Post by thread:PICs in model rocketry

If you find a whole project - tell me please! I have beem looking for something like this for ages. A pic could also handle burn temp, velocity, G Force, and a load of other stuff too. Thanks Tim At 14:15 09/03/97 -0700, you wrote: {Quote hidden}> > Does anyone know of designs for a PIC >based altimeter for use in model rocketry? > >/*****************************************/ >/* Matt Calder, Dept. of Statistics, CSU */ >/* http://www.stat.colostate.edu/~calder */ >/*****************************************/ > ------------------------------------------------------------------ Personal Web Pages: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/members/tim.kerby/ PIC Site: web.ukonline.co.uk/members/tim.kerby/pic/ The PIC Pages are under construction and I am looking for projects ------------------------------------------------------------------

At 07:46 PM 09/03/1997 -0800, you wrote: >Matt Calder wrote: >> >> Does anyone know of designs for a PIC >> based altimeter for use in model rocketry? >> >> /*****************************************/ >> /* Matt Calder, Dept. of Statistics, CSU */ >> /* http://www.stat.colostate.edu/~calder */ >> /*****************************************/ > > >Matt, > >Not exactly what you are looking for, but I remember a model rocketry >altimeter project in Radio Electronics or its latest incarnation Electronics >Now. I think it was around '90 or '91. I think the code was for a Motorola >micro, but porting it over to a PIC is always an option. > It was around then. Called a pocket Altimeter and used a Motorola Pressure sensor. They also had a really nice water column method of calibrating the sensor. Alas the magazine developed paws and wandered off perhaps to be captured by another magazine lover. John Pioneers are the ones, face down in the mud, with arrows in their backs. Automation Artisans Inc. Ph. 1-250-544-4950 PO Box 20002 Fax 1-250-544-4954 Sidney, BC CANADA V8L 5C9

Matt Calder wrote: > > Does anyone know of designs for a PIC > based altimeter for use in model rocketry? > > /*****************************************/ > /* Matt Calder, Dept. of Statistics, CSU */ > /* http://www.stat.colostate.edu/~calder */ > /*****************************************/ Matt, Try the Sunsite Archive at: http://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/archives/rec.models.rockets/ELECTRONICS/ Look at the files altimet.zip and altigif.zip both are based on the PIC based Basic Stamp. I am working on a PIC based model rocket altimeter design. I plan to use an absolute pressure sensor salvaged from a weather balloon electronics package and log the flight data into a serial eeprom. I would appreciate any information anyone might have on using the pressure sensors found on the Radiosonde weather balloon circuit boards, they are in a metal can - 8 lead package with the following marking: SDC 909-4502803 07 Craig Bladow /******************************************************/ /* Craig Bladow - Embedded Systems Project Engineer */ /* Dana Corporation - Ottawa Lake Michigan */ /* spam_OUTcraigbTakeThisOuTcompuserve.com */ /* http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/craigb */ /******************************************************/

At 02:15 PM 3/9/97 -0700, you wrote: > > Does anyone know of designs for a PIC >based altimeter for use in model rocketry? > >/*****************************************/ >/* Matt Calder, Dept. of Statistics, CSU */ >/* http://www.stat.colostate.edu/~calder */ >/*****************************************/ Matt, I did an altimeter using a PIC and a Motorola absolute pressure sensor. Andy ================================================================== Andy Kunz - Montana Design - 409 S 6th St - Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 Hardware & Software for Industry & R/C Hobbies "Go fast, turn right, and keep the wet side down!" ==================================================================

Hi How did you get hold of a radiosonde. If you found it you are supposed to return them! Tim At 09:53 10/03/97 -0500, you wrote: {Quote hidden}> > I would appreciate any information anyone might have on using the > pressure sensors found on the Radiosonde weather balloon circuit > boards, they are in a metal can - 8 lead package with the following > marking: SDC 909-4502803 07 > > Craig Bladow > > /******************************************************/ > /* Craig Bladow - Embedded Systems Project Engineer */ > /* Dana Corporation - Ottawa Lake Michigan */ > /* .....craigbKILLspam@spam@compuserve.com */ > /* http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/craigb */ > /******************************************************/ > ------------------------------------------------------------------ Personal Web Pages: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/members/tim.kerby/ PIC Site: web.ukonline.co.uk/members/tim.kerby/pic/ The PIC Pages are under construction and I am looking for projects ------------------------------------------------------------------

