons:
+ </para>
+ <itemizedlist>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Save. This writes any changes to the
+ local Java preferences file. If you don't
+ press this button, any changes you make will be lost.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Reset. This resets the dialog to the most recently saved values,
+ erasing any changes you have made.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Close. This closes the dialog. Any unsaved changes will be
+ lost.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </itemizedlist>
+ <para>
+ The rest of the dialog contains the parameters to be configured.
+ </para>
+ <section>
+ <title>Frequency</title>
+ <para>
+ This configures the frequency to use for both telemetry and
+ packet command mode. Set this before starting any operation
+ involving packet command mode so that it will use the right
+ frequency. Telemetry monitoring mode also provides a menu to
+ change the frequency, and that menu also sets the same Java
+ preference value used here.
+ </para>
+ </section>
+ <section>
+ <title>Radio 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,
+ you must reprogram the unit completely, so this entry simply
+ shows the current value and doesn't allow any changes.
+ </para>
+ </section>
+ </section>
<section>
<title>Flash Image</title>
<para>
<title>On the Ground</title>
<para>
To receive the data stream from the rocket, you need an antenna and short
- feed-line connected to one of our <ulink url="http://www.altusmetrum.org/TeleDongle/">TeleDongle</ulink> units. The
+ feed-line connected to one of our <ulink url="http://www.altusmetrum.org/TeleDongle/">TeleDongle</ulink> units. If possible, use an SMA to BNC
+ adapter instead of feedline between the antenna feedpoint and
+ TeleDongle, as this will give you the best performance. The
TeleDongle in turn plugs directly into the USB port on a notebook
computer. Because TeleDongle looks like a simple serial port, your computer
does not require special device drivers... just plug it in.
So, to recap, on the ground the hardware you'll need includes:
<orderedlist inheritnum='inherit' numeration='arabic'>
<listitem>
- an antenna and feed-line
+ an antenna and feed-line or adapter
</listitem>
<listitem>
a TeleDongle
Arrow Antennas.
</ulink>
The 440-3 and 440-5 are both good choices for finding a
- TeleMetrum- or TeleMini- equipped rocket when used with a suitable 70cm HT.
+ TeleMetrum- or TeleMini- equipped rocket when used with a suitable
+ 70cm HT. TeleDongle and an SMA to BNC adapter fit perfectly
+ between the driven element and reflector of Arrow antennas.
</para>
</section>
<section>
<section>
<title>Future Plans</title>
<para>
- In the future, we intend to offer "companion boards" for the rocket that will
- plug in to TeleMetrum to collect additional data, provide more pyro channels,
- and so forth.
+ In the future, we intend to offer "companion boards" for the rocket
+ that will plug in to TeleMetrum to collect additional data, provide
+ more pyro channels, and so forth.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ Also under design is a new flight computer with more sensors, more
+ pyro channels, and a more powerful radio system designed for use
+ in multi-stage, complex, and extreme altitude projects.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ We are also working on alternatives to TeleDongle. One is a
+ a stand-alone, hand-held ground terminal that will allow monitoring
+ the rocket's status, collecting data during flight, and logging data
+ after flight without the need for a notebook computer on the
+ flight line. Particularly since it is so difficult to read most
+ notebook screens in direct sunlight, we think this will be a great
+ thing to have. We are also working on a TeleDongle variant with
+ Bluetooth that will work with Android phones and tablets.
</para>
<para>
- We are also working on the design of a hand-held ground terminal that will
- allow monitoring the rocket's status, collecting data during flight, and
- logging data after flight without the need for a notebook computer on the
- flight line. Particularly since it is so difficult to read most notebook
- screens in direct sunlight, we think this will be a great thing to have.
+ Because all of our work is open, both the hardware designs and the
+ software, if you have some great idea for an addition to the current
+ Altus Metrum family, feel free to dive in and help! Or let us know
+ what you'd like to see that we aren't already working on, and maybe
+ we'll get excited about it too...
</para>
<para>
- Because all of our work is open, both the hardware designs and the software,
- if you have some great idea for an addition to the current Altus Metrum family,
- feel free to dive in and help! Or let us know what you'd like to see that
- we aren't already working on, and maybe we'll get excited about it too...
+ Watch our
+ <ulink url="http://altusmetrum.org/">web site</ulink> for more news
+ and information as our family of products evolves!
</para>
</section>
</chapter>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>
- RF interface for battery charging, configuration, and data recovery.
+ RF interface for configuration, and data recovery.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
once you enable the voice output!
</para>
</appendix>
+ <appendix>
+ <title>Drill Templates</title>
+ <para>
+ These images, when printed, provide precise templates for the
+ mounting holes in Altus Metrum flight computers
+ </para>
+ <section>
+ <title>TeleMetrum template</title>
+ <para>
+ TeleMetrum has overall dimensions of 1.000 x 2.750 inches, and the
+ mounting holes are sized for use with 4-40 or M3 screws.
+ </para>
+ <mediaobject id="TeleMetrumTemplate">
+ <imageobject>
+ <imagedata format="SVG" fileref="telemetrum.svg"/>
+ </imageobject>
+ </mediaobject>
+ </section>
+ <section>
+ <title>TeleMini template</title>
+ <para>
+ TeleMini has overall dimensions of 0.500 x 1.500 inches, and the
+ mounting holes are sized for use with 2-56 or M2 screws.
+ </para>
+ <mediaobject id="TeleMiniTemplate">
+ <imageobject>
+ <imagedata format="SVG" fileref="telemini.svg"/>
+ </imageobject>
+ </mediaobject>
+ </section>
+ </appendix>
<appendix>
<title>Calibration</title>
<para>
<appendix
xmlns:xi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude">
<title>Release Notes</title>
- <xi:include href="release-notes-1.1.xsl" xpointer="xpointer(/article/*)"/>
- <xi:include href="release-notes-1.0.1.xsl" xpointer="xpointer(/article/*)"/>
- <xi:include href="release-notes-0.9.2.xsl" xpointer="xpointer(/article/*)"/>
- <xi:include href="release-notes-0.9.xsl" xpointer="xpointer(/article/*)"/>
- <xi:include href="release-notes-0.8.xsl" xpointer="xpointer(/article/*)"/>
- <xi:include href="release-notes-0.7.1.xsl" xpointer="xpointer(/article/*)"/>
+ <simplesect><title>Version 1.1.1</title><xi:include href="release-notes-1.1.1.xsl" xpointer="xpointer(/article/*)"/></simplesect>
+ <simplesect><title>Version 1.1</title><xi:include href="release-notes-1.1.xsl" xpointer="xpointer(/article/*)"/></simplesect>
+ <simplesect><title>Version 1.0.1</title><xi:include href="release-notes-1.0.1.xsl" xpointer="xpointer(/article/*)"/></simplesect>
+ <simplesect><title>Version 0.9.2</title><xi:include href="release-notes-0.9.2.xsl" xpointer="xpointer(/article/*)"/></simplesect>
+ <simplesect><title>Version 0.9</title><xi:include href="release-notes-0.9.xsl" xpointer="xpointer(/article/*)"/></simplesect>
+ <simplesect><title>Version 0.8</title><xi:include href="release-notes-0.8.xsl" xpointer="xpointer(/article/*)"/></simplesect>
+ <simplesect><title>Version 0.7.1</title><xi:include href="release-notes-0.7.1.xsl" xpointer="xpointer(/article/*)"/></simplesect>
</appendix>
</book>
projects / fw / altos / blobdiff