Tag Archives: ARM

Jun 7 2012

Raspberry Pi used for Amateur Radio Satellite Software

Dave Johnson, G4DPZ, AMSAT-UK/AMSAT-NA, running GPredict on his Raspberry Pi

AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NA member Dave Johnson, G4DPZ, has been using the Raspberry Pi to run amateur radio satellite software.

The £22 ($35) Model B Raspberry Pi is a credit-card sized ARM-based computer board that plugs into a TV and a keyboard. Based around the 700 MHz ARM11 processor the board has 256 MB SDRAM, two USB ports, Ethernet with composite and HDMI video outputs. Low-level peripherals are GPIO pins, SPI, I²C, I²S and UART.

It was developed in Cambridgeshire by a UK registered charity, the Raspberry Pi Foundation, which exists to promote the study of computer science and related topics, especially at school level, and to put the fun back into learning computing.

Dave’s Raspberry Pi runs Debian Squeeze with Xwindows and is accessed using VNC over his shack network.

The first amateur radio application he got running was the GPredict satellite tracking software, thanks go to Alex Csete OZ9AEC for making such a portable implementation. Dave found the sofware and updates of the Keplerian Two Line Elements from the Internet worked perfectly.

GPredict free real-time satellite tracking and orbit prediction http://gpredict.oz9aec.net/

Raspberry Pi http://www.raspberrypi.org/

You can buy the Raspberry Pi through Premier Farnell/Element 14 http://www.farnell.com/ and RS Components http://rswww.com/  Both distributors sell all over the world.

Raspberry Pi – the road to compliance
http://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/electronics-legislation/2012/05/raspberry-pi—the-road-to-com.html

BBC video: 7-10 year olds get to grips with the Raspberry Pi http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18301670

Raspberry Pi emulator for Windows http://sourceforge.net/projects/rpiqemuwindows/

May 6 2012

CubeBug-1 Updated: 02 May 2012

Supporting Organisation Ministry of Science, Technology & Productive Innovation
Contact Person norberto.wente.dk.nospam

 
Headline Details: CubeBug-1 is the first technology demonstration mission for a new cubesat platform design (mechanics, hardware and software) intended to be released as Open Source and Open Hardware for its use in Amateur projects, University projects and research labs. This projectis sponsored by the Argentinian Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation. As payload on this first mission, some custom designed components will be tested: an ARM based on-board computer, a nano-reaction wheel with its driver circuit and a low resolution camera, all based on COTS components. Planning to use half duplex communications on UHF with 9k6 GMSK data. CubeBug-1 is a 2U cubesat and isexpected to be launched as part of a group of cubesats in a DNEPR rocket launch planned for September 2012 from Yasny into a 607km 98 degree polar orbit. After the technology demonstration part of the mission is over, the satellite will enter a mode that will include services to the Amateur radio community, including a Digipeater, science data downloads from the payload (including images if possible), etc.
Application Date: 01 May 2012 Freq coordination completed on

 

The IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination Status pages are hosted by AMSAT-UK as a service to the world wide Amateur Satellite Community

 

May 3 2012

CubeBug-1 – ARM Microcomputer CubeSat

CubeBug-1 is the first technology demonstration mission for a new CubeSat platform design (mechanics, hardware and software) intended to be released as Open Source and Open Hardware for its use in Amateur projects, University projects and research labs.

The project is sponsored by the Argentinian Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation.

As payload on this first mission, some custom designed components will be tested: an ARM based on-board computer, a nano-reaction wheel with its driver circuit and a low resolution camera, all based on COTS components.

It plans to use to use half duplex communications on UHF with 9k6 GMSK data.

CubeBug-1 is a 2U cubesat and is expected to be launched later this year with around 11 other amateur radio CubeSats on a DNEPR rocket from Yasny into a 607km 98 degree polar orbit.

After the technology demonstration part of the mission is over, the satellite will enter a mode that will include services to the Amateur Radio community, including a Digipeater, science data downloads from the payload (including images if possible).