X-Git-Url: https://git.gag.com/?p=fw%2Faltos;a=blobdiff_plain;f=doc%2Faltusmetrum.xsl;h=558898cfff3e41e45c40ca4b41f90d7b680bfed3;hp=55f02e265729a1d396afacdd082921367ce043c5;hb=e711c708b0d2c8d8c2d72e34a795ad8e9b5ab5de;hpb=0c2fa9614ffe22901ba0fd089e1e02c362f9fbe0 diff --git a/doc/altusmetrum.xsl b/doc/altusmetrum.xsl index 55f02e26..558898cf 100644 --- a/doc/altusmetrum.xsl +++ b/doc/altusmetrum.xsl @@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ "/usr/share/xml/docbook/schema/dtd/4.5/docbookx.dtd"> The Altus Metrum System - An Owner's Manual for TeleMetrum, TeleMini and TeleDongle Devices + An Owner's Manual for TeleMetrum, TeleMini, TeleDongle and TeleBT Devices Bdale @@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Towns - 2012 + 2013 Bdale Garbee and Keith Packard @@ -35,6 +35,23 @@ + + 1.2.1 + 21 May 2013 + + Updated for software version 1.2. Version 1.2 adds support + for TeleBT and AltosDroid. It also adds a few minor features + and fixes bugs in AltosUI and the AltOS firmware. + + + + 1.2 + 18 April 2013 + + Updated for software version 1.2. Version 1.2 adds support + for MicroPeak and the MicroPeak USB interface. + + 1.1.1 16 September 2012 @@ -122,20 +139,27 @@ NAR #88757, TRA #12200 support optional capabilities in the future. - 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. - Complementing TeleMetrum and TeleMini is TeleDongle, a USB to RF - interface for communicating with the altimeters. Combined with your - choice of antenna and - notebook computer, TeleDongle and our associated user interface software - form a complete ground station capable of logging and displaying in-flight - telemetry, aiding rocket recovery, then processing and archiving flight + TeleDongle was our first ground station, providing a USB to RF + interfaces for communicating with the altimeters. Combined with + your choice of antenna and notebook computer, TeleDongle and our + associated user interface software form a complete ground + station capable of logging and displaying in-flight telemetry, + aiding rocket recovery, then processing and archiving flight data for analysis and review. + + For a slightly more portable ground station experience that also + provides direct rocket recovery support, TeleBT offers flight + monitoring and data logging using a Bluetooth connection between + the receiver and an Android device that has the Altos Droid + application installed from the Google Play store. + More products will be added to the Altus Metrum family over time, and we currently envision that this will be a single, comprehensive manual @@ -172,8 +196,9 @@ NAR #88757, TRA #12200 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. The other active device in the starter kit is the TeleDongle USB to @@ -196,6 +221,16 @@ NAR #88757, TRA #12200 The latest version may always be downloaded from . + + If you're using a TeleBT instead of the TeleDongle, you'll want + to go install the Altos Droid application from the Google Play + store. You don't need a data plan to use Altos Droid, but + without network access, the Map view will be less useful as it + won't contain any map data. You can also use TeleBT connected + over USB with your laptop computer; it acts exactly like a + TeleDongle. Anywhere this manual talks about TeleDongle, you can + also read that as 'and TeleBT when connected via USB'. + Handling Precautions @@ -363,15 +398,15 @@ NAR #88757, TRA #12200 flights, do what makes sense. - If idle mode is entered, you will hear an audible "di-dit" or see - two short flashes ("I" for idle), and the flight state machine is - disengaged, thus no ejection charges will fire. The altimeters also - listen for the radio link when in idle mode for requests sent via - TeleDongle. Commands can be issued to a TeleMetrum in idle mode - over either - USB or the radio link equivalently. TeleMini only has the radio link. - Idle mode is useful for configuring the altimeter, for extracting data - from the on-board storage chip after flight, and for ground testing + If idle mode is entered, you will hear an audible "di-dit" or + see two short flashes ("I" for idle), and the flight state + machine is disengaged, thus no ejection charges will fire. + The altimeters also listen for the radio link when in idle + mode for requests sent via TeleDongle. Commands can be issued + to a TeleMetrum in idle mode over either USB or the radio link + equivalently. TeleMini only has the radio link. Idle mode is + useful for configuring the altimeter, for extracting data from + the on-board storage chip after flight, and for ground testing pyro charges. @@ -385,6 +420,36 @@ NAR #88757, TRA #12200 tower with a screw-driver trying to turn on your avionics before installing igniters! + + 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: + + + Sets the radio frequency to 434.550MHz + + + Sets the radio calibration back to the factory value. + + + Sets the callsign to N0CALL + + + Does not go to 'pad' mode after five seconds. + + + + + 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. +
GPS @@ -412,11 +477,12 @@ NAR #88757, TRA #12200
