Pico Trackers - Revision history

Bertrik Sikken at 14:38, 14 July 2019

2019-07-14T14:38:25Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:38, 14 July 2019
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	{{Project		{{Project
	\|Name=Pico Trackers		\|Name=Pico Trackers
	\|Picture=~~picotrackers~~.jpg		\|Picture=Picotrackers.jpg
	\|Status=Abandoned		\|Status=Abandoned
	\|Contact=User:Bertrik_Sikken		\|Contact=User:Bertrik_Sikken

Bertrik Sikken at 14:37, 14 July 2019

2019-07-14T14:37:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:37, 14 July 2019
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	{{Project		{{Project
	\|Name=Pico Trackers		\|Name=Pico Trackers
			\|Picture=picotrackers.jpg
	\|Status=Abandoned		\|Status=Abandoned
	\|Contact=User:Bertrik_Sikken		\|Contact=User:Bertrik_Sikken

Bertrik Sikken: /* Software */

2019-07-14T14:34:21Z

Software

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:34, 14 July 2019
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	It is based on the source of the pFalcon balloon by Nick Blommen.		It is based on the source of the pFalcon balloon by Nick Blommen.

			To build it:
			* install platformio
			** sudo apt-get install python-pip
			** sudo pip install platformio
			* use platformio to compile it (libraries are downloaded automatically)
			** pio run

	Special features:		Special features:

Bertrik Sikken at 14:49, 28 December 2016

2016-12-28T14:49:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:49, 28 December 2016
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	{{Project		{{Project
	\|Name=Pico Trackers		\|Name=Pico Trackers
	\|Status=~~In progress~~		\|Status=Abandoned
	\|Contact=User:Bertrik_Sikken		\|Contact=User:Bertrik_Sikken
	}}		}}

Bertrik Sikken: Update status

2014-03-20T19:17:38Z

Update status

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:17, 20 March 2014
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	\|Contact=User:Bertrik_Sikken		\|Contact=User:Bertrik_Sikken
	}}		}}

			Current status:
			* software is basically ready
			* pico tracker boards still have to be populated with actual electronic components

	== Intro ==		== Intro ==

Maxell at 13:42, 11 December 2013

2013-12-11T13:42:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:42, 11 December 2013
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	\|Name=Pico Trackers		\|Name=Pico Trackers
	\|Status=In progress		\|Status=In progress
	\|Contact=User:~~Costyn_van_Dongen~~		\|Contact=User:Bertrik_Sikken
	}}		}}

Bertrik Sikken at 15:46, 19 November 2013

2013-11-19T15:46:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:46, 19 November 2013
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	== Intro ==		== Intro ==
	This page is about a so-called tracker for use with small ("pico") balloons,		This page is about a so-called tracker for use with small ("pico") balloons,
	which is light-weight electronics board carried by a balloon ~~which~~ sends telemetry back to earth.		which is light-weight electronics board carried by a balloon and sends telemetry back to earth.

	== Software ==		== Software ==
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	Special features:		Special features:
	* runs the GPS in low-power mode for extra battery savings		* (runs the GPS in low-power mode for extra battery savings)
	* resets the RFM22 radio every 8 cycles, in case it goes weird because of low temperature		* resets the RFM22 radio every 8 cycles, in case it goes weird because of low temperature

	== Hardware ==		== Hardware ==
	The hardware consists of a custom PCB, a uBlox6G GPS, an RFM22B transmitter ~~and~~ controlled by an ATMega328.		The hardware consists of a custom PCB, a uBlox6G GPS receiver, an RFM22B transmitter, all controlled by an ATMega328.

	=== Power budget ===		=== Power budget ===
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	Most commonly used for pico balloons seems to be the Qualatex 36 inch foil balloon, see [http://randomsolutions.co.uk/Random_Aerospace/Balloons.html].		Most commonly used for pico balloons seems to be the Qualatex 36 inch foil balloon, see [http://randomsolutions.co.uk/Random_Aerospace/Balloons.html].
	This balloon weighs about 37g and has a volume of about 100 liter.		This balloon weighs about 37g and has a volume of about 100 liter.
			See [http://ukhas.org.uk/projects:microballoons:data here] for a graph of reachable height vs payload weight and maximum free lift to reduce the chance of bursting.

