Letting it go is fun …​ until it goes out of sight. How do we track and find it?

1. Requirements

  • Detect its current position: lattitude, longitude, altitude.

  • Collect telemetry from onboard sensors or additional devices.

  • Send that information to the ground.

  • Receive commands from a command station.

2. Features

  • GPS for 3D position

  • Telemetry downlink transmitter

  • Standardized sensor/payload interface. XDATA and Stemma QT / QWIIC / Grove ?

  • Command uplink receiver

  • Cut-down device support

2.1. Radio option: FM

FM module UHF (SA8x8 transceiver)

Transmit

  • AFSK using Bell 202 modulation. ASCII text, or APRS/AX.25 frames.

  • alt: iMet-4 compatible telemetry

  • alt: audio Morse code

Receive

  • DTMF tones from amateur handheld radio

  • alt: AFSK data

2.2. Radio option: FSK

RFM69HCW module at 400 MHz or 915 MHz.

  • Transmit: typical FSK

  • alt Transmit: DFM17 compatible telemetry

  • alt Transmit: CW / Morse code

  • Receive: typical FSK