You always have that ONE flight where nothing goes right. 7-27-12
The balloon slipped off the filling neck and got away. We had a backup balloon ! The second helium tank was EMPTY.
Dang..what luck.
Soooo... I will show pictures of the X8 wing we will try to launch Friday 8-3-12.
The Big Wheel antenna on the front is for the 5 WATT ATV TX on 434 mhz. (Yes I am a ham N8TV)
Antenna on wing is the 10 watt APRS antenna on 144 mhz.
Notice the annoyance deterrent ?
5 watt ATV Tx, APRS (under card) and battery.
Nichrome cut down system activated by time or a command from the Mission Planner and APM 2.5
It is released by a command from the Mission Planner at a LOW altitude. (joke)
I hope the Friday 8-3-12 launch goes well.
Earl
Comments
Yes , You can track our flight Friday 8-3-12 via APRS.Fi using callsigns ke5vsh-1 ke5vsh-2 and ke5vsh-3.
-3 is on plane, 1 and 2 are on balloon.
We use Byonics APRS built for HAB flights.
Here are some close up pics of our release system.
1st system is "bomb" drop unit with our own 3d printed white piece because the bomb drop piece was too flexible.Ours is much sturdier.
Other release is our own design by heating a nichrome wire to cut the rope. Cuts in less than a second. Has its own 2000mw 7.2 volt battery.
The 5 watt ATV Tx takes care of heating along with the 10 watt APRS unit. In fact, I worry about cooling !
Have an external temp sensor on glider to see how cold it really gets at high altitude. APRS on one flight reported -50 F and -21 F on another flight, but that was inside temps without ATV TX.
Earl
You Have a 2.5 all ready? I am still waiting for my 2.0 and the 2.5 wasn't out yet when I ordered.
Good luck, Earl !
Earl, Use the macro function on your camera to get close in focus. Have one of the kids show you how. It's usually a little flower symbol button. I wan't to see clearly what your building ;)
I love your project. I know it's legal to launch a HAB, but do you need a permit to fly in a restricted box or something?
Also you should look at how the IMU sensors are affected by large temperature changes to the span and null offsets. You can't boot up the APM at altitude to get accel offsets at very cold temps. Maybe you have it in a temperature controlled box. With a little pid loop and data temp data from the MPU6000 you could control a little heater made from resistors and a mosfet driven by an extra APM line. If only you could get access to a enviromental chamber at the university you could do some testing on APM as well as servos. Metal gear servos might have some grease that might get real thick at those temperatures. You just don't want to find out the hard way.
You are reaching for a known but alien environment. As with all space flight (well pretty close) 99% of equipment testing occurs before the first flight. That's what's needed to make the last test a success. I solute you in your bold attempt to go where no APM2 has never gone before, to collect data of the highest order.
I can't wait to see video of a controlled decent.
Good luck, Earl !
A little clarification on how wire rope cutter.
Earl
Have you super reinforced that X8 I hear tell that they like to flap like a bird. I guess your one is reasonably light though without power system and motor, 10watts on 2m are you trying to hot wire cut the wing ;-) For sure people will hear it miles and miles away. Best of for the next try.
Drop for first flight <5000 Ft to test everything. Yes RC as well as Mission planner. Hope to use MP only. Delay may be a problem. But the APM will fly it and do RTL and Landing. All the hard stuff I am not good at.
We will have a FPV camera in the nose with the 5 watt video transmitter.
Earl
looking good, hope things go good.