Avinash Muthu Krishnan Kevin A. Adkins Dr Marc D. Compere Dr
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Real Time Data Downlink Device (RTDD) for Live Telemetry from Instrumented Vehicles Avinash Muthu Krishnan1, Marc D. Compere1, Kevin A. Adkins2 1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Embry-Riddle Aer..
Real Time Data Downlink Device (RTDD) for Live Telemetry from Instrumented Vehicles Avinash Muthu Krishnan1, Marc D. Compere1, Kevin A. Adkins2 1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 2 Department of Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University This paper presents a microcontroller and communications design that delivers real-time telemetry data over the cellular network from vehicles instrumented for scientific or engineering purposes. The Real Time Data Downlink (RTDD) device is being designed for atmospheric data collection on an aerial platform. While this application specifically pertains to the atmospheric sciences, the data collection technique is broadly applicable to ground, surface, or aerial platform data collection. The RTDD is implemented on four DJI Matrice-100 quadcopters that transmit real time position, wind speed, pressure, temperature and humidity over the cellular network. Each vehicle writes sensor data locally while simultaneously transmitting data samples to a data collection computer for real time experiment monitoring. The data collection computer runs an open-sourced software called the Mobility Virtual Environment (MoVE). MoVE aggregates all incoming data streams from each vehicle to provide a comprehensive picture of the scenario with a live 2D map display of all vehicles and a browser-based table to present the data. The RTDD provides real time data thus ensuring complete mission execution and confirmation of sensor performance. Therefore, the RTDD is a critical component of the instrumented aircraft and an overall successful multi-vehicle data collection effort.
Avinash Muthu Krishnan, Graduate Student Dr. Kevin Adkins, Associate Professor of Aeronautical Science Dr. Marc Compere, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering