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diff --git a/doc/altosui-doc.xsl b/doc/altosui-doc.xsl new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5f330739 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/altosui-doc.xsl @@ -0,0 +1,561 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> +<!DOCTYPE book PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.5//EN" + "/usr/share/xml/docbook/schema/dtd/4.5/docbookx.dtd"> +<book> + <title>AltosUI</title> + <subtitle>Altos Metrum Graphical User Interface Manual</subtitle> + <bookinfo> + <author> + <firstname>Bdale</firstname> + <surname>Garbee</surname> + </author> + <author> + <firstname>Keith</firstname> + <surname>Packard</surname> + </author> + <copyright> + <year>2010</year> + <holder>Bdale Garbee and Keith Packard</holder> + </copyright> + <legalnotice> + <para> + This document is released under the terms of the + <ulink url="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"> + Creative Commons ShareAlike 3.0 + </ulink> + license. + </para> + </legalnotice> + <revhistory> + <revision> + <revnumber>0.1</revnumber> + <date>19 November 2010</date> + <revremark>Initial content</revremark> + </revision> + </revhistory> + </bookinfo> + <chapter> + <title>Introduction</title> + <para> + The AltosUI program provides a graphical user interface for + interacting with the Altus Metrum product family, including + TeleMetrum and TeleDongle. AltosUI can monitor telemetry data, + configure TeleMetrum and TeleDongle devices and many other + tasks. The primary interface window provides a selection of + buttons, one for each major activity in the system. This manual + is split into chapters, each of which documents one of the tasks + provided from the top-level toolbar. + </para> + </chapter> + <chapter> + <title>Packet Command Mode</title> + <subtitle>Controlling TeleMetrum Over The Radio Link</subtitle> + <para> + One of the unique features of the Altos Metrum environment is + the ability to create a two way command link between TeleDongle + and TeleMetrum using the digital radio transceivers built into + each device. This allows you to interact with TeleMetrum from + afar, as if it were directly connected to the computer. + </para> + <para> + Any operation which can be performed with TeleMetrum + can either be done with TeleMetrum directly connected to + the computer via the USB cable, or through the packet + link. Simply select the appropriate TeleDongle device when + the list of devices is presented and AltosUI will use packet + command mode. + </para> + <itemizedlist> + <listitem> + <para> + Save Flight Data—Recover flight data from the rocket without + opening it up. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + Configure TeleMetrum—Reset apogee delays or main deploy + heights to respond to changing launch conditions. You can + also 'reboot' the TeleMetrum device. Use this to remotely + enable the flight computer by turning TeleMetrum on while + horizontal, then once the airframe is oriented for launch, + you can reboot TeleMetrum and have it restart in pad mode + without having to climb the scary ladder. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + Fire Igniters—Test your deployment charges without snaking + wires out through holes in the airframe. Simply assembly the + rocket as if for flight with the apogee and main charges + loaded, then remotely command TeleMetrum to fire the + igniters. + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + <para> + Packet command mode uses the same RF channels as telemetry + mode. Configure the desired TeleDongle channel using the + flight monitor window channel selector and then close that + window before performing the desired operation. + </para> + <para> + TeleMetrum only enables packet command mode in 'idle' mode, so + make sure you have TeleMetrum lying horizontally when you turn + it on. Otherwise, TeleMetrum will start in 'pad' mode ready for + flight and will not be listening for command packets from TeleDongle. + </para> + <para> + When packet command mode is enabled, you can monitor the link + by watching the lights on the TeleDongle and TeleMetrum + devices. The red LED will flash each time TeleDongle or + TeleMetrum transmit a packet while the green LED will light up + on TeleDongle while it is waiting to receive a packet from + TeleMetrum. + </para> + </chapter> + <chapter> + <title>Monitor Flight</title> + <subtitle>Receive, Record and Display Telemetry Data</subtitle> + <para> + Selecting this item brings up a dialog box listing all of the + connected TeleDongle devices. When you choose one of these, + AltosUI will create a window to display telemetry data as + received by the selected TeleDongle device. + </para> + <para> + All telemetry data received are automatically recorded in + suitable log files. The name of the files includes the current + date and rocket serial and flight numbers. + </para> + <para> + The radio channel being monitored by the TeleDongle device