Ground Station Projects
GoogleEarth Real Time Tracking System <- more info
Purpose and Goals
- Extremely customizable tracking system
- Complete real time processing of all data
- Built from completely open source and free software
- Designed with cross platform operation in mind
- Track multiple objects at once
- Can read several different data formats: NMEA, APRS(via TNC or aprs.he.fi), or Gpsd)
People Involved
Mobile Mesh Network <- more info
Purpose and Goals
Mobile network allows for shared tracking data while on the go.
- Designed with cross platform & backwards compatibility in mind.
- Share GPS equipment
- Share Ham Radio/TNC equipment
- NTP server via GPS satellite time
- Distribute pictures/video ASAP during a launch so everyone can enjoy them.
Mesh Network to communicate and share data between cars
- Normal services listed above
- Text Chatting between users
- Tracking of other nodes within the mesh network
People Involved
- Evan Hart - Hardware / Project Oversite
- Constantine Mavromichalis - Hardware
- Cliff Murphy - Firmware
- Alex Odom - Data Merging/Sharing Research
- Ben Sanders - Backwards Compatibility
- Curt Stein - Backwards Compatibility
Mobile Power System <- more info
Purpose and Goals
- Portable - Light and strong so it can go anywhere we go
- Powerful - Provide enough power to keep all equipment up and running for the duration of the launch
- Reliable - Safely power both ac and dc equipment without risk of damage
People Involved
- Matthew Vavrosky (Communications)
- Marie Young (Ground Station)
Autonomous Directional Antenna Tracking Station <- more info
Purpose and Goals
- Automatic calculations of heading and azimuth between two points
- Machine operated 2-Axis antenna movement
- Directional antenna for picking up more of the signal we want and less of the noise we don't.
People Involved
- Evan Hart - Hardware Control Software
- Brandy Holmes - Structure R&D
- Alex Odom
- Rody Wilcox
Stationary Tracking Station <- more info
Purpose and Goals
- Use of directional antennas to receive data from the balloon
- Realtime presentation of the current balloon data
- Possible collection of vehicle position data
- Spectators can remotely view compiled launch data at a comfortable location
- Fewer people needed in vehicles, more space for equipment
People Involved
- Evan Hart - Software Development (GERTTS)
- Rody Wilcox - Radio
- Unassigned - Antenna/Rotor Work
High Accuracy Trajectory Prediction Model <- more info
Purpose and Goals
- More flexibility in ascent and descent profiles built into trajectory model resulting in higher accuracy predictions
- Custom trajectory prediction does not require online or proprietary software resulting in higher model availability
- Easy to use and customizable interfaces
- Can be integrated with the data received mid flight, in the field, resulting in exceptionally high accuracy real time landing site predictions
- Monte Carlo simulations to predict expected error. Trajectory uncertainties based on historic variations between model and balloon sounding in surrounding area.
People Involved
Custom Software - gpsd2com <- more info
Purpose and Goals
- Easy to use - the software simplifies the process of connecting to a GPSd server.
- Automatic - the software sends the command to begin receiving raw packets.
- Customizable - connection settings can be customized and saved.
People Involved
Custom Software - Dashboard <- more info
Purpose and Goals
- Provide an in-house development platform for implementing customized visualization tools for balloon data.
- Create a simple, easy to use interface for tracking our balloon using Microsoft's MapPoint API.
- Log and display balloon data in real-time.