[General] A Letter From Mojave - A Rocket Flight Opportunity For Code - Project Prometheus of Masten Space Systems

Ethan Chew spacefelix at gmail.com
Wed Jul 16 21:07:00 CDT 2014


Agreed,

       Make a suggested sensor design and send it to Masten.   They are
accepting suggestions on the sensors for the sensor suite.  They will
conclude the final design of their choice and build and install it on the
vehicle.  You guys provide the finalized code.

                   - Ethan


On Wed, Jul 16, 2014 at 6:49 PM, Stephan Henning <shenning at gmail.com> wrote:

> David is correct, unless you are using a very very high end GPS module
> (which most likely would have an internal IMU at this point), do not rely
> on its data for altitude unless you have to. There are sensors out there
> with better resolution, , update rate. and are nice and cheap that would
> work just as well. GPS can be very finicky, redundant data sources is a
> very good thing to have.
>
> I haven't been paying very close attention to this conversation thread,
> but if the sensor package can be built cheap enough, it may not be a bad
> idea to have two. I would be worth spending some time to make sure all the
> sensor data timing is well understood and synchronized. You never know what
> you might be able to learn from a successful (or failed) flight if you have
> accurate time data attached to the sensor measurements.
>
> It might be worth investigating having a redundant memory storage device,
> maybe back it up on a 'rugged' usb drive that might have a chance of
> surviving a flight failure.
>
>  -stephan
>
>
> On Wed, Jul 16, 2014 at 7:28 PM, david <ainut at knology.net> wrote:
>
>>  There are 9+ (so-called) DOF sensors on the market now in a single
>> package (some under $40), obviating the need for a separate accelerometer.
>> It would definitely be interesting to see the G-forces as applied all along
>> the track.
>> Unless someone in the project is married to the RPi, the BeagleBone Black
>> (BBB) has a lot more compute power and functionality.
>>
>> Don't count on the accuracy of GPS altitude unless you have a confirmed
>> WAAS (or equivalent) signal all during the flight.  GPS antenna is a major
>> concern in this type of environment.  Some GPS modules can use signals
>> besides just the ones from the US, but the other countries'
>> WAAS-equivalents are even more flaky than ours! :)  The MTK3339 GPS (like
>> used in Adafruit's Ultimate GPS products) seems to be robust.  I'm just
>> beginning to program it now.  Very low power and can be had for under $16
>> in small quantities, or with circuit board and glue for about $40 from
>> Adafruit.
>>
>> For recording video and metadata, again, the BBB is a good choice as I
>> have confirmed it works with a 32 Gb SD card.  By the weekend, I'll know it
>> if works with the newer 64 Gb SD cards.
>>
>> David M.
>>
>>
>>
>> On 07/16/2014 05:49 PM, Ethan Chew wrote:
>>
>> Cool!
>>
>>        So we are talking about the following things we want to do:
>>
>>    - In-Flight Automated Photography
>>       - Overlay in-flight metadata from on-board sensors; GPS
>>       coordinates, altitude, temperature, air pressure, CO2, speed, and time from
>>       launch (T+).
>>       - Can be done either in-flight or as post-processing (encode
>>       flight data as exif, add overlay in post).
>>    - Record flight data for post-flight modelling and visualization
>>    opportunities.
>>       - Record 6-dof, acceleration and skin temperature data in-flight.
>>       - Calculate ballistic coefficient to add to visualization
>>       opportunities.
>>
>>        And that would mean the following sensors:
>>
>>    - Video/Photo Camera
>>    - GPS (speed & altitude can be derived from GPS data.)
>>    - Altimeter
>>    - Thermometer (setup for ambient and skin temperature readings)
>>    - Barometer
>>    - CO2 Gas Sensor
>>    - Clock (can be done by the Raspberry Pi.)
>>    - 6-dof sensing
>>    - Accelerometers
>>
>>  Made a wiki: https://256.makerslocal.org/wiki/Flight_Code_Project
>>
>>                   - Ethan
>>
>>  P.S. Of administrative note; I got a clarification from Masten about
>> educational institutions flying for free.  At this point in time, the
>> Prometheus Project is open only to educational institutions as Masten is
>> seeking to encourage high school and college students to get into
>> engineering.  Therefore, the project would have to involve students in designing,
>> building, and programming the flight experiments.  The project could either
>> be run as a class and teaches UAH and other Huntsville high school students
>> or the makers involved would academically advise a student team.
>>
>>  Kix, taking a page out of your book, how did you run your program with
>> FIRST Robotics when you were in the Makers Local 256 shop?
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Jul 16, 2014 at 8:05 AM, Phillip Showers <
>> phillip.showers at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>  you definitely want 6-dof for post flight modelling as well. tie in a
>>> common variable like time and pump in stuff like 6-dof, acceleration and
>>> skin temp. You can probably just calculate the ballistic coefficient from
>>> cad but that gets you started on some really fun visualization
>>> opportunities.
>>>
>>> Phil
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Jul 16, 2014 at 8:34 AM, Satyam Nayak <nayaksatyam at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I ++1 Josh's suggestion about adding metadata to the picture.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Jul 16, 2014 at 8:57 AM, WebDawg <webdawg at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Even better to have it upload that data somewhere after the launch for
>>>>> viewing after.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Wed, Jul 16, 2014 at 8:51 AM, Joshua Pritt <ramgarden at gmail.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> It would be neat to overlay some data on each photo like GPS coords,
>>>>>> altitude, temperature, air pressure, CO2, speed, and time from launch (T+).
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>  On Wed, Jul 16, 2014 at 8:38 AM, Ethan Chew <spacefelix at gmail.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Just suggested to Masten that they add a picture/video camera (of
>>>>>>> the size and quality level of the one in your cell phone) to the sensor
