peter-tanner.github.io/_posts/2024-03-05-UWAA-project-briefs-2024.md

---
title: UWAA project briefs 2024
author: peter
date: 2024-03-05 10:40:20 +0800
categories: [UWAA] # Blogging | Electronics | Programming | Mechanical
tags: [electronics, projects] # systems | embedded | rf | microwave | electronics | solidworks | automation
# image: assets/img/2024-03-05-UWAA-project-briefs-/preview.png
toc: true
---

Updating this as I add new projects this year.

# Telemetrum ground station

The Telemetrum's Teledongle ground station is out of stock everywhere. We should make our own.

## Success criteria

- Receive signals from the [Telemetrum](https://altusmetrum.org/TeleMetrum/) flight computer over a distance of at least 10 kft.
- Send data to a computer over USB virtual COM port in a format which can be interpreted in real time by the [AltosUI flight monitoring software](https://altusmetrum.org/AltOS/).

## Scope

- Make a PCB which contains a cheap microcontroller with USB support and the CC12xx or CC11xx radio transceiver.
  - Make sure the PCB has mounting holes so it can fit into a case.
  - Use an SMA connector.
- Create software to copy the data from the receiver to the computer over USB through an intermediate MCU.

## Hints and notes

- You must read this [protocol specification](https://altusmetrum.org/AltOS/doc/telemetry.html) for the AltusMetrum devices. Luckily, the Teledongle does minimal processing of the raw data, it only encodes it into an ASCII format before transmitting it over serial.
- You should look at the schematics and PCB layout for the Teledongle for inspiration https://altusmetrum.org/TeleDongle/.
  - I advise you don't use the NXP LPC11U14 since a cheaper microcontroller can do well
- [!] PRO TIP: Use JLCPCB's part library to save on money! It tends to be cheaper per unit than buying from distributors online since JLC buys the parts at wholesale prices.
  - You should consider using the [basic parts library](https://jlcpcb.com/parts/basic_parts) to place passives (resistors, capacitors). On Altium, all components in this library will have a `JLC_PN` attribute.
  - Using extended parts outside the basic library list will incur a $3 USD fee per unique part, but when assembling 5 boards this still beats distributor prices. Of course, if a part is in the basic library it should be used if possible
  - You may decide to use this alternative site to look up parts since JLC's parametric search isn't great https://yaqwsx.github.io/jlcparts/
  - Try to place all/as many components on one side of the board only so you can use economic PCBA, which only places parts on one side.
  - Feel free to ask me for Altium training, and I will probably need to talk about RF design considerations

## Future development

- Make this a module card which can go into a standalone battery powered ground station which does not need a laptop to use. This can be helpful if our laptops run out of energy and there are no generators.

# Analog video transmitter

## Success criteria

- Receive at least 1 minute of video over a 10 kft LOS distance

## Scope

- Make a prototype setup to transmit and receive analog or digital video
- Use a raspberry pi to overlay text containing telemetry such as altitude, position, etc.
- Does not need to be a PCB yet

## Hints and notes

- To be honest, I am not quite sure how this stuff works and I'm interested in learning as well
- Two ways I can see this being done:
  - 1. Use a project like wifibroadcast[[1](https://befinitiv.wordpress.com/wifibroadcast-analog-like-transmission-of-live-video-data/)][[2](https://hackaday.com/2015/06/13/wifibroadcast-makes-wifi-fpv-video-more-like-analog/)] which transmits digital video. Check out the link for more information.
  - 2. Use a COTS analog 2.4 GHz video transmitter and receiver. Search 2.4 GHz video transmitter for examples. The TX6722 and RX6788 appears to be a common combination for 2.4 GHz band.
  - Consider the differences in quality, error handling and bandwidth required when deciding between analog and digital video
- I'll update this once we get past a prototype

# Software defined gnss receiver

## Success criteria

- Get position and altitude of the rocket through all stages of flight, including stages which exceed the velocity and/or altitude limitations of commercial GNSS receivers (510 m/s, 59,000 ft. See: [Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coordinating_Committee_for_Multilateral_Export_Controls?&useskin=vector))

## Scope

- Make a prototype/MVP system for doing this. It doesn't need to fit into a rocket or require self-powering at this current design phase. I will update the project when we have an MVP working.
- Test doing the post-processing on a single board computer.
- Record enough data from launch to landing

## Hints and other notes

- Capture raw [IQ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-phase_and_quadrature_components?&useskin=vector) data from an SDR and do the post-processing in something like [GNSS SDR](https://github.com/gnss-sdr/gnss-sdr). Select an appropriate SDR which can digitize the L1 C/A GPS signal
- This exists https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-tutorial-gps-decoding-plotting/, but it seems to require a computer with windows installed to process the data.

