</revhistory>
</bookinfo>
<dedication>
- <title>Acknowledgements</title>
+ <title>Acknowledgments</title>
<para>
Thanks to Bob Finch, W9YA, NAR 12965, TRA 12350 for writing “The
Mere-Mortals Quick Start/Usage Guide to the Altus Metrum Starter
</para></entry>
<entry>½ inch (1.27cm)</entry>
<entry>1½ inch (3.81cm)</entry>
- <entry>18mm aiframe</entry>
+ <entry>18mm airframe</entry>
</row>
<row>
<entry>TeleMini <?linebreak?>v2.0</entry>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>
- Main. The rocket is still descending, and is blow
+ Main. The rocket is still descending, and is below
the Main altitude
</para>
</listitem>
<para>
You can select a state to limit when the pyro channel
may activate; note that the check is based on when the
- rocket transitions *into* the state, and so checking for
- 'greater than Boost' means that the rocket is currently
- in boost state.
+ rocket transitions <emphasis>into</emphasis> the state, and so checking for
+ “greater than Boost” means that the rocket is currently
+ in boost or some later state.
</para>
<para>
When a motor burns out, the rocket enters either Fast or
rocket is ready for flight. The first elements include red/green
indicators, if any of these is red, you'll want to evaluate
whether the rocket is ready to launch:
- <itemizedlist>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Battery Voltage. This indicates whether the Li-Po battery
- powering the TeleMetrum has sufficient charge to last for
- the duration of the flight. A value of more than
- 3.7V is required for a 'GO' status.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Apogee Igniter Voltage. This indicates whether the apogee
- igniter has continuity. If the igniter has a low
- resistance, then the voltage measured here will be close
- to the Li-Po battery voltage. A value greater than 3.2V is
- required for a 'GO' status.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Main Igniter Voltage. This indicates whether the main
- igniter has continuity. If the igniter has a low
- resistance, then the voltage measured here will be close
- to the Li-Po battery voltage. A value greater than 3.2V is
- required for a 'GO' status.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- On-board Data Logging. This indicates whether there is
- space remaining on-board to store flight data for the
- upcoming flight. If you've downloaded data, but failed
- to erase flights, there may not be any space
- left. TeleMetrum can store multiple flights, depending
- on the configured maximum flight log size. TeleMini
- stores only a single flight, so it will need to be
- downloaded and erased after each flight to capture
- data. This only affects on-board flight logging; the
- altimeter will still transmit telemetry and fire
- ejection charges at the proper times.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- GPS Locked. For a TeleMetrum device, this indicates whether the GPS receiver is
- currently able to compute position information. GPS requires
- at least 4 satellites to compute an accurate position.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- GPS Ready. For a TeleMetrum device, this indicates whether GPS has reported at least
- 10 consecutive positions without losing lock. This ensures
- that the GPS receiver has reliable reception from the
- satellites.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- </itemizedlist>
+ <variablelist>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>Battery Voltage</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ This indicates whether the Li-Po battery
+ powering the TeleMetrum has sufficient charge to last for
+ the duration of the flight. A value of more than
+ 3.8V is required for a 'GO' status.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>Apogee Igniter Voltage</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ This indicates whether the apogee
+ igniter has continuity. If the igniter has a low
+ resistance, then the voltage measured here will be close
+ to the Li-Po battery voltage. A value greater than 3.2V is
+ required for a 'GO' status.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>Main Igniter Voltage</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ This indicates whether the main
+ igniter has continuity. If the igniter has a low
+ resistance, then the voltage measured here will be close
+ to the Li-Po battery voltage. A value greater than 3.2V is
+ required for a 'GO' status.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>On-board Data Logging</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ This indicates whether there is
+ space remaining on-board to store flight data for the
+ upcoming flight. If you've downloaded data, but failed
+ to erase flights, there may not be any space
+ left. TeleMetrum can store multiple flights, depending
+ on the configured maximum flight log size. TeleMini
+ stores only a single flight, so it will need to be
+ downloaded and erased after each flight to capture
+ data. This only affects on-board flight logging; the
+ altimeter will still transmit telemetry and fire
+ ejection charges at the proper times.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>GPS Locked</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ For a TeleMetrum or TeleMega device, this indicates whether the GPS receiver is
+ currently able to compute position information. GPS requires
+ at least 4 satellites to compute an accurate position.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>GPS Ready</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ For a TeleMetrum or TeleMega device, this indicates whether GPS has reported at least
+ 10 consecutive positions without losing lock. This ensures
+ that the GPS receiver has reliable reception from the
+ satellites.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ </variablelist>
</para>
<para>
The Launchpad tab also shows the computed launch pad position
flash memory.
</para>
<para>
- Once a flight record is selected, a window with four tabs is
- opened. The first tab contains a graph with acceleration
- (blue), velocity (green) and altitude (red) of the flight,
- measured in metric units. The apogee(yellow) and main(magenta)
- igniter voltages are also displayed; high voltages indicate
- continuity, low voltages indicate open circuits. The second
- tab lets you configure which data to show in the graph. The
- third contains some basic flight statistics while the fourth
- has a map with the ground track of the flight displayed.
+ Once a flight record is selected, a window with multiple tabs is
+ opened.
+ <variablelist>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>Flight Graph</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ By default, the graph contains acceleration (blue),
+ velocity (green) and altitude (red).