>>>>>>> suite. ;)
>>>>>>>  On Jul 16, 2014 5:08 AM, "Satyam Nayak" <nayaksatyam at gmail.com>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I was thinking of doing something similar to HSIS where we put a
>>>>>>>> camera on auto trigger and took a bunch of pictures of the flight.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Wed, Jul 16, 2014 at 6:40 AM, WebDawg <webdawg at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Anyone plan to put any effort into this?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Wed, Jul 16, 2014 at 4:37 AM, Ethan Chew <spacefelix at gmail.com>
>>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> P.S. Note on the sensor suite; the hardware in the suite will be
>>>>>>>>>> determined by Masten.  However, at this point in time of Project
>>>>>>>>>> Prometheus, Masten is open to input on what sensor hardware to install.
>>>>>>>>>>  Please send sensor hardware suggestions to
>>>>>>>>>> prometheus at masten.aero.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On Tue, Jul 15, 2014 at 6:42 AM, Ethan Chew <spacefelix at gmail.com
>>>>>>>>>> > wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Hello!
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> On Jul 15, 2014 6:34 AM, "Jeff Cotten" <omegix at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>>>> > Hey Ethan, will the raspberry pi be connected to the internet
>>>>>>>>>>> during the test?
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Sorry, no.  To avoid interfering with Xombie's control system,
>>>>>>>>>>> the crew has told me no transmitters are allowed.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>>>> > If I wrote a piece of code that logged into #makerslocal and
>>>>>>>>>>> reported back the altitude, would it it be able to reach the freenode
>>>>>>>>>>> server?
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> You'd need to make an isolated flight data recorder.  Due to the
>>>>>>>>>>> restriction on transmitters, you can only download your data off a shore
>>>>>>>>>>> connection when the vehicle is back on the ground.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>          - Ethan
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>>>> > On Tue, Jul 15, 2014 at 12:08 AM, Ethan Chew <
>>>>>>>>>>> spacefelix at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>>>>> >> Hello,
>>>>>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>>>>> >>       Take note, it is my current understanding that
>>>>>>>>>>> educational institutions get to fly for free.
>>>>>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>>>>> >>       From Masten Space Systems in Mojave, CA (
>>>>>>>>>>> http://masten.aero/), an opportunity to fly code on a vertical
>>>>>>>>>>> takeoff and landing rocket (such as Xombie:
>>>>>>>>>>> http://youtu.be/A5b9LnzjGgU) on Project Prometheus:
>>>>>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>>>>> >> http://masten.aero/2014/05/project-prometheus/
>>>>>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>>>>> >>       In summary; there is a Raspberry Pi on board that is
>>>>>>>>>>> connected to a sensor suite.  Send Masten some code you want to run during
>>>>>>>>>>> a flight that processes inputs from the sensors during the flight.  The
>>>>>>>>>>> project is for the rapid, streamlined development of tools relating to;
>>>>>>>>>>> visual navigation, landing detection, mass estimation and position/attitude
>>>>>>>>>>> estimation.  You can reach them at prometheus at masten.aero with
>>>>>>>>>>> input and questions about the program.
>>>>>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>>>>> >> Quote:
>>>>>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>>>>> >>>> the Masten Team has also been thinking about ways we could
>>>>>>>>>>> engage the broader community and increase accessibility to our VTVL
>>>>>>>>>>> vehicles. One of the largest barriers to entry for any technology developer
>>>>>>>>>>> seeking to conduct aerospace flight testing is access to a vehicle. Limited
>>>>>>>>>>> access to an integrated GPS/IMU navigation system, flight-rated computing
>>>>>>>>>>> platforms, and sensors present additional challenges to innovators. In the
>>>>>>>>>>> spirit of broadening access to aerospace resources, we have had a project
>>>>>>>>>>> cooking in the background called Prometheus.
>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> >>>> Project Prometheus is a Masten program designed to foster
>>>>>>>>>>> the development of flight-test ready technologies by innovators in academic
>>>>>>>>>>> and research settings. By implementing a standardized interface between
>>>>>>>>>>> Masten vehicles and experimental software and hardware tools, Prometheus
>>>>>>>>>>> will provide a streamlined, efficient path for technology maturation
>>>>>>>>>>> throughout the course of tool conception, development and flight test.
>>>>>>>>>>> Access to uniform, flight-tested hardware and software development
>>>>>>>>>>> framework for innovators will ultimately reduce integration, development
>>>>>>>>>>> and other flight test costs.
>>>>>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>>>>> >>                  - Ethan/spacefelix
>>>>>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>>>>> >> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>>>> >
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>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>   --
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>                  V/r Ethan
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Working E-mail: spacefelix at gmail.com
>>>>>>>>>> Business E-mail: shinen.chew at gmail.com
>>>>>>>>>> LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ethanchew
>>>>>>>>>> US Cell: +12177222103
>>>>>>>>>> Skype: flyingfelix2
>>>>>>>>>>
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>>
>>  --
>>
>>                  V/r Ethan
>>
>> Working E-mail: spacefelix at gmail.com
>> Business E-mail: shinen.chew at gmail.com
>> LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ethanchew
>> US Cell: +12177222103
>> Skype: flyingfelix2
>>
>>
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-- 

                 V/r Ethan

Working E-mail: spacefelix at gmail.com
Business E-mail: shinen.chew at gmail.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ethanchew
US Cell: +12177222103
Skype: flyingfelix2
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