## Future development

- Miniaturize this setup and add a power system for use on a rocket
- Make a custom RF frontend specialized for the GNSS signals which is cheaper than buying an SDR
- Is it possible to use an FPGA to process this signal in real-time? (It's apparently really hard to do... I searched and the latest real-time implementation is from 2013)

<!-- # Computer vision based rocket tracker

## Success criteria

- Create a system to track a rocket from launch to X ft (Until it becomes unrecognizable to the human eye or is obscured by cloud cover).

## Scope

- Create a prototype of the system on a perfboard (Does not need a PCB implementation).
- Must capture at least 15 minutes of video footage (enough for one launch)
- Auto-zooms on the rocket
- Must be self-powered either from Pb acid battery, generic powerbank or some self-contained power source

## Hints and other notes

- Use a raspberry pi or some equivalent single board computer with **video processing capabilities** (Hardware-accelerated video encoder) and with enough processing power to do computer vision
- Should mount on a tripod
- Use several servos (pitch yaw and roll) and a servo to control the zoom (Search up zoom lens)

## Future development

- Incorporate this tracking system into the antenna tracker to improve on the RF-based tracking during launch

# -->

# Active tracking antenna

## Purpose

Antennas can be either directional or omnidirectional (Meaning the gain of the antenna is the same no matter how it is oriented). A directional antenna has high gain when oriented at the target, but poor gain if incorrectly oriented. This project will allow us to automatically orient an antenna so it has the maximum gain possible.

## Success criteria

- Track a water bottle rocket (for the first test iteration of the system), then track an L1 rocket!

## Scope

- Create a 2-axis gimbal system capable of supporting the [YAGI-868/914A](https://lprs.co.uk/assets/files/downloads/yagi-868-914a-antenna-datasheet-v1.3.pdf) Yagi-Uda antenna. Mass and dimensions are in the linked datasheet. There is no CAD model but feel free to measure the MMOI and other physical properties from the real antenna in the office.
- You may power the system off any power source you choose, we have a lead acid car battery you can use for the ground station in the office.
- At minimum create a perfboard prototype of the system using modules, or if you are feeling confident make a PCB as well.
- You don't need to make the tripod, feel free to buy something cheap from Aliexpress.

## Hints and other notes

- A video of an antenna tracking system for a [drone](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GCqYTDYZaM). This uses an ardupilot flight computer, but the same principles can be applied to the custom solution you will be developing
  - The gist of it is the target contains a GNSS receiver, and its position is transmitted to the ground station. The ground station has a GNSS receiver to get its location. From the two positions, you can find out where to point the antenna so it is facing the target.
- This is a wikipedia article on [active tracking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antenna_tracking_system?&useskin=vector), although in the context of microwave links with satellites. Still, the same principle applies.

# Build your own flight computer

## Purpose

A minimum viable flight computer for a competition grade rocket has at minimum the following functions

- Tracking of the rocket using global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver
- Firing of pyrotechnic charges
- Barometric pressure sensor to get the current altitude, and thus fire charges are the correct altitude
- Radio transmitter to transmit position to the ground
- Regulator to create the logic voltage for the components on the board from a basic dry cell battery
- Switch input to arm the system

Optionally, a flight computer may provide other functionality such as

- Storage, to log data which is not transmitted to ground
- Inertial measurement unit (IMU) to get the orientation of the rocket throughout flight
- Battery management system (BMS) when using rechargeable lithium-ion batteries instead of basic dry cell batteries, to allow recharging and safe discharging.
- High-_g_ accelerometer to characterize motor burn
- Able to be interfaced with through USB for configuration
- CAN bus transceiver to communicate with external modules

You will prototype a flight computer on a breadboard, create a perfboard prototype then make a PCB of your flight computer which we will launch in a rocket! (Either your own if you are doing the L1 program or one of our members).

## Milestone 1: Perfboard flight computer

Create a flight computer on a perfboard using the following modules on a perfboard:

- A microcontroller breakout of your choice (in descending order of specs):
  - [Raspberry Pi Pico](https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/microcontrollers/raspberry-pi-pico.html)
  - [STM32F411 black pill](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005953179540.html)
    <!-- - [STM32F103 blue pill](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004918334754.html) -->
    <!-- - [ESP32C3](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005183150522.html) -->
  - [Arduino Nano](https://docs.arduino.cc/hardware/nano/)
  - NOTE: We will use the [platformio](https://platformio.org/) platform to program our microcontroller, so the programming process should be similar
- MPU6050 accelerometer
  - Note: if you want a different accelerometer let me know and I'll purchase it for the club
- BME280 barometric pressure sensor
  - Note: if you want a different accelerometer let me know and I'll purchase it for the club
- Memory device pick one
  - Flash memory breakout
  - Micro SD card breakout
- Linear regulator to step down voltage
- Relay board

## Milestone 1b: Programming

We will program a basic flight computer using Arduino. Details to come, but it will include data logging and a way to deploy a parachute.

## Milestone 2: Incorporate GNSS tracking

Since these modules are a bit more expensive, I'm going to share them around

- LoRa Sub-GHz radio
- U-blox GNSS receiver module

## Milestone 3: Create a PCB based on these components