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SatTrig Production Version

The first run of SatTrig interface boards have arrived. In addition to being a more reliable board than the prototype, I'm also vigorously getting the data annotation functions working between SatTrig and the Zeiss TOP

SatTrig Interface UCI-1 update

...design work continues, and UCI-1 evolves. The hardware design for UCI-1 is complete and the first run of interface boards have been ordered. In it's final version it will weigh less than a pound and measure roughly 4"x4". Only three connectors are required to operate the interface: power (12-32v), a 9-pin connector for the camera interface cable, and a USB connector for the computer (the host computer still needs to receive NMEA data to operate the system). The prototype has been in service for several hours and has replaced my original FMC controller on a Zeiss TOP system - so far it has performed flawlessly.

The implementation of the interface has shown many benefits. The design uses a single USB connection to the host computer, eliminating the need for serial or parallel interfaces for triggering the camera. Using a small USB-hub I was able to feed the host computer with the camera on-board video, GPS NMEA data, and the UCI-1 with a single USB cable. Daily set-up of the computer is a breeze, just a power and USB connection and everything is ready to go.

satTrig itself has evolved too: the latest version automatically searches for UCI-1 and configures itself while loading. It also provides data annotation feeds to UCI-1 for RC30 cameras (soon coming for the TOP and lat/lon data for Nikon cameras).

The "pilot display" option works very well but its overall layout and functions are changing slowly. For each flight line the current firmware shows the desired track and current track to within .1°, range to the start point, cross-track error, current and desired altitude, a digital CDI-bar, and a crude relative bearing-indicator (ie: ADF pointer). The picture shown here is from an earlier version with a glideslope indicator and crude cross-track error display.

SatTrig Interface UCI-1!

Work continues... the new interface is now called "UCI-1" (universal camera interface version 1).

The interface is now built into a prototype board, allowing me to make minor changes as the design develops. The initial firmware supports the FMC and triggering pulses for the Zeiss TOP and Leica RC30 camera systems and can be switched from one system to another by changing a configuring switch on the PC-Board.

New satTrig Interface

A new satTrig interface is in the works. This microprocessor controlled interface has several design goals:

• provide simple interconnects with only as many cables as needed for an installation
• the interface must be able to be used on multiple camera systems without the need for additional modification or cost
• generate FMC signals for precise computer-controlled forward-motion-compensation on aerial cameras
• be capable of furnishing the means to trigger the shutters on small, medium, and large format camera systems
  
• it should have the capability of providing an additional remote-display for navigation or status/control information
• it must be able to control the camera shutter by itself

The basic breadboard prototype is complete, and the satTrig software modified - proving the ideas built into the interface and software should work.

Early SatTrig Interface

In late 2007 I started design work on a simple FMC (forward motion compensation) controller interface for Zeiss TOP aerial cameras. The controller provided the V/H (velocity / height) signal for my satTrig aerial photo triggering software.

This one-off design used off-the-shelf components and a parallel-port connection to the host computer and was put into service in early 2008. The controller has since provided hundreds of hours of flawless service, enduring heat, cold and vibration.