[00:25] Professor (i=ident_is@x-division.com) joined #highaltitude. [00:25] snooganz [00:41] http://www.x-division.com/wiki/index.php/HAARP [00:45] how large is the balloon [00:45] ? [00:50] 1500 gram [00:50] eh, 150 cubic feet or so [00:51] it'll expand to about 10 meters / 33 feet [00:54] woah [00:54] that's at 100k feet mind you [00:54] on the ground they're about 2 meters [00:55] they expand because of the lesser pressure in higher altitude right? [00:55] yah [00:55] Action: icez 's not the best when it comes to balloons:/ [01:01] I picked up some old army surplus balloons but decided not to use them [01:01] too old [01:02] (23 years I think) [01:02] I bought a brand new Kaymon KCI 1500 [01:02] pre sensitized boards is sooooo easy [01:02] oops [01:22] Professor (i=ident_is@x-division.com) left irc: Remote closed the connection [04:50] Professor (i=ident_is@x-division.com) joined #highaltitude. [04:50] w0rd [04:50] 3xc3l [04:50] http://www.x-division.com/wiki/index.php/HAARP [04:50] wh00t. my realtime tracking is now working [04:51] updates automatically as I drive around with the radio set [04:51] cool [04:51] where are you located Professor ? [04:51] a couple of my buddies watched me drive home a little while ago [04:51] los alamos, new mexico [04:51] er http://www.x-division.com/haarp/ [04:51] right there [04:52] car is parked in front of the house :) [04:52] ok:) [04:52] my position updates roughly 1x a minute [04:52] so if I make a turn half way between updates you see the diagonal [04:53] or if I turn it on after I drive away from where I last sent out a data burst, you see a long line :) [04:54] are you using gumstixs too? [04:55] not for this, but my intention is to use one for control of a camera or two, and burning through the string when I reach altitude [04:55] http://www.x-division.com/gallery/LATS/IMG_2000_001 [04:55] that's the gps I'm using [04:57] i'm thinking about putting a GPS on a rocket to get the altitude [04:57] unfortunately I destroyed the little aprs encoder that plugs into that board [04:57] oh [04:57] well, I designed an altimeter for rocketry and the new model has a serial port for gps [04:57] the problem with that is gps altitude is anything but accurate and stable [04:58] for something like rocketry you can get WAY better performance from a pressure sensor [04:58] for a high altitude balloon, there is little choice but to use a gps [04:58] I only added a serial port to get more customers ;) easy to add "feature" [04:59] oh [04:59] pressure sensor, any recommendations? [04:59] motorola mpxa4115 [04:59] er, freescale (motorola split off a new division for their semiconductor stuff) [05:00] http://www.x-division.com/gallery/electronics/DCP_0560 [05:00] that's an early prototype for my altimeter with one of the sensors on it [05:01] http://www.x-division.com/gallery/electronics/DCP_0565 with a ruler for scale [05:02] i guess i need to start learning electronics:) [05:03] hehe [05:23] Professor (i=ident_is@x-division.com) left irc: "bed" [06:21] icez (n=icez@ip68-3-56-121.ph.ph.cox.net) left irc: Remote closed the connection [07:47] jcoxon (n=jcoxon@jac208.caths.cam.ac.uk) joined #highaltitude. [07:59] jcoxon (n=jcoxon@jac208.caths.cam.ac.uk) left irc: "Leaving" [08:03] jcoxon (n=jcoxon@jac208.caths.cam.ac.uk) joined #highaltitude. [08:44] jcoxon (n=jcoxon@jac208.caths.cam.ac.uk) left irc: "Ex-Chat" [09:06] malgar (n=malgar@adsl-ull-117-210.47-151.net24.it) joined #highaltitude. [11:38] borism (n=boris@ip113.cab5.lsn.starman.ee) got netsplit. 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[11:40] Topic changed on #highaltitude by !irc.freenode.net: Welcome to #highaltitude - discuss anything to do with high altitude projects (balloons, gliders, etc) e.g. http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~jac208/pegasus/ or http://glider.phatmonkey.org.uk/wiki/ | Pegasus II lost 04/03/06 [11:45] malgar (n=malgar@adsl-ull-117-210.47-151.net24.it) left irc: "Le sue origini e il suo scopo sono tuttora un mistero assoluto" [14:45] icez (n=icez@ip68-3-56-121.ph.ph.cox.net) joined #highaltitude. [15:51] Professor (i=ident_is@x-division.com) joined #highaltitude. [15:51] g'mornin [16:06] Professor (i=ident_is@x-division.com) left irc: "- + The ORIGINAL