Posts

ADS-B Raspi Shopping List

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While I didn't use PiAware for my Raspi RTL-SDR ADS-B and ACARS receiver, FlightAware does have a good shopping list. It can be found at: https://flightaware.com/adsb/piaware/build My version of the list includes: Raspberry Pi 3  I used a 3B+ but you could also use a 4 Power supply 5v, 2.5 Amp with micro USB connector Micro SD Card At least 8GB I used a 32GB for plenty of space and they're cheap USB RTL-SDR You can use any of the popular ones I used the RTL-SDR.com Blog one (not an endorsement) Micro SD Card reader/writer Your laptop probably has one or get an external one 1090 Mhz Antenna You can build the simple "cantenna" from my previous post Optional: An ADS-B filter and/or amplifier I've gotten excellent reception without them I have them but don't use them   Optional: USB extension cable The RTL-SDR is over sized and an extension cable really helps. Some of my equipment Of course, you'll need a compu

ADS-B Cantenna

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For the ADS-B demo that I did for DC909/OWASP IE  I used a cantenna which is like the one detailed here (and other places) http://www.radioforeveryone.com/p/coketenna-easy-cheap-effec.html It's basically a soda can and a bit of wire both cut to 69mm (1/4 wave), with a coax cable feed. You will need a F-connector female-to-female connector and a F-connector to SMA adapter (or adapter to whatever antenna connector feeds your RTL-SDR) It's very simple to make (other than, assuredly, cutting yourself on the can). Before I "tuned" it I was getting 30-60 mile range. Excellent for the greater LA/IE area. My Cantenna. I didn't drink Coke

Dusty: Battery Mounted

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The 6V battery fit nicely under the top half of Dusty's body. I used zip ties to hold it in. I also got some barrier/terminal strips for power distribution. The motors and Arduino will be powered off of the battery. Other USBish things may also be powered off of it. The "secret" payload may be powered off a separate battery for easy install/removal

Dusty: The BIG Battery and It's Moving

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I got a sealed 6V lead acid battery. This is the sort that you might see powering a "Power Wheels" kids car. I also picked up a charger. I selected the 6V so that I could power the Arduino directly off of it without having to step it down from 12V (a more common battery voltage). I hooked it all up and no magic smoke came out and Dusty started to lurch forward. I have the speed set slow and was just pulsing the motor for a second so he didn't run off. The whisker bump sensors aren't connected so I did have to stop him before he got too far. The battery worked well. It clearly has enough power to run the motors and Arduino at the same time. It's difficult to say how long the battery will last but if Dusty can bump around for 30-60 minutes that would be great. I'm not sure what the current draw will be. The battery is rated at 7 amp/hours. I expect I can recharge the battery overnight.

Dusty: Motor Mouting

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I mounted the motors into the frame using Sugru. I'm not sure if it will hold. This is and experiment. I'm also going to add a brace between the motors using some left over shell from the two screw drivers. I was worried that the motors might spin too fast but the motor driver board can control the speed. At about 1/3 speed looks good.

Dusty: Whiskers and Range Sensors

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Pull downs installed and working for the the whisker sensors and ultrasonic range finder installed and working. I'll be adding transistors to trigger two of the buttons on Dusty's control panel for lights, propeller and sound effects. While everything installed so far is working in a test sketch, Dusty has no brains yet. I'll need to write some code so that Dusty can react to the environment. Then there is the mechanical aspect of fitting this all inside and setting up the whisker sensors.

Dusty: Motor Burn In

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Just running the motors a bit on the new driver board to make sure magic smoke doesn't escape.

ADS-B Tracking

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I have ADS-B Scope and RTL1090 setup on my laptop. I'm using an RTL-SDR.com USB stick and a generic USB GPS module. ADS-B Scope and RTL1090 ADS-B Scope is fed data from RTL1090 and then it plots the position and info on various flights that are being received. The GPS module helps center the map on my location. I live near ONT (Ontario, CA) but can easily see flights from LAX (Los Angeles) and SNA (Santa Anna) too. I'm not using an ADS-B filter or amp.(but I have them) I'll be bringing the setup to the Aviation Village at DEFCON. I'll also be playing with a similar setup on a Raspberry Pi.

Ghetto Silent Disco System

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This Is A Test... Many of the villages at DEFCON this year are sharing a single space at the Bally's Events Center. The Events Center looks to be a huge convention floor space. With all the villages in the same space I'm expecting a lot of noise from attendees. Additionally, villages will have talks and media displays going on in the same space. My thought was how to be able to give talks and play media while overcoming the background noise *and* not adding additional noise to the environment. I though about "silent discos" and how I could set something like that up. For media, streaming from a server would be fine but for a speaker it wouldn't work. There would be too much lag. There are systems that tour guides and churches use that consist of a wireless mic and a set of receivers with headphones. These aren't cheap. I'm sure they work well but I didn't have +$500 to drop even on a small system. I decided to experiment with a Ghetto system. The

Dusty: Motor Assemblies Fit Tested

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I fit tested the motors in the holes I cut just above the original axle holes. They fit nicely but will need some internal support and maybe some zip ties to hold them in. Fit this way there is a pretty good space between both of the motors inside. Plenty of room for wiring. The tires are going to be pretty far apart. I may need to cut the axles down. I'd rather not. We'll see. Wheel/Motor Assembly Fit Test