is + displayed at the top of the window. You can configure the + channel by clicking on the channel box and selecting the desired + channel. AltosUI remembers the last channel selected for each + TeleDongle and selects that automatically the next time you use + that device. + </para> + <para> + Below the TeleDongle channel selector, the window contains a few + significant pieces of information about the TeleMetrum providing + the telemetry data stream: + </para> + <itemizedlist> + <listitem> + <para>The TeleMetrum callsign</para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para>The TeleMetrum serial number</para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para>The flight number. Each TeleMetrum remembers how many + times it has flown.</para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + The rocket flight state. Each flight passes through several + states including Pad, Boost, Fast, Coast, Drogue, Main and + Landed. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + The Received Signal Strength Indicator value. This lets + you know how strong a signal TeleDongle is receiving. The + radio inside TeleDongle operates down to about -99dBm; + weaker signals may not be receiveable. The packet link uses + error correction and detection techniques which prevent + incorrect data from being reported. + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + <para> + Finally, the largest portion of the window contains a set of + tabs, each of which contain some information about the rocket. + They're arranged in 'flight order' so that as the flight + progresses, the selected tab automatically switches to display + data relevant to the current state of the flight. You can select + other tabs at any time. The final 'table' tab contains all of + the telemetry data in one place. + </para> + <section> + <title>Launch Pad</title> + <para> + The 'Launch Pad' tab shows information used to decide when the + rocket is ready for flight. The first elements include red/green + indicators, if any of these is red, you'll want to evaluate + whether the rocket is ready to launch: + <itemizedlist> + <listitem> + <para> + Battery Voltage. This indicates whether the LiPo battery + powering the TeleMetrum has sufficient charge to last for + the duration of the flight. A value of more than + 3.7V is required for a 'GO' status. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + Apogee Igniter Voltage. This indicates whether the apogee + igniter has continuity. If the igniter has a low + resistance, then the voltage measured here will be close + to the LiPo battery voltage. A value greater than 3.2V is + required for a 'GO' status. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + Main Igniter Voltage. This indicates whether the main + igniter has continuity. If the igniter has a low + resistance, then the voltage measured here will be close + to the LiPo battery voltage. A value greater than 3.2V is + required for a 'GO' status. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + GPS Locked. This indicates whether the GPS receiver is + currently able to compute position information. GPS requires + at least 4 satellites to compute an accurate position. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + GPS Ready. This indicates whether GPS has reported at least + 10 consecutive positions without losing lock. This ensures + that the GPS receiver has reliable reception from the + satellites. + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + <para> + The LaunchPad tab also shows the computed launch pad position + and altitude, averaging many reported positions to improve the + accuracy of the fix. + </para> + </para> + </section> + <section> + <title>Ascent</title> + <para> + This tab is shown during Boost, Fast and Coast + phases. The information displayed here helps monitor the + rocket as it heads towards apogee. + </para> + <para> + The height, speed and acceleration are shown along with the + maxium values for each of them. This allows you to quickly + answer the most commonly asked questions you'll hear during + flight. + </para> + <para> + The current latitude and longitude reported by the GPS are + also shown. Note that under high acceleration, these values + may not get updated as the GPS receiver loses position + fix. Once the rocket starts coasting, the receiver should + start reporting position again. + </para> + <para> + Finally, the current igniter voltages are reported as in the + Launch Pad tab. This can help diagnose deployment failures + caused by wiring which comes loose under high acceleration. + </para> + </section> + <section> + <title>Descent</title> + <para> + Once the rocket has reached apogee and (we hope) activated the + apogee charge, attention switches to tracking the rocket on + the way back to the ground, and for dual-deploy flights, + waiting for the main charge to fire. + </para> + <para> + To monitor whether the apogee charge operated correctly, the + current descent rate