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ATMEGA168 BT
ATMEGA168 BT
Image by zeni666
Just a test of a minimal configuration of an ATMEGA168 (programmed with the Arduino GUI) that is communicating through bluetooth with a computer.
80 ft. Fire Shower
Image by jurvetson
Best viewed large.
I get butterflies in my stomach for a few weeks before a maiden launch of a big project, in this case the Telstar Logistics V2.1, my largest project. For a sense of scale, my kids fit inside (before finishing the build, of course =)
Did I build it strong enough over the past year? Do I believe the detailed computer simulation? Will the launch rail be long enough to get to speed? Was 30 lbs of lead bricks in the tip of the nose cone the right amount to for a stable flight? Have I properly configured the redundant G-Wiz HCX avionics computers? And most critically, will the batteries perform in the heat? Will the N2801 motor hold together (o-rings under intense heat and pressure)? Will the custom energetic igniter overpressure the motor? Will the graphite nozzle crack? Will my unusual design for staged deployment of multiple parachutes work (can only be tested in flight)? Do I have the right number of shear pins? Do I have the right amount of Kevlar to prevent the parachutes from melting? Have I kept the black powder dry for parachute deployment (my last V2.0 came back ballistic because of this)? Are the parachutes the right size for a proper landing (too small, and the fiberglass cracks, too large and they may drift miles away)? And so on… This is a partial list.
Perhaps it reflects a lack of confidence that I decided to start with the biggest U.S. motor you can buy, just in case I don’t get a second flight.
Well, it was a perfect flight, with a crackling roar of molten titanium sponge and a gentle deployment of the parachutes and soft landing, with no damage to the airframe. She’s ready to fly next weekend if I can find a N2000 motor case for BALLS.
I just got back and have a ton of photos, and some ground videos to share of each of my seven flights. You can see one of the videocams on tripod in the foreground of this photo.
Setting Up Gigapan
Image by cogdogblog
I set out today to give a test ride to a new camera device, the GigaPan, a computer controlled camera mount designed to make large detailed images of landscapes and such.
However, it;s a long story, but I am without my spare battery and charger for my Cabon Powershot (left it in some hotel on the east coast), so I did not have juice for a panorama.
This spot is on the edge of the Mogollon Rim looking south over the town of Pine, Arizona.
I will return when I have juice!
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Did it work well ? If so, can you explain a bit more the setup, especially the oscillator type ?
Yes it works perfectly well. The oscillator is 16MHz one with three pins: two for the oscillator and one for the ground. I think you could use an oscillator with two pins only (no ground). I didn’t try yet but I’ll do it soon. It seems that the two pins oscillators are more common than the three pins ones.
For the rest, you need to power the atmel+bluetooth, put some pins of the atmel to HIGH and other to LOW, add a reset button, the oscillator and plug the TX and RX of the atmel to the RX and TX of the bluetooth.
This page helps a lot: itp.nyu.edu/physcomp/Tutorials/ArduinoBreadboard
thanks for the infos ^^
Didn’t think it could be this easy…
what is the type of bluetooth module please?
It is a blueSMIRF. You can buy it from Sparkfun.
Contact Jack at Whats Up Hobbies about a 98/15360.
Thanks. Emailing him now.
This was a 98/17500, and for that case, I was thinking of a custom grain that burns red then white then blue… May be a bit dodgy though…
epic!
Kawabungaaa!!!!!! Congrats on getting the correct answers to all your questions. Now that you have successfully scaled the summit, nowhere left to go – right? I suspect not…
awe awe awe aweome!!!
WOW
Cool!
Unless this is top secret, anything you can tell about what the payload will be and what altitude it reached ?
Wowww!!! Great shot (both, the rocket & the photo). Nice job could be very amazing are involved in a project like this
Very cool, Steve… looking forward to the video.
Zoooma zoom zoom. That is a great shot.
sometimes, the best word is, "wow".
!
Rockets just would not have the same thrill if they were carried into the atmosphere by something like a balloon.
