spudgun range, are we falling short?

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Here's the tag disassembled, unfortunately as is the board won't fit in the dart type projectile I had in mind, unless I fit it in a fin - but that doesn't allow a practical shock absorbtion system.

[al-xg]

Looks like you could give it a chop though, in height and width.

Unless that strip on the PCB is some sort of aerial ?

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Unless that strip on the PCB is some sort of aerial ?

That's what I was thinking, there doesn't seem to be any other surface to act as an antenna.

[al-xg]

Well if it is, it looks pretty basic and shouldn't be too hard to replicate/move.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

looking at some other options, this looks pretty cheap and cheerful:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wireless-Anti-t ... 2c61bd4344

or maybe it's just easier to get one of these and rely on MrC's aural abilities:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RF-Wireless-Rem ... 53ec6eb681

more shots increases the chance of finding at least one...

[MrCrowley]

I had a lecture yesterday where we discussed using GPS in the field to track and plot features and sites. Apparently even the $6000 handheld devices they use get bad reception if there is a bit of tree cover overhead. I bet reception would be worse if it's 1ft underground.

How feasible would a self-deploying parachute be? If the 'chute was bright orange and relatively large (1'x1'), it could work pretty damn well. The only problem is getting it to deploy at the right time.

[battlelava]

With a lot of math calculations on speed gravity ect you could come up with a rough amount of time delay.

[dewey-1]

Here is a schematic for transmitter and receiver using the 433MHz modules.
I also did the PCB layout for the transmitter. Perf board type and etched PCB type.

If someone wants the ExpressPCB files let me know.

[POLAND_SPUD]

If the 'chute was bright orange and relatively large (1'x1'), it could work pretty damn well. The only problem is getting it to deploy at the right time

for miniboy ?? I don't think that's feasible but if we're talking about cheap, simple and easy to build projectiles (something I suggested months ago ) then I guess it wouldn't be very difficult

do some math and set it to deploy the chute about 5 seconds before predicted contact with the ground

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

I had a lecture yesterday where we discussed using GPS in the field to track and plot features and sites. Apparently even the $6000 handheld devices they use get bad reception if there is a bit of tree cover overhead. I bet reception would be worse if it's 1ft underground.

This advantage of RF over GPS is part of the advertising blurb of the radio devices.

How feasible would a self-deploying parachute be? If the 'chute was bright orange and relatively large (1'x1'), it could work pretty damn well. The only problem is getting it to deploy at the right time.

Snake-eye style retardation would be much sexier!





UNRETARDED / RETARDED

I bet the countdown timer goes up to potato

[youtube][/youtube]

We could even add the cool 80s documentary melody

Here is a schematic for transmitter and receiver using the 433MHz modules.
I also did the PCB layout for the transmitter. Perf board type and etched PCB type.

If someone wants the ExpressPCB files let me know.

That's probably less complicated than it looks... parts list for those with the electronic understanding of a deployed Snake eye?

do some math and set it to deploy the chute about 5 seconds before predicted contact with the ground

A level switch could make sure it doesn't deploy before it reaches a certain angle towards the ground, hmmm...

I'm certainly gravitating towards the mulitple keyfinder idea for a relatively cheap and plentiful series of projectiles...

[dewey-1]

JSR

What about a picture of other side of PCB?
This will determine if board can be narrowed.

Almost all RF tags will be about 20 to 25mm in width due to typical CR2032 battery being used which is 19mm.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

What about a picture of other side of PCB?
This will determine if board can be narrowed.

There are photos of both sides

The bit we think is the antenna is actually marked "ANT 2" in the first photo, relevant?

Almost all RF tags will be about 20 to 25mm in width due to typical CR2032 battery being used which is 19mm.

Good point. I can tolerate 20mm, my plan is to fit two AAA batteries in line that would provide power and ballast.

[dewey-1]

What about a picture of other side of PCB?
This will determine if board can be narrowed.

There are photos of both sides

The bit we think is the antenna is actually marked "ANT 2" in the first photo, relevant?

Almost all RF tags will be about 20 to 25mm in width due to typical CR2032 battery being used which is 19mm.

Good point. I can tolerate 20mm, my plan is to fit two AAA batteries in line that would provide power and ballast.

Sorry. I actually meant to say a closeup photo of both sides to zoom in for better resolution. You can send high resolution images to my e-mail.

[POLAND_SPUD]

@dewey
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proximity_fuze

The device described in World War II patent[15] works as follows: The shell contains a micro-transmitter which uses the shell body as an antenna and emits a continuous wave of roughly 180–220 MHz. As the shell approaches a reflecting object, an interference pattern is created. This pattern changes with shrinking distance: every half wavelength in distance (a half wavelength at this frequency is about 0.7 meters), the transmitter is in or out of resonance. This causes a small oscillation of the radiated power and consequently the oscillator supply current of about 200–800 Hz, the Doppler frequency. This signal is sent through a band pass filter, amplified, and triggers the detonation when it exceeds a given amplitude.

Is it feasible to reproduce this circuit ?

[MrCrowley]

If the 'chute was bright orange and relatively large (1'x1'), it could work pretty damn well. The only problem is getting it to deploy at the right time

for miniboy ?? I don't think that's feasible but if we're talking about cheap, simple and easy to build projectiles (something I suggested months ago ) then I guess it wouldn't be very difficult

do some math and set it to deploy the chute about 5 seconds before predicted contact with the ground

Yeah I meant for a different projectile, MiniBoy is too small for just about anything.