C1: Difference between revisions

From HackPittsburgh Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 71: Line 71:


Arduino is currently running from USB cable tethered to laptop.  Have to modify it to run from power supply which I understand is 2-9v batteries connected in parallel (primary) and lithium backup.
Arduino is currently running from USB cable tethered to laptop.  Have to modify it to run from power supply which I understand is 2-9v batteries connected in parallel (primary) and lithium backup.
20121019 1200 hours:  ROAD TEST of camera payload is scheduled for tonight.
Am nearing completion of building the payload from styrofoam.  Have covered camera hole in side of styrofoam box with a 2" x 2" square of lexan.  Comparison of pictures taken thru lexan with those taken earlier (pre-lexan) show no degradation in quality.  Lexan was chosen over acrylic due to its low weight, pliability, clarity, and temperature characteristics.  Was concerned with effects of temperature change on structure of acrylic vs lexan.  Sales person at Lowes said that lexan is the way to go in cases where temperature variability was a concern.
Have wired data logger shield with camera circuitry, tested it, all A-OK.
Not sure about how batteries get attached to Arduino/logger electronics, footprint of batteries, and footprint of hand warmer.  Hopefully this can be determined tonight before ROAD TEST.
Also need netting material for attaching payload to car and balloon.  I am assuming that this material is at shop or will be there tonight.


====== Electronics ======
====== Electronics ======

Revision as of 09:17, 19 October 2012

Info

This is our first launch in 2012 and our fifth launch in our LEAD Balloon Project.

Members and Non-members alike are welcome to come along for the launch and recovery!

Please see LEAD Balloon Launch Day Details for what we do the 'day of' and what to expect if you come along!

Results

The balloon made it to <TBD>

KMZ of the new tracker's APRS data: TBD

KMZ of the old tracker's APRS data: TBD


Images

(Insert links to flickr pool, etc.)

Launch Date

  • Sun Oct 28th, 2012 - TARGET DATE

Locations

  • Launch point: (this was B1's launch point, consider using again for C1)
    • 40° 43.685'N, 81° 31.500'W Map
    • 517 Park St NW, Navarre, OH 44662-9267
    • This was a great location: a football field that had metal bleachers (makeshift tables, seating) and porta-potties.
  • Projected Landing:
    • TBD
  • ACTUAL Landing:
    • TBD

Weather Conditions

Equipment

Aerial

Balloon

KCI-1500 from Kaymont (wayback machine link)

Enclosure
  • Multiple:
    • Scavenged Styrofoam cooler for the GPS tracking
    • TBD for other payloads.
Parachute

3.6' orange ripstop nylon round parachute with eight 7' lines to the payload. 5" center vent with one 15' line to the balloon. Grommeted cord connection points.

Tracking
Imaging
  • Gary: <Details to be filled in>

20121002 1100 hours: Camera is working and logging images to 4GB SD card on logger shield @ approx. 1 min. intervals. Files are stored with file creation times. Images are 640x480 and require approx 50KB of storage. Writing to SD card requires almost 30 secs. Other image sizes available are 160x120, 320x240 and smaller sizes require less time to write to card. Need to experiment with these different sizes since 30 secs write time seems a bit excessive.

I checked with local Giant Eagle fish/meat dept. for styrofoam boxes that they use for frozen products. They could not provide any due to contamination concerns. I have 2 styrofoam boxes approx. 5x5x5 inch outside dimensions. They were originally used for shipping coffee mugs. While they are large enough for housing the Arduino Uno, Prototshield, and DataLogger shield, I'm not sure if power supplies will fit. Also there is prototyping area available on logger shield, so proto shield could potentially be eliminated. Used Protoshield from "Musical Images" project from Mini Maker Faire as it contained voltage divider network required for camera.

Arduino is currently running from USB cable tethered to laptop. Have to modify it to run from power supply which I understand is 2-9v batteries connected in parallel (primary) and lithium backup.

20121019 1200 hours: ROAD TEST of camera payload is scheduled for tonight.

Am nearing completion of building the payload from styrofoam. Have covered camera hole in side of styrofoam box with a 2" x 2" square of lexan. Comparison of pictures taken thru lexan with those taken earlier (pre-lexan) show no degradation in quality. Lexan was chosen over acrylic due to its low weight, pliability, clarity, and temperature characteristics. Was concerned with effects of temperature change on structure of acrylic vs lexan. Sales person at Lowes said that lexan is the way to go in cases where temperature variability was a concern.

Have wired data logger shield with camera circuitry, tested it, all A-OK.

Not sure about how batteries get attached to Arduino/logger electronics, footprint of batteries, and footprint of hand warmer. Hopefully this can be determined tonight before ROAD TEST.

Also need netting material for attaching payload to car and balloon. I am assuming that this material is at shop or will be there tonight.

Electronics
  • Sayan: Gamma detector - specs to be filled in.
  • Sayan: Gas sensors - specs to be filled in.

Weight

TBD

Cost

TBD

Power

TBD

Ground

Tracking

For anyone who can't be at the start and wants to follow along or meet us part way: TBD