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+[[!tag tags/rockets]]
+[Keith](http://keithp.com/keithp) and I have been pretty quiet about
+[TeleMetrum](http://www.altusmetrum.org/TeleMetrum/) for a while... but that 
+doesn't mean we've been idle!  
+
+In recent weeks, I've built up several more flight units and two more ground 
+station boards, as noted in my 
+[production log](http://www.altusmetrum.org/TeleMetrum/production).
+We're both trusting rockets solely to our boards and Keith's firmware 
+at this point.  In fact, we've accumulated a significant number of succesful 
+flights, including a cool drag-race between 4" airframes 
+at [NCR](http://ncrocketry.org)
+[Oktoberfest](http://ncrocketry.org/modules.php?name=Oktoberfest) 
+where we both put brand-new, nearly identical rockets fully at risk flying 
+only TeleMetrum boards, and a flight by Keith the same weekend on a full-K 
+[Loki](http://lokiresearch.com) K350W moon-burner in which he set a new 
+personal altitude record!  I've also flown a board with 100-g accelerometer 
+installed successfully in a flight that peaked at 52.8 g!
+
+We're now hard at work on a "next version" of the hardware, incorporating 
+everything we've learned so far.  There are a number of significant changes 
+planned:
+
+       Fully integrated, on-board GPS receiver and patch antenna, with
+       support for off-board amplified antennas when airframe geometry
+       or materials demand it.
+
+       A change in the design of the circuit for firing e-matches to 
+       ignite ejection charges that will improve mechanical reliability, 
+       plus explicit support for using a separate pyro battery if desired.
+
+       Inclusion of a "companion board interface" that we envision using
+       for a pyro channel expansion board to support staging and air 
+       starts, among other things.
+
+       Dramatic increase in the capacity of the on-board data logging memory.
+
+       Changes in connector series to eliminate our dependency on expensive
+       crimping tools for making cables.
+
+To make all this fit, I'm stretching the board an extra 1/4 inch to a total 
+outline of 1 by 2.75 inches.  We're also moving all the connectors, the GPS
+patch antenna, and the beeper to the "back side" of the PC board.  This is a
+win on several levels... it will allow us to have silk-screen labels for the
+connectors, will help protect the baro sensor from sunlight and the various
+surface mount parts from physical damage during rocket prep, and opens up more
+board surface area for component placement and routing on the "top side" of
+the board.  In practice, this means that boards will be mounted on standoffs
+with all the active components facing "down" and the connectors facing "up."
+
+Before we'll be ready to build some of these, we need to get in some more
+flights to test the various changes we're making.  In particular, the change
+in ejection charge circuit, and the GPS receiver chip and antenna choices
+we're now favoring.  Unfortunately, Keith and I are now both into the time of
+year where launch opportunities come less frequently, even before we consider
+the weather.
+
+Meanwhile, Keith's firmware and ground station software are now doing nearly
+everything we've envisioned wanting from this project.  It seems entirely
+likely that he'll be ready to declare "version 1.0" soon after we obtain and
+verify the functionality of our next version of the hardware...
+
+In the meantime, our friends at [Woot](http://woot.com) have posted a 
+[really funny video](http://www.woot.com/Forums/ViewPost.aspx?PostID=3564356)
+combining material from a couple launches this summer of my 
+[10-inch Goblin](http://www.gag.com/rockets/projects/goblin10/), on one of
+which we flew some of their screaming flying monkey dolls...  Enjoy!