Controlling An Altimeter Over The Radio Link - One of the unique features of the Altus Metrum system is - the ability to create a two way command link between TeleDongle - and an altimeter using the digital radio transceivers built into - each device. This allows you to interact with the altimeter from - afar, as if it were directly connected to the computer. + One of the unique features of the Altus Metrum system is the + ability to create a two way command link between TeleDongle + and an altimeter using the digital radio transceivers + built into each device. This allows you to interact with the + altimeter from afar, as if it were directly connected to the + computer. Any operation which can be performed with TeleMetrum can @@ -1550,6 +1616,151 @@ NAR #88757, TRA #12200
+ + AltosDroid + + AltosDroid provides the same flight monitoring capabilities as + AltosUI, but runs on Android devices and is designed to connect + to a TeleBT receiver over Bluetooth™. Altos Droid monitors + telemetry data, logging it to internal storage in the Android + device, and presents that data in a UI the same way the 'Monitor + Flight' window does in AltosUI. + + + This manual will explain how to configure AltosDroid, connect + to TeleBT, operate the flight monitoring interface and describe + what the displayed data means. + +
+ Installing AltosDroid + + AltosDroid is included in the Google Play store. To install + it on your Android device, open open the Google Play Store + application and search for "altosdroid". Make sure you don't + have a space between "altos" and "droid" or you probably won't + find what you want. That should bring you to the right page + from which you can download and install the application. + +
+
+ Connecting to TeleBT + + Press the Android 'Menu' button or soft-key to see the + configuration options available. Select the 'Connect a device' + option and then the 'Scan for devices' entry at the bottom to + look for your TeleBT device. Select your device, and when it + asks for the code, enter '1234'. + + + Subsequent connections will not require you to enter that + code, and your 'paired' device will appear in the list without + scanning. + +
+
+ Configuring AltosDroid + + The only configuration option available for AltosDroid is + which frequency to listen on. Press the Android 'Menu' button + or soft-key and pick the 'Select radio frequency' entry. That + brings up a menu of pre-set radio frequencies; pick the one + which matches your altimeter. + +
+
+ Altos Droid Flight Monitoring + + Altos Droid is designed to mimic the AltosUI flight monitoring + display, providing separate tabs for each stage of your rocket + flight along with a tab containing a map of the local area + with icons marking the current location of the altimeter and + the Android device. + +
+ Pad + + The 'Launch Pad' tab shows information used to decide when 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: + + + + 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. + + + + + 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. + + + + + 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. + + + + + 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. + + + + + 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. + + + + + 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. + + + + + The Launchpad tab also shows the computed launch pad position + and altitude, averaging many reported positions to improve the + accuracy of the fix. + + +
+
+
+ Downloading Flight Logs + + Altos Droid always saves every bit of telemetry data it + receives. To download that to a computer for use with AltosUI, + simply remove the SD card from your Android device, or connect + your device to your computer's USB port and browse the files + on that device. You will find '.telem' files in the TeleMetrum + directory that will work with AltosUI directly. + +
+ Using Altus Metrum Products
@@ -1583,7 +1794,9 @@ NAR #88757, TRA #12200 On the Ground To receive the data stream from the rocket, you need an antenna and short - feed-line connected to one of our TeleDongle units. The + feed-line connected to one of our TeleDongle 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. @@ -1620,7 +1833,7 @@ NAR #88757, TRA #12200 So, to recap, on the ground the hardware you'll need includes: - an antenna and feed-line + an antenna and feed-line or adapter a TeleDongle @@ -1643,7 +1856,9 @@ NAR #88757, TRA #12200 Arrow Antennas. 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.
@@ -1669,22 +1884,36 @@ NAR #88757, TRA #12200
Future Plans - 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. + + + 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. + + + 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. - 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... - 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 + web site for more news + and information as our family of products evolves!
@@ -2491,6 +2720,37 @@ NAR #88757, TRA #12200 once you enable the voice output! + + Drill Templates + + These images, when printed, provide precise templates for the + mounting holes in Altus Metrum flight computers + +
+ TeleMetrum template + + 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. + + + + + + +
+
+ TeleMini template + + 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. + + + + + + +
+ Calibration @@ -2599,6 +2859,8 @@ NAR #88757, TRA #12200 Release Notes + Version 1.21 + Version 1.2 Version 1.1.1 Version 1.1 Version 1.0.1