Wow. Amazing how you captured the corkscrew flames and molten titanium. Is this part of the design of the fins or the manner in which the propellent is packed and burns? How many milliseconds does this 80ft. shot represent? Stunning photo Steve. Just stunning.
Amazing as always Steve. I can’t wait to see the rest and the video!
Sparktastic!
excellent..!!
Wow! It must be incredible to see your work taking off like this. And this image at its full size is amazing.
Congratulations!
Very impressive…congrats on the success..cool shot!.
..like Vanita’s remark..haha
Wonderful shot and check list! Glad to see the flight was a success. The original size photo is especially impressive. I assume the titanium contributes to the sparks. How about the dark smoke…..mix of black powder? Can’t imagine setting off one of these in my back yard.
Wow! Congrats on a flawless flight.
Best viewed large? I think it should say best viewed original size. Wow!
awesome! congrats on a perfect launch (and here’s to trigonometry!)…
Congratulations. And what a great shot, too.
This is freakin awesome! Not only is it a great photo but the fact that the rocket is a hobby of yours too is sweet!
Great job.. instant fav
if you get a chance take a peak at my work.. no rockets but quite the variety
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tb-design/3960835847/
Looks very shiny and exciting.
amazing
On the way to… – Mars…
>>>seen on
1-2-3 group
Amazing shot!! Did the rocket blast off spinning anticlockwise?
Yes… what was your clue? I took a closer look at the photos, and it went into a slow roll counter-clockwise. After leaving the launch rail, it took 2 seconds for the logo to rotate about 45 degrees.
Windwatcher: the black smoke comes from a unbalanced fuel/oxidizer ratio, where the fuel does not burn completely and leaves the nozzle as smoke. Here is a Scienceblogs post I did on propellant types with photos.
James_cann: the sparks come from the titanium sponge pre-mixed in the solid propellant. They melt and become white hot. This photo is one second after ignition.
nice work! that picture is awesome!
i know what you mean by having all those questions in your head before the flight. this weekend at BALLS I plan on finally going for my L3 in a min diameter, then if that succeeds put in a EX M3000 that I made that should take it to Mach 2.5. i’m pretty worried about the fins for that one.
we also mixed a small (%2) O moonburner at my place this weekend using the same case that we blew up at BALLS two years ago – (you got a video of that one, with the carbon confetti raining down). going in essentially the same rocket (with broken airframe parts replaced). it’s going to be fun
Sweet. See you there. The weather forecast is nuts – high temps in the 40s and up to 50MPH winds. Dress warm.
I have now posted the video from my ground camera.
This concept was taken to the extreme with this Delta IV launch, where the sound-activated wide-angle lens probably bit it…
meow! you rock, dude. congrats on a successful launch.
Wonderful shot.
Really love it.
Good evening
For reference, this is the thrust curve for this motor (labeled 2800, but it looks like the 2801):
Please tell me about your electronics set up. I am also building a Performance Rocketry V2. As of right now I plan on putting the electronics between the top two centering rings. (I will be using 3) I plan to tether and free bag the nose cone. I frequent the Rocketry Planet forums and TRF if you post over there.
I mounted a standard GLR 4" avionics bay onto an extra 12" bulkhead plate that integrated into the design for parachute deployment. Some description of that above. The blast above the plate deploys the heavy nose on a separate chute and gets the drogue out of the body which pulls the plate out which pulls the main out.
G-wiz HCX and LCX inside. The screw switches are epoxied into the side of the 4" bay, accessible via drill holes in the outer airframe. Air vents for the computers are only on the bottom of the bulkhead plate, and from there out through the airframe. So the BP charge does not have a direct air path to the avionics computers.
Should make for some interesting photos…let’s see some when you are up and running. BTW, does this fold up and fit in your pocket?
Hardly; the device is in a box about 10x10x6 inches, ought to be in a nice Pelican case, plus there is a tripod. A medium sized day pack handles it all.