Preliminary Electronics

I just wanted to post the current state of our preliminary electronics design. Well, it's not so much of a design as it is components selection. The first components that we have to figure out are the ones that will supply the controller with what it needs to know about the plane. The second set it the rest including the actual main processor/controller, batteries, data links, etc. There's a lot of research that we've done that isn't reflected on this document yet including a bunch of different camera modules and wireless link we've been looking at as well as processing units. Anywhere, here it is:

Driving Needs

Flight State Parameters
1. Orientation (pitch, roll, yaw)
   a. IMU package
2. Rates (translational, rotational)
   a. IMU package
3. Acceleration
   a. IMU package
4. Airspeed
   a. Pitot-static tube and pressure transducer
5. Heading (faster refresh than GPS)
   a. Magnetic compass
6. Global position
   a. GPS module
7. Global velocity
   a. GPS module
   b. IMU package (acceleration integration)
8. Altitude
   a. General (pressure)
      i. Pitot-static tube and pressure transducer
   b. Back up
      i. GPS module
   c. Detailed (near ground for landing)
      i. Laser range finder
      ii. Sonic range finder

Other Electronics Needs
1. Processing unit
   a. Gumstix + Robostix
   b. ATmega168 microcontroller(s)
   c. TERN Inc. i386-Drive
2. Power supply
   a. Lithium-ion batteries
   b. Nickel metal hydride batteries
   c. Solar
3. Data Link (radio communication)
   a. Radio modem
4. Camera
   a. Camera
   b. Wireless link
5. Servos
   a. http://www.pololu.com/products/servos.html

Solutions

IMU package
Parameters: Orientation (pitch, yaw, roll), rates (translational, rotational), acceleration
Product choices:

IMU 6 Degrees of Freedom - v2 with ADXRS150
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8192
Price: $324.95
Dimensions: 2" × 2" × 1"
Weight: 29 grams (0.064 lbs, 1.0 oz)

IMU 6 Degrees of Freedom - v2 with ADXRS300
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8192
Price: $324.95
Dimensions: 2" × 2" × 1"
Weight: 29 grams (0.064 lbs, 1.0 oz)

Digital compass
Parameters: Heading
Product choices:

Compass Module - HMC6352
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=7915
Price: $59.95
Dimensions: 2" × 2.5" × ?
Weight: ?

Compass Module - Vector 2Xe
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=236
Price: $84.95
Dimensions: ? × ? × ?
Weight: ?

GPS module
Parameters: Global position, global velocity, heading, backup altitude
Product choices:

20 Channel EM-406A SiRF III
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=465
Price: $59.95
Dimensions: 1.18” × 1.18” × 0.42” (30.00 mm × 30.00 mm × 10.70 mm)
Weight: 16 grams (0.035 lbs, 0.56 oz)

LEA-5S ROM-based u-blox 5 GPS Module with KickStart
http://www.abacuscity.ch/abashop?s=142&p=productdetail&sku=78
Price: $99.00
Dimensions: 0.67” × 0.87” (17 mm × 22 mm)
Weight: ?

Pitot/static tube & pressure transducer
Parameters: Altitude (pressure), airspeed
Product choices:

RCAT 6” Stainless Steel Pitot-Static Probe
http://rcatsystems.com/accessories/pitotprobes.php
Price: $79.95
Dimensions: ? × ? × ?
Weight: ?

Kulite Pressure Transducer
http://www.kulite.com/pdfs/pdf_Data_Sheets/ET-3DC-312.pdf
Price: ?
Dimensions: ? × ? × ?
Weight: ?

Sonic range finder
Parameters: Altitude (detailed)
Product choices:

Maxbotix LZ-EVx
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=639
Price: $24.95
Dimensions: 0.785” × 0.870” × 0.735”
Weight: 4.3 grams (0.0095 lbs, 0.15 oz)

Radio modem
Parameters: Data link
Product choices:

XStream OEM RF Module
http://www.digi.com/products/wireless/long-range-multipoint/xtend-module.jsp
Price: $179
Dimensions: 1.6” × 2.825” × 0.665”
Weight: 18 grams (0.040 lbs, 0.63 oz)

AeroComm 4790-200
http://www.aerocomm.com/rf_transceiver_modules/ac4790_mesh-ready_transceiver.htm
Price: ?
Dimensions: 1.65” × 1.9” × ?
Weight: < 20 grams (0.044 lbs, 0.71 oz)