Tim Kerby wrote: {Quote hidden}> > Hi > How did you get hold of a radiosonde. If you found it you are supposed to > return them! > > Tim > > At 09:53 10/03/97 -0500, you wrote: > > > > > I would appreciate any information anyone might have on using the > > pressure sensors found on the Radiosonde weather balloon circuit > > boards, they are in a metal can - 8 lead package with the following > > marking: SDC 909-4502803 07 > > > > Craig Bladow > > > > /******************************************************/ > > /* Craig Bladow - Embedded Systems Project Engineer */ > > /* Dana Corporation - Ottawa Lake Michigan */ > > /* craigbKILLspamcompuserve.com */ > > /* http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/craigb */ > > /******************************************************/ > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > Personal Web Pages: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/members/tim.kerby/ > PIC Site: web.ukonline.co.uk/members/tim.kerby/pic/ > The PIC Pages are under construction and I am looking for projects > ------------------------------------------------------------------ Tim, These devices can be purchased from Electronics Goldmine. Brian -- ================================== = New Ideas come from those who = = didn't know it wasn't possible = ==================================

> Matt, > > Not exactly what you are looking for, but I remember a model rocketry > altimeter project in Radio Electronics or its latest incarnation Electronics > Now. I think it was around '90 or '91. I think the code was for a Motorola > micro, but porting it over to a PIC is always an option. > > Ken Pergola It's on Radio Eletronics, october 1990 and I have this issue, if anyone need it I can scan and send. Octavio ======================================================== Octavio Nogueira e-mail: .....nogueiraKILLspam.....mandic.com.br homepage: www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Pines/6902/index.html voice/fax: +55 11 240-6474 "ProPic" The first Production PIC Programmer running in Windows and under US$ 20.00. ========================================================

> > Matt, > > > > Not exactly what you are looking for, but I remember a model rocketry > > altimeter project in Radio Electronics or its latest incarnation > Electronics > > Now. I think it was around '90 or '91. I think the code was for a > Motorola > > micro, but porting it over to a PIC is always an option. > > > > Ken Pergola > > It's on Radio Eletronics, october 1990 and I have this issue, if anyone > need it > I can scan and send. > > Octavio > Octavio: If you do this, I'm pretty sure you will be violating the magazine's copyrights. I believe they prohibit any duplication of their articles in any form without express written permission of the publishers. You'd best check first. Philip Restuccia EraseMEphilip.restucciaspam_OUTTakeThisOuTperi.com

Hi Tim, > How did you get hold of a radiosonde. If you found it you are supposed to > return them! You can buy, beg or find them quite legitemately. Those found have no real value besides possibly the location they were found at and if you actually find the specific site that launched the sonde they will be interested in the location and the time you found it, possibly serial number but they may not keep records of them. These devices are sold for about US$ 50 and are single use. I have a few in my collection (4 types) and none of them actually indicate they might be wanted back. The one that Electronics Goldmine sells Which has SDC Presure sensor has on the printed box the statement : "This instrument can be safely discarded into any trash receptacle" Also other statements to the effect that it wont explode &c. There are other makes that are available but no others that I know of on the surplus market. > > I would appreciate any information anyone might have on using the > > pressure sensors found on the Radiosonde weather balloon circuit > > boards, they are in a metal can - 8 lead package with the following > > marking: SDC 909-4502803 07 It will be a silicon resistive strain bridge measuring absolute pressure (rear side of diaphragm at vacuume) and one would be best served by tracing the circuit of the sonde to find out how it is used. The circuit first generates a voltage from the pressure transducer and then selects one of 6 voltages (pressure, temp, humidity, ?, HIref, LOref) and feeds it into a V-to-F converter which is then used to modulate the radio section which is almost so simple that it does not look like it can be a transmitter (one transistor and a Teflon spaced tuner capacitor with a 1/4 wave groundplane antenna). Problems with the sensors and the circuit in the sondes is that they are not made for long term stability and are reference callibreated on the ground at the time of launch. For Rocket use this should not be much of a problem but for long term climate studies I would hesitate to trust the stability without carefull characterisation. Interfacing to a Stamp or PIC might be possible to do with just one arm of the bridge in resitive mode for Rocket applications as the time is so short there will not be much temperature drift. Otherwise you will need to put in a bridge amplifier and then amplify result to feed a A/D or V/F converter. It was relatively easy to get the sonde board to generate a single freguency by bypassing the MUX chip and feeding the pressure output directly to the V/F converter and then one could use that output to feed a FREQIN or something on a Stamp or PIC. The Audio tone at about 1.2kHz or something gets real irritating after a while when playing with it and in the end you just stick to the scope and F-counter even though audio is a faster way to detect changes. Cheers -- Kalle Pihlajasaari kallespam_OUTip.co.za http://www.ip.co.za/ip Interface Products P O Box 15775, DOORNFONTEIN, 2028, South Africa + 27 (11) 402-7750 Fax: 402-7751 http://www.ip.co.za/people/kalle DonTronics, Silicon Studio and Wirz Electronics uP Product Dealer