	~~See [http://ukhas.org.uk/projects:microballoons:data here] for~~ a ~~graph of reachable height vs payload weight~~ and ~~maximum free lift to reduce the chance~~ of ~~bursting~~.		A possible alternative balloon is a Qualatex 36 inch latex balloon, weighs about 35 gram and a volume of about 400 liter (fully inflated).

	Rough weight estimates:		Rough weight estimates:
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	! Component !! weight !! Remark		! Component !! weight !! Remark
	\|-		\|-
	\| Balloon \|\| 37 g \|\| assuming Qualatex 36 inch ~~foil~~		\| Balloon \|\| 37 g \|\| assuming Qualatex 36 inch latex
	\|-		\|-
	\| Battery \|\| 15 g \|\| one 1.5V lithium AA (non-rechargable)		\| Battery \|\| 15 g \|\| one 1.5V lithium AA (non-rechargable)

Bertrik Sikken: Add software paragraph

2013-11-14T20:12:12Z

Add software paragraph

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:12, 14 November 2013
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	which is light-weight electronics board carried by a balloon which sends telemetry back to earth.		which is light-weight electronics board carried by a balloon which sends telemetry back to earth.

	~~What it~~ does:		== Software ==
			The software of the payload tracker basically does the following:
	* get position data from the GPS receiver		* get position data from the GPS receiver
	* ~~(optionally)~~ get ~~other data like~~ temperature, battery voltage, barometric pressure		* get temperature and battery voltage (optionally barometric pressure)
	* broadcast this data using a radio transmitter (RTTY, 70cm band, about 10 mW)		* broadcast this data using a radio transmitter (RTTY, 70cm band, about 10 mW)
	* repeat ~~steps above~~...		* repeat until battery is exhausted ...


			The source code can be found at
			https://github.com/bertrik/picoballoon

			It is based on the source of the pFalcon balloon by Nick Blommen.

			Special features:
			* runs the GPS in low-power mode for extra battery savings
			* resets the RFM22 radio every 8 cycles, in case it goes weird because of low temperature

	== Hardware ==		== Hardware ==

Bertrik Sikken: update weight budget

2013-11-13T21:43:38Z

update weight budget

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:43, 13 November 2013
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	=== Weight budget ===		=== Weight budget ===
	~~TODO~~: ~~which~~ balloon ~~to use (depends on~~ payload weight~~, desired~~ free lift~~, desired float altitude, etc~~.)		Most commonly used for pico balloons seems to be the Qualatex 36 inch foil balloon, see [http://randomsolutions.co.uk/Random_Aerospace/Balloons.html].
			This balloon weighs about 37g and has a volume of about 100 liter.

			See [http://ukhas.org.uk/projects:microballoons:data here] for a graph of reachable height vs payload weight and maximum free lift to reduce the chance of bursting.

	Rough weight estimates:		Rough weight estimates:
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	\|-		\|-
	! Component !! weight !! Remark		! Component !! weight !! Remark
			\|-
			\| Balloon \|\| 37 g \|\| assuming Qualatex 36 inch foil
	\|-		\|-
	\| Battery \|\| 15 g \|\| one 1.5V lithium AA (non-rechargable)		\| Battery \|\| 15 g \|\| one 1.5V lithium AA (non-rechargable)
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	\| Miscellaneous \|\| 5 g \|\| battery holder, wiring, antenna, etc.		\| Miscellaneous \|\| 5 g \|\| battery holder, wiring, antenna, etc.
	\|-		\|-
	\| Total \|\| 35 g \|\|		\| Total \|\| 72 g \|\| 35 g excluding balloon
	\|}		\|}

Bertrik Sikken at 09:24, 13 November 2013

2013-11-13T09:24:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:24, 13 November 2013
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	\|}		\|}

	~~An Energizer 1.5V primary lithium battery has a capacity of about 3000 mAh, assuming~~ 1.2V average voltage.		Assuming 1.2V average battery voltage and adjusting for step-up ratio (1.8V / 1.2V) and voltage converter efficiency (60%), this means about 103 mA average current draw from the battery.
	~~Adjusting~~ for step-up ratio (1.8V / 1.2V) and voltage converter efficiency (60%), this means about 103 mA average current draw from the battery.		An Energizer 1.5V primary lithium battery has a capacity of about 3000 mAh, so it is expected to last approximately 29 hours (3000 mAh / 103 mA).
	~~The~~ battery is ~~then~~ expected to last ~~on the order of~~ 29 hours (3000 mAh / 103 mA).

	=== Weight budget ===		=== Weight budget ===