Open hardware and software designs for high powered model rocketry by Bdale Garbee and Keith Packard.
All hardware designs on this site are licensed under the TAPR Open Hardware License, and all the software is under the GNU General Public License, version 2 or compatible licenses.
Latest News
Where to Buy
All Altus Metrum products are available from the Garbee and Garbee web store. Apogee Components carries both TeleMetrum and TeleMini starter kits. Australian Rocketry carries TeleMetrum starter kits.
Projects
TeleMetrum is our flagship product, a dual-deploy rocketry altimeter with GPS and bidirectional RF telemetry link.
TeleMini is a smaller dual-deploy rocketry altimeter with telemetry using only a barometric pressure sensor
TeleDongle is a simple RF interface for use in ground stations interacting with rockets using TeleMetrum. It may also be useful as a generic RF interface for other microcontroller systems.
AltOS is the name of the firmware and related utilities that Keith maintains for the set of hardware projects here.
LipoCharger is a standalone battery charger for the Lithium Polymer batteries used in Altus Metrum products.
TelePyro is a companion board for TeleMetrum that adds 8 additional pyro channels.
TeleScience is a companion board for TeleMetrum that adds 12 channels of thermistor or generic analog sensor input, and 5 general purpose I/O lines.
TeleTerra is a hand-held ground station for use with TeleMetrum and TeleMini.
TeleBT is a variation on TeleDongle that adds Bluetooth as an alternative to USB.
TeleShield is an Arduino radio shield.
TeleNano is a tiny rocketry altimeter with telemetry using only a barometric pressure sensor
OpenAlt was Bdale's original project here, a dual-deploy rocketry altimeter. One prototype was built, but never flown. This project is now indefinitely on hold.
Hobby Rocketry
The motivation for the circuits and software you will find on this site is our loosely-knit group's shared interest in hobby rocketry. This very brief Ted presentation by Steve Jurvetson quickly conveys at least part of why we do this. John Coker has published an excellent overview of hobby rocketry on his web site. Keith has also put together some useful notes about the process of certification to fly high power rockets.
To find more information about the rockets Bdale and his son have built, see Garbee Rockets.
As Bdale and Robert became more experienced in the hobby and started to build and fly more sophisticated projects, we started to feel limited by the existing electronics products available. OpenAlt was Bdale's first attempt to address this situation with a completely open hardware and software design... other project have since followed, and it's cool to have help from Keith and other friends!
Using Altus Metrum Products
Presentations
Getting Involved
If you aren't already playing with model rockets, that's a good place to start. Finding a local NAR Section or Tripoli Prefecture is a good idea, since you can learn a lot and see some great flights by showing up at a club launch.
As we make progress, you can read about it in our News feed. Feel free to subscribe to our mailing list. We also hang out on IRC channel #altusmetrum on irc.oftc.net if you have questions that aren't answered here. You can also find us on Facebook and on Google+.
Our main projects include radio links. If you don't already have one, getting an Amateur Radio license would be a good thing to do!
And if you just can't wait to show your support for our efforts, visit our Cafe Press Logo Shop or our Printfection Logo Shop (we're trying to decide which is better, comments welcome!) and buy a t-shirt or sticker!
Altus Metrum products are designed and manufactured in the
United States of America.
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