PHOENIX/GARGOYLE -*- Accept no Hacks or Substitutes + -" [18:29] phatmonkey (n=phatmonk@65.98.2.81.in-addr.arpa) joined #highaltitude. [19:29] jcoxon (n=jcoxon@jac208.caths.cam.ac.uk) joined #highaltitude. [19:44] ooooo Professors project looks really good [19:44] #highaltitude: mode change '+o jcoxon' by ChanServ!ChanServ@services. [19:45] Topic changed on #highaltitude by jcoxon!n=jcoxon@jac208.caths.cam.ac.uk: Welcome to #highaltitude - discuss anything to do with high altitude projects (balloons, gliders, etc) e.g. http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~jac208/pegasus/ , http://glider.phatmonkey.org.uk/wiki/ or http://www.x-division.com/wiki/index.php/HAARP [21:08] jcoxon: I might go back to basics [21:08] make a big version of, what's his name's glider [21:08] synco [21:08] then keep it cheap [21:09] so it's not the end of the world if we lose it [21:10] hey phatmonkey [21:10] hmmmm [21:11] you know, something that'll fly on its own [21:11] yeah [21:11] without any elevator input [21:11] right [21:11] all I have to do [21:11] is left and right [21:11] and then let it descend naturally [21:11] then we can just use a really cheap gps, the slug, a little serial servo controller [21:12] and a reaally simple autopilot algorithm [21:12] yeah [21:12] a sort of negative feedback system [21:12] to constantly correct its direction? [21:12] then if we lose it, we just cut out another glider from sheet foam or whatever, buy the equipment [21:12] and we can get together another within a matter of hours [21:12] yeah [21:12] apparently slugs are 30 pounds in staples [21:12] well, more specifically, a waypoint system [21:12] someone emailed me [21:12] sweet! [21:13] internet? link me [21:13] not sure [21:13] someone emailed me [21:13] I might buy them up [21:13] lol [21:13] after i lost peg II [21:13] yeah [21:13] incidently i've updated my peg III plan [21:13] you got a free gumstix though didn't you? [21:13] ooh [21:13] http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~jac208/pegasus/pegasus3.html [21:13] yeah they are sending me one right now [21:14] neat [21:14] think i might also launch a wireless router [21:14] see if we can boast 802.11b [21:14] I will make the glider rather large (5 feet wingspan?) [21:14] it'll be a second payload [21:14] and make it really simple [21:14] just sheet depron foam if that works nicely [21:14] so we can just cut out another one [21:14] lol [21:14] i'm feeling these days that simple is better [21:14] yeah [21:15] especially without amateur radio communication [21:15] I'll put a phone or my gsm terminal on it [21:15] :-D [21:15] so if the worst happens, and it doesn't fly back to us [21:15] we still have a chance of finding it [21:15] yeah [21:15] or maybe I should experiment with 802.11b, so we can at least have a chance of staying in touch [21:16] if i was you get a launch done :-D [21:16] yeah [21:16] once you've got a basic system you can then start experimenting [21:16] I would love to get at least /something/ up [21:16] EvilGuru (n=freddie@margaret2708.plus.com) joined #highaltitude. [21:16] yeah [21:16] hi hi freddie [21:16] hiho [21:16] I don't trust an uncontrolled payload with just gsm though [21:17] :-D [21:17] so I want to do at least a simple glider [21:17] its worked once for me [21:17] anyway [21:17] freddie, new ideas [21:17] ok [21:17] we get a /really/ simple glider done [21:17] I mean, really simple [21:17] just cut it out of sheet depron foam (so it takes 5 minutes to make another!) [21:17] trim it so it glides nicely without elevator input [21:18] so the autopilot only has to cope with left/right control [21:18] going to use a cut down? [21:18] interesting [21:18] then, we just use standard equipment as much as possible (just hook up the various bits of equipment to their own lithium batteries to start with) [21:19] jcoxon: yeah, probably a cut down, just in case [21:19] not much complication! [21:19] cheap gps [21:19] little pencam [21:19] cheap ebay balloon [21:19] cheap nokia phone [21:19] sorted [21:19] and a little serial servo controller for left/right and cut down [21:20] how do we deal with the ham radio problems? [21:20] cheap gps... ?30, nslu2 ?30 (in staples!), nokia phone, ?10, pencam ?15 [21:20] we