is reported along with the current + height. Good descent rates generally range from 15-30m/s. + </para> + <para> + To help locate the rocket in the sky, use the elevation and + bearing information to figure out where to look. Elevation is + in degrees above the horizon. Bearing is reported in degrees + relative to true north. Range can help figure out how big the + rocket will appear. Note that all of these values are relative + to the pad location. If the elevation is near 90°, the rocket + is over the pad, not over you. + </para> + <para> + Finally, the igniter voltages are reported in this tab as + well, both to monitor the main charge as well as to see what + the status of the apogee charge is. + </para> + </section> + <section> + <title>Landed</title> + <para> + Once the rocket is on the ground, attention switches to + recovery. While the radio signal is generally lost once the + rocket is on the ground, the last reported GPS position is + generally within a short distance of the actual landing location. + </para> + <para> + The last reported GPS position is reported both by + latitude and longitude as well as a bearing and distance from + the launch pad. The distance should give you a good idea of + whether you'll want to walk or hitch a ride. Take the reported + latitude and longitude and enter them into your handheld GPS + unit and have that compute a track to the landing location. + </para> + <para> + Finally, the maximum height, speed and acceleration reported + during the flight are displayed for your admiring observers. + </para> + </section> + </chapter> + <chapter> + <title>Save Flight Data</title> + <para> + TeleMetrum records flight data to its internal flash memory. + This data is recorded at a much higher rate than the telemetry + system can handle, and is not subject to radio drop-outs. As + such, it provides a more complete and precise record of the + flight. The 'Save Flight Data' button allows you to read the + flash memory and write it to disk. + </para> + <para> + Clicking on the 'Save Flight Data' button brings up a list of + connected TeleMetrum and TeleDongle devices. If you select a + TeleMetrum device, the flight data will be downloaded from that + device directly. If you select a TeleDongle device, flight data + will be downloaded from a TeleMetrum device connected via the + packet command link to the specified TeleDongle. See the chapter + on Packet Command Mode for more information about this. + </para> + <para> + The filename for the data is computed automatically from the recorded + flight date, TeleMetrum serial number and flight number + information. + </para> + </chapter> + <chapter> + <title>Replay Flight</title> + <para> + Select this button and you are prompted to select a flight + record file, either a .telem file recording telemetry data or a + .eeprom file containing flight data saved from the TeleMetrum + flash memory. + </para> + <para> + Once a flight record is selected, the flight monitor interface + is displayed and the flight is re-enacted in real time. Check + the Monitor Flight chapter above to learn how this window operates. + </para> + </chapter> + <chapter> + <title>Graph Data</title> + <para> + This section should be written by AJ. + </para> + </chapter> + <chapter> + <title>Export Data</title> + <para> + This tool takes the raw data files and makes them available for + external analysis. When you select this button, you are prompted to select a flight + data file (either .eeprom or .telem will do, remember that + .eeprom files contain higher resolution and more continuous + data). Next, a second dialog appears which is used to select + where to write the resulting file. It has a selector to choose + between CSV and KML file formats. + </para> + <section> + <title>Comma Separated Value Format</title> + <para> + This is a text file containing the data in a form suitable for + import into a spreadsheet or other external data analysis + tool. The first few lines of the file contain the version and + configuration information from the TeleMetrum device, then + there is a single header line which labels all of the + fields. All of these lines start with a '#' character which + most tools can be configured to skip over. + </para> + <para> + The remaining lines of the file contain the data, with each + field separated by a comma and at least one space. All of + the sensor values are converted to standard units, with the + barometric data reported in both pressure, altitude and + height above pad units. + </para> + </section> + <section> + <title>Keyhole Markup Language (for Google Earth)</title> + <para> + This is the format used by + Googleearth to provide an overlay within that + application. With this, you can use Googleearth to see the + whole flight path in 3D. + </para> + </section> + </chapter> + <chapter> + <title>Configure TeleMetrum</title> + <para> + Select this button and then select either a TeleMetrum or + TeleDongle Device from the list provided. Selecting a TeleDongle + device will use Packet Comamnd Mode to configure remote + TeleMetrum device. Learn how to use this in the Packet Command + Mode chapter. + </para> + <para> + The first few lines of the dialog provide information about the + connected TeleMetrum device, including the product name, + software version and hardware serial number. Below that are the + individual configuration entries. + </para> + <para> + At the bottom of the dialog, there are four buttons: + </para> + <itemizedlist> + <listitem> + <para> + Save. This writes any changes to the TeleMetrum + configuration parameter block in flash memory. If you don't + press this button, any changes you make will be lost. