Difference between revisions of "Flight Computer"

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(added more categories)
(added a spiral development section)
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=Current Status=
 
=Current Status=
Concept Phase
+
Spiral 1 - Design
I have a borrowed Arduino Uno board and just ordered two pressure sensors (so I can break one by accident later).
+
 
 +
I have a borrowed Arduino Uno board and just ordered two pressure sensors (so I can break one by accident later).  The idea is to use a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiral_model spiral development model] to incrementally increase the features and capabilities of this flight computer.
 +
 
 +
See the '''Future Design''' Section below for the breakdown of the spirals.
  
 
=Current Design=
 
=Current Design=
 
==Hardware==
 
==Hardware==
* Arduino Uno
+
* [http://arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardUno Arduino Uno]
 
* [http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8161 SCP1000 MEMs Pressure Sensor]
 
* [http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8161 SCP1000 MEMs Pressure Sensor]
  
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* Atmospheric Modelling
 
* Atmospheric Modelling
 
* Inertial Measurements
 
* Inertial Measurements
*  Accelerometer
+
**  Accelerometer
*  Roll Measurements
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**  Roll Measurements
 
* GPS
 
* GPS
 
* Parachute deployment
 
* Parachute deployment
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* Data Logging
 
* Data Logging
 
* Communication with a ground station (telemetry)
 
* Communication with a ground station (telemetry)
* GPS
 
 
* Communication with a cell phone controller
 
* Communication with a cell phone controller
 +
* GPS
 
* Flight state sensing  
 
* Flight state sensing  
 
* Control Algorithms
 
* Control Algorithms
 
* Simulation Platform
 
* Simulation Platform
 +
 +
==Spiral Details==
 +
* Spiral 1:
 +
** Make atmospheric measurements by recording the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_pressure static pressure] and converting it to an associated altitude measurement
 +
** The SCP1000 Pressure sensor also measures temperature so this improves the accuracy of the measurement
 +
* Spiral 2:
 +
** Spirals 2a and 2b can be done concurrently and I have not prioritised these
 +
** Spiral 2a:
 +
*** Measure 3-axis acceleration and 3-axis roll rates to form a full [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inertial_measurement_unit Inertial Measurement Unit]
 +
*** This step will most likely include some sort of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalman_filter Kalman Filtering]
 +
** Spiral 2b:
 +
*** Use the altitude measurement (and the IMU measurement) to trigger other events based on the different stages of flight
 +
*** This includes deploying the drogue parachute at apogee and the main parachute at some present height above ground (typically 500 ft to 700 ft)
 +
* Spiral 3:
 +
** Add GPS measurements into the mix. 
 +
* Spiral 4:
 +
** [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telemetry Telemetry].  This will be the hardest step as I know the least about RF.
 +
* Spiral 5:
 +
** Remote status, arming, etc.
 +
** I want to implement this in Android such that the remote for this functionality is a cell-phone but the general idea is to make is as easy and portable as possible so several different platforms will be looked at (Blackberry, iOS, Palm).
 +
* Spiral 6:
 +
** Things I haven't thought of yet.
 +
  
  

Revision as of 22:38, 21 November 2010

Creator:
Gtpyro
Status:
Research
Born On:
22:03, 18 November 2010 (CST)
Last Updated:
22:38, 21 November 2010 (CDT)

Overview

This is a flight computer meant to go into a rocket. It is based on an Arduino micro-controller and will eventually be quite fancy.

Current Status

Spiral 1 - Design

I have a borrowed Arduino Uno board and just ordered two pressure sensors (so I can break one by accident later). The idea is to use a spiral development model to incrementally increase the features and capabilities of this flight computer.

See the Future Design Section below for the breakdown of the spirals.

Current Design

Hardware

Software

  • Not yet done

Future Design

Components/Features

  • Atmospheric Modelling
  • Inertial Measurements
    • Accelerometer
    • Roll Measurements
  • GPS
  • Parachute deployment
  • Telemetry
  • Control via Bluetooth/Wifi

Knowledge Points

  • Data Logging
  • Communication with a ground station (telemetry)
  • Communication with a cell phone controller
  • GPS
  • Flight state sensing
  • Control Algorithms
  • Simulation Platform

Spiral Details

  • Spiral 1:
    • Make atmospheric measurements by recording the static pressure and converting it to an associated altitude measurement
    • The SCP1000 Pressure sensor also measures temperature so this improves the accuracy of the measurement
  • Spiral 2:
    • Spirals 2a and 2b can be done concurrently and I have not prioritised these
    • Spiral 2a:
    • Spiral 2b:
      • Use the altitude measurement (and the IMU measurement) to trigger other events based on the different stages of flight
      • This includes deploying the drogue parachute at apogee and the main parachute at some present height above ground (typically 500 ft to 700 ft)
  • Spiral 3:
    • Add GPS measurements into the mix.
  • Spiral 4:
    • Telemetry. This will be the hardest step as I know the least about RF.
  • Spiral 5:
    • Remote status, arming, etc.
    • I want to implement this in Android such that the remote for this functionality is a cell-phone but the general idea is to make is as easy and portable as possible so several different platforms will be looked at (Blackberry, iOS, Palm).
  • Spiral 6:
    • Things I haven't thought of yet.