4 ms·
Thanks! Yes, many new photos though we've been derelict in updating the web site ever since the big 2019 makeover! Here are some of our end users enjoying our
by uscjeremy 3y ago
Thanks! Yes, many new photos though we've been derelict in updating the web site ever since the big 2019 makeover!
Here are some of our end users enjoying our efforts:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/8zca5kXXbAf2vcJh6 https://photos.app.goo.gl/8zca5kXXbAf2vcJh6
Here's disco mode, though I think this is with the old audio synthesizer:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/vkenYZKATyDRB1386 https://photos.app.goo.gl/vkenYZKATyDRB1386
The original rocket's primary display was 4 rows of 7-segment LEDs. It was actually just 4 of our 1-row boards all stacked on top of each other. For the makeover we replaced it with a native board that had 6 rows:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Dtiv5dN8FfrBAkDK7 https://photos.app.goo.gl/Dtiv5dN8FfrBAkDK7
Here's a video of it playing pong on my bench before installation:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/bWfQkTaF3eUyacb78 https://photos.app.goo.gl/bWfQkTaF3eUyacb78
The old display boards were controlled by bit-banging latches over long parallel cables. This turns out to be a very bad idea (any EE could tell you this, but we're computer scientists). In the 2019 update we changed the remote display control from bit-banging to proper networking using I2C-based packets. We didn't want to remake every single display board, so we came up with a shortcut: we designed little snap-on "dongles" that speak the new I2C protocol and translate to bitbang commands that just go a few cm to the display board below. Here's the dongle installed on one display board:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/z9e6z6p4vXgb5j5aA https://photos.app.goo.gl/z9e6z6p4vXgb5j5aA
Here's a side view showing how they stack:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/tAzF4Aeq1dWVHFxE6 https://photos.app.goo.gl/tAzF4Aeq1dWVHFxE6
And here is one of the new dongles in situ with the new STM32-based primary controller, and the upgraded 32-bit audio synthesizer:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/oQxEZKRUZsK4Ry6W7 https://photos.app.goo.gl/oQxEZKRUZsK4Ry6W7
We're both pilots so of course we had to put in a Hobbs meter. The rocket has over 600 hours on it:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ydecF3q8VkdnJB1JA https://photos.app.goo.gl/ydecF3q8VkdnJB1JA
- detrites 3y ago600hrs: 1hr/week for 12 years! Amazing thank you. Very classy engraved cover for the boards. And love the Pong game, it's a cool effect the way the "ball" cascades through the segments.