don't have it silly ;) [21:20] we just hope it flies back to us [21:20] testing, testing, testing, testing and more testing [21:21] hmm, just what I had expected [21:21] i reckon thats a goodplan [21:21] that's a matter of ?80 for the entire thing [21:21] it could work, testing would need to be extreme [21:21] and simple as hell [21:21] so it's not the end of the world if it doesn't come back! [21:22] we could stick on a little usb 802.11b adaptor with a big arse antenna [21:22] so we at least have some chance of tracking it [21:22] http://www.usbwifi.orcon.net.nz/ [21:22] yeah [21:22] hehe its an amazing site [21:22] what do you think freddie? [21:23] get your serial servo controller done, and we can get the hardware together and working [21:23] we can use a servo to trigger the camera [21:23] simple [21:23] ok [21:23] want a smaller servo controller? [21:23] I'll query the gphoto mailing list about deleting photos on the camera, which doesn't seem tobe possible [21:23] nah [21:24] it's not expensive or hard to make is it? [21:24] not at all [21:24] fine [21:24] but one for 8 servos [21:24] the glider will be quite large [21:24] we're not tlaking going small [21:24] we can strengthen the sheet foam to make it nice and large [21:24] I like your plan [21:25] and this will be very cheap [21:25] we could make a cluster of these things [21:25] that could fly in formation [21:25] hehehe [21:25] ok, too complicated [21:26] lol [21:26] can I be bothered to do biology coursework? [21:26] naw, I'll blog about this [21:26] the nslu2 takes a fair amount of power [21:26] yeah [21:26] 2A on 5V [21:26] just use a few lithium cells [21:29] I like I like I like [21:29] jcoxon: might be interesting in my diy server rack [21:30] http://www.flickr.com/photos/phatmonkey/110582771/in/set-72057594079219405/ [21:30] :D [21:30] *interested [21:31] i thinking of something like this to track peg III [21:31] http://www.usbwifi.orcon.net.nz/beachumb.jpg [21:31] yeah [21:31] not very practical with a glider [21:32] wow is that yours? [21:32] yeah, in a shed! [21:32] what we could do, is have a large omnidirectional antenna on the glider [21:32] then use a large directional one like that umbrella on the ground [21:33] umbrella dish would be good to follow the balloon as it ascends especially while in the line of sight [21:33] yes [21:34] maybe attached to a telescope or a pair of binoculars [21:34] and somebody could sit there tracking it [21:35] interesting to see how long connection could be maintained [21:35] yeah [21:35] my friend dave suggest launch at night and stick a light on it [21:35] we could experiment with it from high hills somewhere [21:35] a guy I work with, will [21:35] he siggested using lasers [21:35] to transfer data [21:36] not sure about lining them up though... [21:36] lol [21:36] http://www.bargainhutz.com/store/product.php?productid=78 [21:36] cheap but out of stock :( [21:36] http://www.staples.co.uk/ENG/Catalog/cat_results.asp?txtSearch=nslu2 [21:37] http://mail-index.netbsd.org/regional-london/2006/03/11/0000.html [21:39] think we might have missed it [21:40] :( [21:41] oh well [21:41] these new ideas might work [21:42] I was starting to get a bit discouraged by stuff being complicated and hard to do [21:42] ... and illegal [21:42] I couldn't really see the end in sight [21:42] this new one will be really quick to make [21:42] might take a while to perfect though [21:43] need to take the risk eventually and launch [21:45] yeah [21:45] it would be good to get something actually done [21:45] but I still don't trust an uncontrolled payload just with gsm contact [21:45] glider that will fly back, fine [21:47] EvilGuru: you don't have an old digital camera that you are willing to sacrifice would you? [21:47] I have to admit, the pencams are a tad crummy [21:47] good for the first flights I guess [21:50] true [21:50] right i'll be back later [21:50] cya all [21:50] bye [21:55] hmm old digi-cam [21:55] I will check [21:58] pencams hihi [21:58] the crappiest camera i have ever seen [21:58] :/ [22:04] phatmonkey (n=phatmonk@65.98.2.81.in-addr.arpa) left #highaltitude ("Leaving"). [23:29] EvilGuru (n=freddie@margaret2708.plus.com) left irc: "Konversation terminated!" [00:00] --- Tue Mar 14 2006