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>Configure Graph</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ This selects which graph elements to show, and, at the
+ very bottom, lets you switch between metric and
+ imperial units
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>Flight Statistics</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Shows overall data computed from the flight.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>Map</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Shows a satellite image of the flight area overlaid
+ with the path of the flight. The red concentric
+ circles mark the launch pad, the black concentric
+ circles mark the landing location.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ </variablelist>
</para>
<para>
The graph can be zoomed into a particular area by clicking and
pyro channels available on TeleMega. 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.
+ test for the pyro channel to be fired. See the Pyro Channels
+ section in the System Operation chapter above for a
+ description of these parameters.
</para>
- <itemizedlist>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Acceleration less than.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Acceleration greater than.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Speed less than.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Speed greater than.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Height less than.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Height greater than.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Angle from vertical less than.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Angle from vertical greater than.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Time since boost less than.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Time since boost greater than.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Ascending. This is exactly the same as setting a
- condition for speed > 0.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Descending. This is exactly the same as setting a
- condition for speed < 0.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- After motor number.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Delay after other conditions.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Flight state before.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Flight state after.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- </itemizedlist>
<para>
Select conditions and set the related value; the pyro
channel will be activated when <emphasis>all</emphasis> of the
rocket is ready for flight. The first elements include red/green
indicators, if any of these is red, you'll want to evaluate
whether the rocket is ready to launch:
- <itemizedlist>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Battery Voltage. This indicates whether the Li-Po battery
- powering the TeleMetrum has sufficient charge to last for
- the duration of the flight. A value of more than
- 3.7V is required for a 'GO' status.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Apogee Igniter Voltage. This indicates whether the apogee
- igniter has continuity. If the igniter has a low
- resistance, then the voltage measured here will be close
- to the Li-Po battery voltage. A value greater than 3.2V is
- required for a 'GO' status.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Main Igniter Voltage. This indicates whether the main
- igniter has continuity. If the igniter has a low
- resistance, then the voltage measured here will be close
- to the Li-Po battery voltage. A value greater than 3.2V is
- required for a 'GO' status.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- On-board Data Logging. This indicates whether there is
- space remaining on-board to store flight data for the
- upcoming flight. If you've downloaded data, but failed
- to erase flights, there may not be any space
- left. TeleMetrum can store multiple flights, depending
- on the configured maximum flight log size. TeleMini
- stores only a single flight, so it will need to be
- downloaded and erased after each flight to capture
- data. This only affects on-board flight logging; the
- altimeter will still transmit telemetry and fire
- ejection charges at the proper times.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- GPS Locked. For a TeleMetrum device, this indicates whether the GPS receiver is
- currently able to compute position information. GPS requires
- at least 4 satellites to compute an accurate position.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- GPS Ready. For a TeleMetrum device, this indicates whether GPS has reported at least
- 10 consecutive positions without losing lock. This ensures
- that the GPS receiver has reliable reception from the
- satellites.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- </itemizedlist>
+ <variablelist>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>Battery Voltage</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ This indicates whether the Li-Po battery
+ powering the TeleMetrum has sufficient charge to last for
+ the duration of the flight. A value of more than
+ 3.8V is required for a 'GO' status.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>Apogee Igniter Voltage</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ This indicates whether the apogee
+ igniter has continuity. If the igniter has a low
+ resistance, then the voltage measured here will be close
+ to the Li-Po battery voltage. A value greater than 3.2V is
+ required for a 'GO' status.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>Main Igniter Voltage</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ This indicates whether the main
+ igniter has continuity. If the igniter has a low
+ resistance, then the voltage measured here will be close
+ to the Li-Po battery voltage. A value greater than 3.2V is
+ required for a 'GO' status.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>On-board Data Logging</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ This indicates whether there is
+ space remaining on-board to store flight data for the
+ upcoming flight. If you've downloaded data, but failed
+ to erase flights, there may not be any space
+ left. TeleMetrum can store multiple flights, depending
+ on the configured maximum flight log size. TeleMini
+ stores only a single flight, so it will need to be
+ downloaded and erased after each flight to capture
+ data. This only affects on-board flight logging; the
+ altimeter will still transmit telemetry and fire
+ ejection charges at the proper times.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>GPS Locked</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ For a TeleMetrum or TeleMega device, this indicates whether the GPS receiver is
+ currently able to compute position information. GPS requires
+ at least 4 satellites to compute an accurate position.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>GPS Ready</term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ For a TeleMetrum or TeleMega device, this indicates whether GPS has reported at least
+ 10 consecutive positions without losing lock. This ensures
+ that the GPS receiver has reliable reception from the
+ satellites.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ </variablelist>
</para>
<para>
The Launchpad tab also shows the computed launch pad position
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
- and Bdale both currently own and use the Yaesu VX-7R at launches.
+ currently uses a Yaesu VX-7R, Bdale has a Baofung UV-5R
+ which isn't as nice, but was a whole lot cheaper.
</para>
<para>
So, to recap, on the ground the hardware you'll need includes:
<chapter>
<title>Updating Device Firmware</title>
<para>
- TeleMega, TeleMetrum v2 and EasMini are all programmed directly
+ TeleMega, TeleMetrum v2 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
Run AltosUI, and select 'Flash Image' from the File menu.
</para>
</listitem>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Select the target device in the Device Selection dialog.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
<listitem>
<para>
Select the image you want to flash to the device, which
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>
- Supports dual deployment and four auxilary pyro channels (can initiate 6 events).
+ Supports dual deployment and four auxiliary pyro channels
+ (a total of 6 events).
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
projects / fw / altos / blobdiff