mh9162013
Well-Known Member
Just learned about this today (maybe I'm behind the times). Curious as to whether anyone here has used it:
https://circuitwizardry.com/starlight-mini/
https://circuitwizardry.com/starlight-mini/
Backwards from rocketry product standard, based on the photos.Interesting, particularly at that price point.
Probably not behind the times much as the documentation says "current as of April 10, 2024" so it was just updated Wednesday.
I wonder which way he chose for the polarity on the power socket (see another thread here about that...)
Looking at the manual, IMO he's got a lot of work to do. His 1.5G liftoff detection will cause problems, as will the lack of any feedback about whether it was powered on and ready for launch, other than an LED.added: in reading the documentation I am not impressed with the pressure spike filtering for the altitude calculation...just a running average of five samples (at what rate, I wonder). I expect some deployment/ejection-related events are going to overwhelm that approach.
Well, that will work for me as my stuff is "radio control standard" including my Eggtimer IONs.Backwards from rocketry product standard, based on the photos.
No kidding.....I really don't have a deep understanding of what's required (I'm more of a user than a designer of such things), but it is clear this is a beta (maybe alpha) test product, at least on the software/firmware side, being released to market likely too early.Looking at the manual, IMO he's got a lot of work to do. His 1.5G liftoff detection will cause problems, as will the lack of any feedback about whether it was powered on and ready for launch, other than an LED.
Curious why, and what problems?His 1.5G liftoff detection will cause problems
I'm guessing anything-but-gentle handling before lift off could cause it to prematurely conclude a launch has occured.Curious why, and what problems?
The creator has posted a lot about the larger Starlight board on the r/rocketry subreddit. I've been less than impressed, and would not trust this board until it's been extensively flight proven. It does seem like he's included software on the mini, which is a step up from his previous effort.Just learned about this today (maybe I'm behind the times). Curious as to whether anyone here has used it:
https://circuitwizardry.com/starlight-mini/
Seems like it shouldn't be turned on until it's on the rail. OTOH, is it an instantaneous 1.5g? If 0.3 seconds was required, it would have to be going at over 14 feet per second and would have moved 21 feet. Assuming it wasn't moving at the beginning.I'm guessing anything-but-gentle handling before lift off could cause it to prematurely conclude a launch has occured.
That’s the part I like, python is a easy language to learn and has plenty of libraries so it’d be a pretty quick process to set up for more complicated projects like TVC or other computer control systems.The creator has posted a lot about the larger Starlight board on the r/rocketry subreddit. I've been less than impressed, and would not trust this board until it's been extensively flight proven. It does seem like he's included software on the mini, which is a step up from his previous effort.
I get the impression that users are encouraged (or expected) to modify the software as they see fit. So, for example, that 1.5g detection parameter could be adjusted by the user.The creator has posted a lot about the larger Starlight board on the r/rocketry subreddit. I've been less than impressed, and would not trust this board until it's been extensively flight proven. It does seem like he's included software on the mini, which is a step up from his previous effort.
As I told the builder on reddit, it's fine if you ship a flight computer that the end user can run their own code on. But he put the original Starlight on sale with no code whatsoever, so you needed to write your own code to use the thing.That’s the part I like, python is a easy language to learn and has plenty of libraries so it’d be a pretty quick process to set up for more complicated projects like TVC or other computer control systems.
Ps it’s the only one I Know of that let’s you script it.
I see how that puts him in a pretty small market but I don’t see how it’s different than @cerving selling computers that require you to solder.As I told the builder on reddit, it's fine if you ship a flight computer that the end user can run their own code on. But he put the original Starlight on sale with no code whatsoever, so you needed to write your own code to use the thing.
I think "Anyone who's serious about writing software should do their own hardware" applies here. In my experience, the effort involved in learning how to solder (and design boards with the types of chips we fly) was small compared to the effort involved in properly writing firmware with the typical modern features we use for rocketry. I can't imagine going through that kind of effort on someone else's board (especially with the questionable sensor choices being talked about above).I see how that puts him in a pretty small market but I don’t see how it’s different than @cerving selling computers that require you to solder.
That's my impression as well, both in the model rocketry hobby, as well as many other engineering/tech applications.In my experience, the effort involved in learning how to solder (and design boards with the types of chips we fly) was small compared to the effort involved in properly writing firmware with the typical modern features we use for rocketry.
Art, I have no idea why. I just know that Arduino-based stuff (and Altus Metrum's devices) use the opposite polarity on that particular JST plug as stuff sold into the RC market. I also don't have any idea how large a market for non-RC there is for small li-poly cells/batteries that would use that plug.Hi BEC; "Well, that will work for me as my stuff is "radio control standard" including my Eggtimer IONs."
This is what gets me, why did the Rocketry stuff do the polarity backwards from the already in place RC standard? Rocketry and Aviation are in the same Genre.
Indeed. I could likely never write the software, but I can put together Eggfinder devices.I think "Anyone who's serious about writing software should do their own hardware" applies here. In my experience, the effort involved in learning how to solder (and design boards with the types of chips we fly) was small compared to the effort involved in properly writing firmware with the typical modern features we use for rocketry. I can't imagine going through that kind of effort on someone else's board (especially with the questionable sensor choices being talked about above).
Piston launchers can impart over 30 g's to the vehicle. It shocked me, too.I also saw that this only measures up to +/- 16G of acceleration. Probably not an issue for people like me, who focus on LPR flights.
Looking at the Python code, the latest firmware has a 100Hz limit mentioned in the comments. Comparing it to my DIY RP2040 flight computer with an ICM-20649 IMU, I record IMU data at 800Hz and BMP390 data at 100Hz. There is significant room for firmware speed improvements, if you want to write your own code.added: in reading the documentation I am not impressed with the pressure spike filtering for the altitude calculation...just a running average of five samples (at what rate, I wonder). I expect some deployment/ejection-related events are going to overwhelm that approach.
Tell me about it!! I’m also a HS student and I just finished my SOLs yesterday! (I think Massachusetts has those).And yes... I'm still in high school. There's only so much time I have to work on these boards, especially with finals coming up =)
Did you ever get it?Being a sucker for trying stuff out, I just ordered one, so will see what it actually does (save for pyro firing). $20 plus $7 shipping.
We shall see.
Yes, it came while I was away helping with the tARC finals. This was after the initial order was canceled (apparently there was some kind of build error in the first batch of boards he got) and then I re-ordered when he emailed to say they were available.Did you ever get it?
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