+== AltosDroid
+
+ AltosDroid provides the same flight monitoring capabilities as
+ AltosUI, but runs on Android devices. AltosDroid is designed
+ to connect to a TeleBT receiver over Bluetooth™ and (on
+ Android devices supporting USB On-the-go) TeleDongle and
+ TeleBT devices over USB. AltosDroid monitors telemetry data,
+ logging it to internal storage in the Android device, and
+ presents that data in a UI similar to the 'Monitor Flight'
+ window in AltosUI.
+
+ This manual will explain how to configure AltosDroid, connect
+ to TeleBT or TeleDongle, operate the flight monitoring
+ interface and describe what the displayed data means.
+
+ === Installing AltosDroid
+
+ AltosDroid is available from the Google Play store. To
+ install it on your Android device, 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.
+
+ === Charging TeleBT Battery
+
+ Before using TeleBT with AltosDroid, make sure the
+ internal TeleBT battery is charged. To do this,
+ attach a micro USB cable from a computer or other USB
+ power source to TeleBT. A dual LED on the circuit
+ board should illuminate, showing red while the battery
+ is charging, green when charging is completed, and
+ both red and green on at the same time if there is a
+ battery fault.
+
+ === Connecting to TeleBT over Bluetooth™
+
+ 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.
+
+ === Connecting to TeleDongle or TeleBT over USB
+
+ Get a special USB On-the-go adapter cable. These
+ cables have a USB micro-B male connector on one end
+ and a standard A female connector on the other
+ end. Plug in your TeleDongle or TeleBT device to the
+ adapter cable and the adapter cable into your phone
+ and AltosDroid should automatically start up. If it
+ doesn't, the most likely reason is that your Android
+ device doesn't support USB On-the-go.
+
+ === Configuring AltosDroid
+
+ There are several configuration and operation
+ parameters available in the AltosDroid menu.
+
+ Select radio frequency::
+
+ This selects which frequency to listen on by bringing
+ up a menu of pre-set radio frequencies. Pick the one
+ which matches your altimeter.
+
+ Select data rate::
+
+ Altus Metrum transmitters can be configured to operate
+ at lower data rates to improve transmission range. If
+ you have configured your device to do this, this menu
+ item allows you to change the receiver to match.
+
+ Change units::
+
+ This toggles between metric and imperial units.
+
+ Load maps::
+
+ Brings up a dialog allowing you to download offline
+ map tiles so that you can have maps available even if
+ you have no network connectivity at the launch site.
+
+ Map type::
+
+ Displays a menu of map types and lets you select
+ one. Hybrid maps include satellite images with a
+ roadmap overlaid. Satellite maps dispense with the
+ roadmap overlay. Roadmap shows just the roads. Terrain
+ includes roads along with shadows indicating changes
+ in elevation, and other geographical features.
+
+ Toggle Online/Offline maps::
+
+ Switches between online and offline maps. Online maps
+ will show a 'move to current position' icon in the
+ upper right corner, while offline maps will have
+ copyright information all over the map. Otherwise,
+ they're pretty similar.
+
+ Select Tracker::
+
+ Switches the information displays to show data for a
+ different transmitting device. The map will always
+ show all of the devices in view. Trackers are shown
+ and selected by serial number, so make sure you note
+ the serial number of devices in each airframe.
+
+ Delete Track::
+
+ Deletes all information about a transmitting device.
+
+ === AltosDroid Flight Monitoring
+
+ AltosDroid 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 '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.
+
+ When the pad tab is selected, the voice responses will
+ include status changes to the igniters and GPS
+ reception, letting you know if the rocket is still
+ ready for launch.
+
+ Battery::
+
+ This indicates whether the Li-Po battery powering the
+ transmitter has sufficient charge to last for the
+ duration of the flight. A value of more than 3.8V is
+ required for a 'GO' status.
+
+ Receiver Battery::
+
+ This indicates whether the Li-Po battery powering the
+ TeleBT has sufficient charge to last for the duration
+ of the flight. A value of more than 3.8V is required
+ for a 'GO' status.
