I saw this online this morning and have been thinking about it ever since. The $90 pricetag is a bit steep for me now, but I have 4 Arduino's on the bench - 2 standard units, a Pro and a Mega - that I've been playing with for the last year or two and was thinking something like this would be just the ticket for a rocket project. Problem is the low G rating on the accelerometer and that it isn't a 3 axis accelerometer. Survival rating is 10,000G's though so even if you can't get higher G data, it won't die on you if you stick it in a MD N10000 project.

Warren

😉

I agree, the relatively low G rating does limit it's use somewhat. Although, the ADXL345 is a 3 axis accelerometer, unless I misread the datasheet. On the other hand, 16Gs is enough range for many HP flights. It would've covered my L2 flight, J350 in a ~9lb 4" dia. bird. However, that is certainly not difficult to surpass, as you well know 😀

I suppose one could add a 1 axis 250G unit to augment the axial measurement, but that's a bit kludgy, may as well use a ProMini and a couple breakout boards. I actually picked up a ADXL345 and plan to connect it to a modified ardupilot and add that to the telemetry stream.

I haven't found a 3 axis unit that will do more than 24Gs, I have seen a couple 2 axis that will do 70Gs or so though.

I must say that the gyro was the most impressive sensor in that package though. 2k deg/s is some serious spin, can you say massive failure?, It can handle up to 10kGs as well. Breakout board for that from Sparkfun is $50, $25 for just the sensor.

Ahh, fun toys that I can only dream about...

I talked to a buddy today who works at Sparkfun about it and it is possible to sub other parts with some trace mods. I haven't gotten specific with him, just mentioned a requirement for 50G-100G in the Z axis and the comment received was pretty positive. Will continue looking into it, though it is behind a couple other Arduino projects in my queue.

In an ideal world, what I'm looking for is sort of an enhanced Telemetrum with 3-axis accel, rate gyro, mag sensor, temp and humidity sensors and a 100K capable baro sensor - not to mention extended radio range to provide reliable signal out to 100K' - all in a board that will fit a 29mm tube... sigh.

In an ideal world, what I'm looking for is sort of an enhanced Telemetrum with 3-axis accel, rate gyro, mag sensor, temp and humidity sensors and a 100K capable baro sensor - not to mention extended radio range to provide reliable signal out to 100K' - all in a board that will fit a 29mm tube... sigh.

Warren, when you find that world, please let me know. I want to live there, too! I haven't looked at Sparkfun for a while, but don't they have a 75 g 3-axis sensor?

I'm right with you Warren. If only the Telemetrum had an option to use xbee or other external radio w/serial i/o. You can get the range (40mi) in a 38mm tube using Digi's XTend modem, with the right antennas of course, plus it's in license free spectrum. You can get smaller w/HAM radios, I just have an aversion to licensed spectrum.

Actually, if the Telemetrum had a serial or I2C port that you could send string data to for inclusion in the telemetry stream, you could use Arduino for the sensors and just output data to it. You could also flip that around and send data for recording and/or transmission. Maybe that could be a feature request for bdale?

I know Sparkfun has a +/- 24g 3 axis accel., I don't recall a 75g 3axis. I think they used to have a 2 axis with specs similar to the one in Adrian's Raven (70g axial/35g lateral), but I don't see it listed anymore. I say get 3 of the 250g units and see how fast you can whip a rocket around 😉

In an ideal world, what I'm looking for is sort of an enhanced Telemetrum with 3-axis accel, rate gyro, mag sensor, temp and humidity sensors and a 100K capable baro sensor - not to mention extended radio range to provide reliable signal out to 100K' - all in a board that will fit a 29mm tube... sigh.

Warren,

You aren't wishing hard enough. You should have asked for something to fit into a 24mm tube!

With any luck, almost all of this will be available for rocketeers next year.

I was going to say, we need to put a Raven and Telemetrum in a dark box and give them some privacy... who knows what might happen.

W

Upon looking more closely, I discovered that the $8 per piece cost for the 3-axis gyro only applies when buying 100 reels of 5000 pieces, not 100 pieces. And at Sparkfun prices I think that would jack up the new altimeter unacceptably for most people. I may do a follow-on that uses that gyro part, though.