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + Reset. This resets the dialog to the most recently saved values, + erasing any changes you have made. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + Reboot. This reboots the TeleMetrum device. Use this to + switch from idle to pad mode by rebooting once the rocket is + oriented for flight. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + Close. This closes the dialog. Any unsaved changes will be + lost. + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + <para> + The rest of the dialog contains the parameters to be configured. + </para> + <section> + <title>Main Deploy Altitude</title> + <para> + This sets the altitude (above the recorded pad altitude) at + which the 'main' igniter will fire. The drop-down menu shows + some common values, but you can edit the text directly and + choose whatever you like. If the apogee charge fires below + this altitude, then the main charge will fire two seconds + after the apogee charge fires. + </para> + </section> + <section> + <title>Apogee Delay</title> + <para> + When flying redundant electronics, it's often important to + ensure that multiple apogee charges don't fire at precisely + the same time as that can overpressurize the apogee deployment + bay and cause a structural failure of the airframe. The Apogee + Delay parameter tells the flight computer to fire the apogee + charge a certain number of seconds after apogee has been + detected. + </para> + </section> + <section> + <title>Radio Channel</title> + <para> + This configures which of the 10 radio channels to use for both + telemetry and packet command mode. Note that if you set this + value via packet command mode, you will have to reconfigure + the TeleDongle channel before you will be able to use packet + command mode again. + </para> + </section> + <section> + <title>Radio Calibration</title> + <para> + The radios in every Altus Metrum device are calibrated at the + factory to ensure that they transmit and receive on the + specified frequency for each channel. You can adjust that + calibration by changing this value. To change the TeleDongle's + calibration, you must reprogram the unit completely. + </para> + </section> + <section> + <title>Callsign</title> + <para> + This sets the callsign included in each telemetry packet. Set this + as needed to conform to your local radio regulations. + </para> + </section> + </chapter> + <chapter> + <title>Configure AltosUI</title> + <para> + This button presents a dialog so that you can configure the AltosUI global settings. + </para> + <section> + <title>Voice Settings</title> + <para> + AltosUI provides voice annoucements during flight so that you + can keep your eyes on the sky and still get information about + the current flight status. However, sometimes you don't want + to hear them. + </para> + <itemizedlist> + <listitem> + <para>Enable—turns all voice announcements on and off</para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + Test Voice—Plays a short message allowing you to verify + that the audio systme is working and the volume settings + are reasonable + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + </section> + <section> + <title>Log Directory</title> + <para> + AltosUI logs all telemetry data and saves all TeleMetrum flash + data to this directory. This directory is also used as the + staring point when selecting data files for display or export. + </para> + <para> + Click on the directory name to bring up a directory choosing + dialog, select a new directory and click 'Select Directory' to + change where AltosUI reads and writes data files. + </para> + </section> + <section> + <title>Callsign</title> + <para> + This value is used in command packet mode and is transmitted + in each packet sent from TeleDongle and received from + TeleMetrum. It is not used in telemetry mode as that transmits + packets only from TeleMetrum to TeleDongle. Configure this + with the AltosUI operators callsign as needed to comply with + your local radio regulations. + </para> + </section> + </chapter> + <chapter> + <title>Flash Image</title> + <para> + </para> + </chapter> + <chapter> + <title>Fire Igniter</title> + <para> + </para> + </chapter> +</book>
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