Craig Bladow wrote: > I would appreciate any information anyone might have on using the > pressure sensors found on the Radiosonde weather balloon circuit > boards, they are in a metal can - 8 lead package with the following > marking: SDC 909-4502803 07 > > Craig Bladow > I may be able to help you. Is this a TO-8 can with a hole in the top? What is the pin configuration (how many pins per row?) If it is a TO-8 type pressure sensor it would be much simpler to get a new one (they are not expensive), rather than try to reuse one. There are only a few number of manufacturers of this type of part - and all of their sensors have very similar electrical characteristics. Tom Halaczkiewicz

At 11:01 AM 3/10/97 -0500, you wrote: {Quote hidden}>At 02:15 PM 3/9/97 -0700, you wrote: >> >> Does anyone know of designs for a PIC >>based altimeter for use in model rocketry? >> >>/*****************************************/ >>/* Matt Calder, Dept. of Statistics, CSU */ >>/* http://www.stat.colostate.edu/~calder */ >>/*****************************************/ > >Matt, > >I did an altimeter using a PIC and a Motorola absolute pressure sensor. > >Andy > >================================================================== >Andy Kunz - Montana Design - 409 S 6th St - Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 > Hardware & Software for Industry & R/C Hobbies > "Go fast, turn right, and keep the wet side down!" >================================================================== > > Any chance that you'd share the schematic and source for this? (Otherwise, why mention that you'd done it...) Dave Duchesneau (Who'd like to make an altimeter to fit inside a 1" tube)

At 07:41 AM 4/3/97 -0800, you wrote: >At 11:01 AM 3/10/97 -0500, you wrote: You sure haven't read your mail in a while! >>I did an altimeter using a PIC and a Motorola absolute pressure sensor. >Any chance that you'd share the schematic and source for this? (Otherwise, >why mention that you'd done it...) Well, why not is because it was a proprietary item for somebody, and I can't release that source code. However, it was rather simple: PIC16C711 pin 17 to Motorola MPXS4100A6U Analog output (I forget which pin). Software does the following: On reset: Turn on "Calibrating" LED, turn off "Ready" Wait 15 seconds to warm up sensor (required by Mot). Turn on "Ready" LED, turn off "Calibrating" Call the current reading "0" elevation. While the current reading is 0 +/- 2 bits or so do nothing! Endwhile As fast as possible (10mS) store readings into the EEPROM until the EEPROM is full (2K or more samples, about 10 secs per K). The EEPROM is read into a PC, and the readings are plotted out to form a chart showing altitude vs. time. >(Who'd like to make an altimeter to fit inside a 1" tube) Dave Now you have everything you need. This is an ideal application of the PIC12C7x part. Andy ================================================================== Andy Kunz - Montana Design - 409 S 6th St - Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 Hardware & Software for Industry & R/C Hobbies "Go fast, turn right, and keep the wet side down!" ==================================================================

>> Does anyone know of designs for a PIC >> based altimeter for use in model rocketry? Very recently I stumbled upon a design somewhere on the web that does EXACTLY this. The documentation provided is great, complete with a good description, circuit diagrams, part lists and code listings. The design is an improvement on a similiar altimeter desing for Model Rockets that was published in RADIO-ELECTRONICS of October 1990, and uses the Basic-Stamp as its processor. I can really recommend very strongly that you look at this article. It even features some ingenious way of reading the data from the altimeter. I still have a printout of the original article, but I do not know anymore what the URL of the website is. If you want to search for it on the web, use keywords like Herve Cousin (the author), SCX15AN, Sensym etc. I also still have the original article on my computer at home, so if you don't find it, then please email me at @spam@wernerKILLspamaztec.co.za and I will email it directly to you. Rgds Werner -- Werner Terreblanche http://www.aztec.co.za/users/werner KILLspamwterrebKILLspamplessey.co.za (work) OR RemoveMEwernerTakeThisOuTaztec.co.za (home) Plessey SA, PO Box 30451,Tokai 7966, Cape Town, South Africa or at home : Suite 251, PostNet X5061, Stellenbosch, 7599 Tel +27 21 7102251 Fax +27 21 7102886 Home +27 21 8872196 ------------------------------------------------------------

Dave Just after sending a reply to the piclist regarding your posting, I discovered that the email address of Herve Cousin, the author of this excellent altimeter web page. I suggest you contact Herve Cousin <spamBeGonecousinspamBeGoneinorg.chem.ethz.ch> and ask him for the URL of his web page. Its really worth it to look at. Rgds Werner -- Werner Terreblanche http://www.aztec.co.za/users/werner TakeThisOuTwterrebEraseMEspam_OUTplessey.co.za (work) OR RemoveMEwernerTakeThisOuTaztec.co.za (home) Plessey SA, PO Box 30451,Tokai 7966, Cape Town, South Africa or at home : Suite 251, PostNet X5061, Stellenbosch, 7599 Tel +27 21 7102251 Fax +27 21 7102886 Home +27 21 8872196 ------------------------------------------------------------