Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Control Aerial Photography
HACK 44
Aerial photography, particularly from nearspace altitudes, has gained
popularity in recent years. The Raspberry Pi makes it even easier to ach-
ieve a low-weight payload with plenty of storage for photo, video, and
data.
Aerial photography has been practiced since the mid-19th century when Gaspard-
Félix Tournachon photographed Paris from a balloon. For some, it's an art form. For
others, there's a distinct goal, such as when a group teamed with the Louisiana Bucket
The recommendations in this hack are based on the launches by the
NC Near Space
Research group
, which started as a group entering the Hackerspaces in Space contest,
created in 2010 by Chicago hackerspace Workshop 88. They've since gone on to
launch multiple balloons and found the Raspberry Pi to be a useful tool for such
projects.
The Raspberry Pi takes half an amp of currrent. Why would you want to put that in the
payload of a balloon where weight and size are critical? Because having it onboard will
give you just about everything you need and a little more:
• Small and lightweight storage in an SD card for not only the “hard drive” and
computing, but also for the storage of all the data and photography
• GPIO that can be used for a wide range of sensors, including an accelerometer,
magnetometer, gyroscope, and temperature sensors
• Video out, so you can drive a video transmitter directly and see the video live on
the ground, rather than waiting until after the payload is retrieved (that is, if the
payload is retrieved)
• The ability to send on-screen display of the project's current data while in flight,
including its location and height
• An optional lightweight camera module designed specifically for the Raspberry
Pi
• The ability to connect to a USB WiFi adapter for WiFi from space!
While not used on this project, the Raspberry Pi can also serve as a tracking device
for finding the payload after it lands. The sound module on the Pi can generate a
modulated APRS (Amateur Position Reporting System) data stream that can be fed
into the transmitter and broadcast to ham radio operators, allowing you to track it live.
Thus a single, credit-card-sized device provides camera, data collection, tracking, and
storage all in one incredibly cost-effective piece. When you add the prices of these
components if built otherwise, the Raspberry Pi is both the cheapest and lightest way
to go, which is handy, given what else you'll have to buy.