+
+ 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
+ and TeleMega can store multiple flights, depending on
+ the configured maximum flight log size. TeleGPS logs
+ data continuously. 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 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.
+
+ GPS Ready::
+
+ 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.
+
+ Apogee Igniter::
+
+ 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::
+
+ 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.
+
+ Igniter A-D::
+
+ This indicates whether the indicated additional pyro
+ channel 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.
+
+ The Pad tab also shows the location of the Android
+ device.
+
+ === Flight
+
+ The 'Flight' tab shows information used to evaluate
+ and spot a rocket while in flight. It displays speed
+ and height data to monitor the health of the rocket,
+ along with elevation, range and bearing to help locate
+ the rocket in the sky.
+
+ While the Flight tab is displayed, the voice
+ announcements will include current speed, height,
+ elevation and bearing information.
+
+ Speed::
+
+ Shows current vertical speed. During descent, the
+ speed values are averaged over a fairly long time to
+ try and make them steadier.
+
+ Height::
+
+ Shows the current height above the launch pad.
+
+ Max Speed::
+
+ Shows the maximum vertical speed seen during the
+ flight.
+
+ Max Height::
+
+ Shows the maximum height above launch pad.
+
+ Elevation::
+
+ This is the angle above the horizon from the android
+ devices current position.
+
+ Range::
+
+ The total distance from the android device to the
+ rocket, including both ground distance and difference
+ in altitude. Use this to gauge how large the rocket is
+ likely to appear in the sky.
+
+ Bearing::
+
+ This is the aziumuth from true north for the rocket
+ from the android device. Use this in combination with
+ the Elevation value to help locate the rocket in the
+ sky, or at least to help point the antenna in the
+ general direction. This is provided in both degrees
+ and a compass point (like West South West). You'll
+ want to know which direction is true north before
+ launching your rocket.
+
+ Ground Distance::
+
+ This shows the distance across the ground to the
+ lat/lon where the rocket is located. Use this to
+ estimate what is currently under the rocket.
+
+ Latitude/Longitude::
+
+ Displays the last known location of the rocket.
+
+ Apogee Igniter::
+
+ 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::
+
+ 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.
+
+ === Recover
+
+ The 'Recover' tab shows information used while
+ recovering the rocket on the ground after flight.
+
+ While the Recover tab is displayed, the voice
+ announcements will include distance along with either
+ bearing or direction, depending on whether you are
+ moving.
+
+ Bearing::
+
+ This is the aziumuth from true north for the rocket
+ from the android device. Use this in combination with
+ the Elevation value to help locate the rocket in the
+ sky, or at least to help point the antenna in the
+ general direction. This is provided in both degrees
+ and a compass point (like West South West). You'll
+ want to know which direction is true north before
+ launching your rocket.
+
+ Direction::
+
+ When you are in motion, this provides the angle from
+ your current direction of motion towards the rocket.
+
+ Distance::
+
+ Distance over the ground to the rocket.
+
+ Tar Lat/Tar Lon::
+
+ Displays the last known location of the rocket.
+
+ My Lat/My Lon::
+
+ Displays the location of the Android device.
+
+ Max Height::
+
+ Shows the maximum height above launch pad.
+
+ Max Speed::
+
+ Shows the maximum vertical speed seen during the
+ flight.
+
+ Max Accel::
+
+ Shows the maximum vertical acceleration seen during
+ the flight.
+
+ === Map
+
+ The 'Map' tab shows a map of the area around the
+ rocket being tracked along with information needed to
+ recover it.
+
+ On the map itself, icons showing the location of the
+ android device along with the last known location of
+ each tracker. A blue line is drawn from the android
+ device location to the currently selected tracker.
+
+ Below the map, the distance and either bearing or
+ direction along with the lat/lon of the target and the
+ android device are shown
+
+ The Map tab provides the same voice announcements as
+ the Recover tab.
+
+ === Downloading Flight Logs
+
+ AltosDroid always saves every bit of telemetry data it
+ receives. To download that to a computer for use with
+ AltosUI, 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.
projects / fw / altos / commitdiff