Using a Basic Stamp 2 to acquire data during a model rocket flight

wtdedula

Hello All;
I have a particular application in mind but am confused by the breadth of products available from Parallelax. I need to determine what i need without buying anything I don't need (My budget is very limited).

I am building an Electronics module for a high-powered rocket that will acqiuire data from various sensors (Pressures, Temperatures, altitude, g-force, etc ...) during flight and then send that data via a Radio signal in real-time back to the ground.

I don't need help with the sensors or communications board - only the Basic Stamp module iteself.

I need to purchase a Basic Stamp 2 on a tiny PC board that includes all support circuitry and includes connections for a battery, a serial input to program it, and a connector (connectors) for all of the I/O pins that connect to the sensors. Would the Super Carrier Board with a BS2 installed give me this capability ?

Thanks much.

Tim


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stamptrol

Tim,

Thats a good place to start.

Bear in mind, you may have to solder on some components or terminal blocks, etc. The dimensions and board layout are available on the Parallax website.

Let us know how the project comes together.

Cheers,

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Tom Sisk

http://www.siskconsult.com
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Chris Savage

Tim,

Model Rocket logging using a BASIC Stamp is very common. There are entire clubs/groups that do this. A BS2 will almost always be sufficient. It really depends on how much data you’re trying to acquire and how fast you need to send it out. Take care.

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Chris Savage
Parallax Tech Support

wtdedula

Thanks, Tom and Thanks, Chris.

Chris - I have some questions for you.

I am about to begin working with a group of High School Students in mid-June to build a CanSat to fly at ARLISS on a high powered rocket in Nevada in mid-Sept. www.arliss.org

I don't have any experience working with Basic Stamps though I have known of their existance for quite some time. Can you recommend the best way for me to come up to speed with interfacing them to sensors, and in programming them in the fastest way ? I purchased the "What is a Microcontroller" course from Radio Shack that features your BS2. Is this the best way to come up to speed fast ?

Can you lead me to any contacts, any tech. documents on your web site, or any websites of people/groups using the BS2 in Rocketry projects ?

Thanks.

Tim

Chris Savage

Tim,

Well, “What’s A Microcontroller?” is designed to start from a no experience level. It is usually the recommended place to start. We do have additional courses such as “Applied Sensors” which can be located at the link below. You can download a PDF copy of each book from the bottom of each product page. I hope this helps. Take care.

http://www.parallax.com/html_pages/edu/curriculum/sic_curriculum.asp

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Chris Savage
Parallax Tech Support

Steph Lindsay

Applied Sensors uses both analog and digital temperature sensors, a photodiode, and a conductivity sensor, and has great information on datalogging.·

Smart Sensors and Applications is another sequel to What's a Microcontroller that might be of help - it uses a dual-axis accelerometer, compass module, ultrasonic distance sensor, and serial LCD.·It also includes techniques for datalogging, and great info for sensor calibration, scaling and offset of raw data.· It's a free download here:

http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=28029

We have several customer project links on the·Science section of the·page below that may be of interest, such as "Aerospace Rocketry Control" and several articles and an ebook about high-altitude baloon flight which cover data transmission.

http://www.parallax.com/html_pages/resources/custapps/main.asp

HAve fun with your project!



-Stephanie Lindsay

Editor, Parallax Inc.

Fe2o3Fish

Tim,
Obviously, just google on model rocket "basic stamp". Here's one link,
www.rocket-roar.com/rap/alt.html , for an altimeter using a BS2.
Looks like a custom circuit board but... schematic and BS2 code are available.
Good luck!

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-Rusty-
--
Rusty Haddock = AE5AE = rusty@fe2o3.lonestar.org
**Out yonder in the Van Alstyne (TX) Metropolitan Area**
Microsoft is to software what McDonalds is to gourmet cooking

Post Edited (Fe2o3Fish) : 5/24/2007 5:20:32 PM GMT

wtdedula

Let me ask you all;
Could I use this ...

BASIC Stamp 2 OEM Module (Assembled)

It looks like this is everything I need as far as the microcontroller is concerned and it looks very tiny.

I don't need a prototyping area as in the Super Carrier Board with a BS2 installed since I will build the auxiliary circuits on separate circuit boards.

Tim

Tracy Allen

More reading, Paul Verhage's e-book "Near Space" about high-altitude baloon launches, while not rocketry, deals with similar issues:

www.parallax.com/html_pages/resources/custapps/app_nearspace.asp

The BASIC Stamp OEM module is 2" x 2". I guess it depends on what you mean by small. The BASIC Stamp by itself is quite small. You said you need, "a tiny PC board that includes all support circuitry and includes connections for a battery, a serial input to program it, and a connector (connectors) for all of the I/O pins that connect to the sensors." The bulk of a system for launch will be determined by all of the accessories. There are really two requirements, one is a system that will allow you to experiment and learn, and then there are the no-frills requirements I imagine for the real deal.

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Tracy Allen
www.emesystems.com

wtdedula

Thanks Tracy. Now I am addressing real systems to use onboard the Rocket so that would be the usage of the Basic Stamp OEM board. I already have a system for prototyping a project since I purchased the "What's a MicroController" course from Radioshack. This includes Parallax's HomeWork protoboard, A serial cable, the Basic language for programming, a huge textbook with activities/tutorials, and many components for performing the experiments.

I think this is going to actually be pretty easy based upon everyone's responses and what I've been reading.

Tim