Space Station visibility gadget

Posted on 2014-01-04 by Jim Vanderveen

Back in October I was thinking about how I might build a Space Station visibility indicator. Yesterday I ran across a similar idea at ISS Above, and it got me thinking some more about how I would implement my own ISS appliance. My ideal device would be:

  1. small form factor, approximately 10 cm (4 inch) cube or smaller
  2. completely wireless, i.e. battery powered and using wireless communications
  3. simple and intuitive to operate
  4. relatively inexpensive to prototype, hopefully under US$50

I could meet most of these objectives with a Raspberry Pi model A, but batteries wouldn’t last too long. So I think my first prototype will include a power feed.

One of my other projects includes setting up ZigBee mesh networking. Once that’s done, I may look into a fully wireless device using an XBee/ZigBee powered by a LiPo rechargeable battery.

About Jim Vanderveen

I'm a bit of a Renaissance man, with far too many hobbies for my free time! But more important than any hobby is my family. My proudest accomplishment has been raising some great kids! And somehow convincing my wife to put up with me since 1988. ;)
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