APM2 Flies to 100k Ft.for 7 1/2 hours 300 miles !
On 4/14/12 we flew an APM2 ardupilot in a balloon to over 100000 feet for 7 1/2 hour 300 mile + flight !
The flight originated near Albuquerque NM and landed near Trinchera ,CO. The flight was over 300 miles and lasted far longer than we planned. The flight was so long the 5 on board cameras ran out of memory and battery before the flight ended.
The chase crew went 225 miles before giving up because there was no data from the Digi M10 Satellite modem. The crew was almost back into Albuquerque when all of the sudden three phones got e-mails from the Digie modem at the same time.
ET CALLED HOME !!!
It gave us the Lat, long, and altitude of where it was. Several emails later we realized the package landed. We quickly put the coordinates into google maps and could not believe where it was ! It was in Colorado! And it landed 7 1/2 hours after launch !
I will download the data from the APM2 SD card and see the flight.
Here are some pictures.
Could have landed here in Colorado
But it landed 10 miles further 50 feet from the edge of a farm road !
Some of the equipment flown...
I will post more pics and some videos later when I get back to Albuquerque. My car motor seized up out in the boonies right after retrieving the package. Got to get rental car and find way to get new motor in 2006 Saturn Vue.
Earl
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Comment by Eagle on April 15, 2012 at 8:02pm
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add me with Monroe... any photos? vids?
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Comment by Earl on April 15, 2012 at 8:08pm -
I will try to d/l some videos. Launch and vid from unknown altitude until I get APM2 data decoded.
Earl
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Comment by Michael Krader on April 15, 2012 at 8:32pm -
congrats on your mission. love to hear about things here at home in NM.
Mike
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Comment by Earl on April 15, 2012 at 8:53pm
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No control on decent. Just had chute but it tangled before decent.I want to see Pam data to see how fast it fell cause one package must have hit hard. Lost both my cameras and XBee on impact but someone who found the balloon is going to look food the other parts tomorrow.
The fins were to stabilize the packages on absent and decent. It didn't work.
More later
Earl
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Moderator Comment by Brian on April 15, 2012 at 9:11pm -
A few years ago some members posted their balloon efforts. It was cool to see their pictures on the "edge"... Looking forward to your pics/vid. Cool Stuff!
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Comment by Earl on April 15, 2012 at 9:19pm
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I wasnt in control of filling 1500g balloon. First try at launch was way under filled. Put much more in and did launch again. I do think we under filled. I suspect it only got to 70000 ft and hundred there for 7 hours. Will see when we download the apm2 data.
Earl
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Comment by Earl on April 15, 2012 at 9:24pm
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Here is landing coordinates. 37.01.9714 N. -104.02.9947 W. alt 1794 meters
Earl
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Comment by Earl on April 15, 2012 at 10:02pm
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Next mission 3 weeks. Going to have APRS on it this time.
BTW, I reacked the balloon for 23 miles with the 2.4 ghz Xbees! The ground antenna was a 24db circular antenna. The flight antenna was a rubber duck. For 60 Mw on 2.4 ghz I thought that was real good.
My 433 mhz radios from 3drobutocs did not come yet so had to fly the xbees.
here are the launch coordinates. 35 05 662 w -106 025 085 w. I think I got it right.
Earl
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Comment by Earl on April 15, 2012 at 10:27pm
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mileage on my car was over 300 miles but i forgot I started in Abq. Launch was 30 miles east of Abq.Strait Distance was probably closet to 225 - 250 miles. But still 7 1/2 hours flight time.
Earl
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Comment by Jack Crossfire on April 15, 2012 at 10:33pm -
Can't wait for someone to drop an Ardupilot in the Marianna trench.
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