Google's Android in Space with APRS ~ KJ6ELP

With the help of Gregory Klein KJ6ELP of Cupertino, C. Science and HAM Radio technology helped put Google's Android into Space.

Here at Google, we’re all about exploration. It’s no surprise that some of our favorite products are built to let you explore the world in ways never before possible. Google Maps lets you find your way all around the world. Google Earth lets you explore the planet in detail, complete with trees and oceans. And Google Sky Map lets you explore the skies right from your Android device. Well, we wanted to do a little exploring of our own, so we decided to venture into near space, with the help of some Androids.

Recently, we travelled to Ione, CA and sent seven payloads up, up, and away into near space, each equipped with a Nexus S. We took some cues from others who have sent homemade weather balloon rigs far up, and we wanted an opportunity to collect some interesting data about the sensors in Nexus S – GPS, gyroscope, accelerometer, and magnetometer. We also couldn’t resist what looked like a great way to spend a weekend. Sending the balloons up also gave us an opportunity to capture some stunning imagery and videos of Earth. Take a look at unaltered footage of an Android at over 100,000 ft above the Earth’s surface:

The Rig
How did we get our little Android commanders that high up? Well, first the Android platform provides a robust development environment and Nexus S has a great set of embedded sensors, both of which made it easy for us to write the apps we needed for this project. Going forward with other similar projects we have an open environment that we can modify at any level necessary. We then worked with UCSC student Greg Klein to prepare each of the payloads, which were housed in foam coolers. We secured a nylon load line to the cooler and attached to it a radar reflector, a parachute, and finally, a weather balloon. Every payload had an APRS transmitter attached to a GPS that was known to work at high altitudes, as well as batteries for power. The remainder of each payload was different for each balloon: some had digital cameras taking pictures and some had video cameras mounted at various angles (up, down, and at the horizon).

These phones were running a variety of apps: Google Maps for Mobile 5.0 (with offline map data) which allowed us to see what was directly below the balloon, Google Sky Map to see if we could identify the real stars in the backdrop, Latitude to report location when the phones had a data connection, and our own custom sensor logging app that sampled all the available sensors on the device. We even manned our payloads with some special astronauts: small Android robots, and boy did they fly. Check out an in-depth look at how we prepared and launched the payloads:

What We Found
The payloads collected a lot of data, and many reached high altitudes, with the highest topping out at 107,375 ft., over 20 miles high, or over three times the height of an average commercial jet. We also clocked one of the payloads at 139 mph at its fastest.

In tracking the sensors on each of the phones, we observed that the GPS in Nexus S could function up to altitudes of about 60,000 ft. and would actually start working again on the balloon’s descent. We also saw that Nexus S could withstand some pretty harsh temperatures (as low as -50˚C). Some interesting data we collected:
Maximum Speed: 139 mph
Maximum Altitude: 107,375 ft (over 20 miles, over 30 km)
Maximum Ascent Rate: 5.44 m/s
Average Flight Duration: 2 hours, 40 minutes
Average Descent Time: 34 minutes

By analyzing all the collected data, we were able to find some interesting trends. For instance, we determined the speed and altitude of the jet stream: about 130mph at 35,000 ft.

In the end, the team recovered all of the payloads sent up, we even recovered the payload we sent as a test a week prior to the actual launch. We had a blast taking Android all the way up to near space. If your interested in launching a balloon of your own, click here for more info. We have more exciting things coming your way as we use the openness of the Android platform to experiment here at mission Android headquarters.

*Special thanks to Arshan Poursohi, Greg Klein, and Tommy Nourse for all their help.

Posted by Zi Wang, Captain, Mission Android Headquarters

VIDEO LINK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8XjIkdUQns

Article Link:
http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2010/12/android-in-spaaaace.html

 

nice, now the phones that was being used. had great line-of-site cell service. LOL


might take a cross repeat- HT and set it to a repeater like 5 or 6 states over and see if I can talk.

just a ideal.

 

Ever wonder WHY the GPS stops working at 60kft?

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System#Restrictions_on_civilian_use

Restrictions on civilian use
The U.S. Government controls the export of some civilian receivers. All GPS receivers capable of functioning above 18 kilometers (11 mi) altitude and 515 metres per second (1,001 kn)[27] are classified as munitions (weapons) that U.S. State Department export licenses are required. These limits attempt to prevent use of a receiver in a ballistic missile. They would not prevent use in a cruise missile because their altitudes and speeds are similar to those of ordinary aircraft.
This rule applies even to otherwise purely civilian units that only receive the L1 frequency and the C/A (Clear/Acquisition) code and cannot correct for Selective Availability (SA), etc.
Disabling operation above these limits exempts the receiver from classification as a munition. Vendor interpretations differ. The rule targets operation given the combination of altitude and speed, while some receivers stop operating even when stationary. This has caused problems with some amateur radio balloon launches that regularly reach 30 kilometers (19 mi).

 

ok ,so 10 mile up, I'll get a 10mile string and tie it to the balloon and when it gets 10 miles I'll cut it and dis-own it. LOL

IDK just joking around.

 

While interesting, this reads like a commercial press release.

 

Contact info

I need to get contact information for somebody in the project. I tried to look up KJ6ELP, but his email was not listed on QRZ. I am a sponsor for my schools radio club where I teach. We are launching a balloon in March if everything goes right. I would like to talk to one of the people to get some ideas and tech help for upcoming launch.
Thanks
Bill Richardson
N5VEI
KD5AAI Sponsor

 

Thats funny. The feds are coming! haha

 

Yep, more self-serving self-promotion from the same people who brought you drive-by snooping and many other exciting invasions of privacy.

Hooray for the fine folks at Google ... or not. :-(

 

Dear Google....

Dear Google,

Where was the Amateur Radio in that clear plastic box?<kinda>

Nice try though....
</kinda>

 

With the help of Gregory Klein KJ6ELP ... Every payload had an APRS transmitter attached to a GPS