With respect to the apparent search for a suitable microcontroller, has anyone considered the Atmel AVR series? They are cheap (top of the line model with 128 KB flash internal memory and more peripherals you can shake a launch rod at) costs about $15. Can be programmed in gcc (i.e. free c compiler for both Linux and Windoze) and has the capability to be programmed while in the circuit through a simple RS-232 interface.
I've been playing with the mega163 as it fits on the $99 demo board but I plan to use a mega128 (biggest, baddest) for my own avionics, if it ever gets of the ground. I actually plan to step up the pace my avionics project so I would soon be in a position to help out there. In any case, if the choice of MuC is not set yet perhaps AVR is a contender. http://www.avrfreaks.net http://www.atmel.com Sander ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, August 03, 2002 10:30 AM Subject: [ERPS] Minutes of ERPS #241 > Minutes of ERPS General Meeting #241 > 1 August 2002 > > The President called the meeting to order at 8:08 PM. Members present > were Mark Blair, Kevin Bollinger, Bill Clawson, Nate Dietrich, John D?, > Rick Eversole, David Masten, Alex Mikhailov, Pierce Nichols, Dan Solvin, > Adrian Tymes, Michael Wallis, David Weinshenker, and Chris Winter. > > Reports and discussion on agenda items were as follows: > > CMT > --- > Kevin Bollinger > > Nothing to report > > DOCUMENTATION > ------------- > Chris Winter > > Chris still needs more familiarity with CVS before he can merge > his Phase 1 update of the ERPS Web pages with the database. Michael > will provide some tutoring at his convenience. > > Rick has completed scanning the Rocketdyne document, and > has OCRed parts of it. He presented copies of this material to Chris on > CD-ROM. They can now split the work, and it should go faster. > > Work remains to be done on the brochure. Also, designs for a > letterhead and business cards have been requested. This should all be > done in time to be printed up for WorldCon. Chris will see to it. Michael > will provide a sample letterhead used in the past as a guide. > > Chris tested the ERPS CD-ROM in his laptop, this time using a > standard CD-ROM drive instead of the DVD-ROM drive. The disk was > perfectly readable. > > LIAISON & PAO > ------------- > Michael Wallis > > Our ConJose (World Science Fiction Convention #60) party room > in a suite (with one of the two bedrooms also reserved) at the Fairmont > Hotel for Sunday night has been confirmed. Funding for drinks (soda, > beer) and snacks was approved. Anyone wanting to help out can contact > Michael after the meeting. > > We have proposed an ERPS panel. Possible openings on some > of the space and technology panels also exist, but no firm time slots > have been reserved for us yet. > > The California Space Authority will be sponsoring a conference, > International Satellite Communications, in Long Beach on August 27-29. > > LOGISTICS > --------- > Sean Lynch > > Nothing to report > > TREASURER > --------- > Michael Wallis > > The treasurer's report was presented and accepted. > > Expenditures for the following items were authorized at a board > meeting just before the general meeting: > > KISS construction > POGO > Gizmocopter > Additional H2O2 supplies > Sparger development > A filament winder prototype > Purchase of a high-pressure tank from XCOR. > > CHIEF SCIENTIST > --------------- > Kevin Bollinger > > Kevin showed parts for the prototype winder for filament- > wound pressure tanks which he will be constructing. > > FLIGHT CONTROLS > --------------- > Bill Clawson > > It has been determined that the "Disk On Chip" device is useless > for our purposes. We will substitute another form of solid-state memory. > > The BASIC Stamp is also unsuitable. Because of overhead, it > cannot maintain the refresh rates needed on the four PWM controllers > while doing the other processing required. Sean and Dave W have > hardware that will program PIC microcontrollers, and will determine > whether one of that family can replace it > > Nate Dietrich reported that the new motor he ordered should > arrive in a week. > > PROPELLANTS > ----------- > Pierce Nichols > > Kevin has obtained peroxide quotes from the local Solvay Interox > distributor. He will print out the prices and spec sheets for the five grades > they offer so that a purchasing decision can be made at the next meeting. > > Existing stocks of peroxide are maintaining their concentration > very well. > > REGULATORY > AFFAIRS > ------- > Randall Clague > > Dave W reprised his report on the legality of ERPS transporting > H2O2 in California. > > Randall will forward a summary of our research on this question > to Mark Holthaus (sp.?). > > SAFETY > ------ > Dave Masten > > The state of safety remains good. > > TESTING > ------- > Dave Masten > > Further progress in testing awaits repair of the water system at > the ranch. A BBQ at the Ranch will happen two weekends from now. > Watch the E-mail list for details. > > SMARTFLIGHT > ----------- > Dave Weinshenker > > No launch opportunity exists at Fresno or Livermore during > August. There is an event called Hayburner at Paso Robles, and XRPS > will take place at Black Rock at the end of September. Contact Dave W > for details. > > KISS > ---- > Mark Blair > > The design of KISS-III was frozen at the recent KISS meeting. > Parts have been ordered, and many are on hand. An assembly meeting > will be scheduled when sufficient parts have arrived. > > Spike > ----- > Sean Lynch > > Nothing to report. > > POGO > ---- > Dave Masten > > Completion of Gizmocopter is the pacing item. > > Our contract machinist is waiting for a sample of the alloy we > plan to use for the engines, so that he can estimate the difficulty of > making the parts we need. > > Dave M reported that the mass budget for the vehicle appears to > have more "headroom" than it did previously. > > > Meeting #241 adjourned at 9:07 PM. The next meeting is scheduled for > Thursday, 15 August 2002. > > The treasurer reported final pun tallies for several meetings, including this > one, resulting in cash receipts of $10.25, $6.25, $9.50 and $14.50 > respectively. At his first opportunity, he will pool and count these funds > and deposit them with a credit line to the Spike project. > > > Respectfully submitted, > > Chris Winter > Secretary, ERPS > > > +++ PLEASE ADVISE THE SECRETARY OF ANY ADDITIONS OR > CORRECTIONS TO THESE MINUTES +++ > > _______________________________________________ > ERPS-list mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://lists.erps.org/mailman/listinfo/erps-list > > _______________________________________________ ERPS-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.erps.org/mailman/listinfo/erps-list
