2024-04-22 RF Electronics

Introduction

RFC is being rushed due to the incoming of competition. Might never be merged officially but will be used for competition airframe. Done by @Daniel Puratich and reviewed by @Nathan Green . Started on evening of 5/11/2024 to get orders in just before competition but we’ll see time wise if I can swing it.

Table of Contents

Information

RF Filters

Why

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Adapters

https://cdn.everythingrf.com/live/sma_rpsma-male-female_636715630002666648.jpg

image-20240516-145638.png

 

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SDR Setup

  • Two Yagi’s

    • Dipoles total length is a halfwave

    • Two support 900MHz band, one is meant for 2.4GHz

  • Normal antennas

    • will just use simple antennas for analysis at FT and prep for competition

Drone Antenna Locations

  • Hardware locations physically on drone

    • general

      • Viewing the flight paths from conops

      • asked people

    • competition:

image-20240511-234910.png
  • above diagram shows intended flight for task 1 and task 2

    • comp info:

      • task 2 is far riskier so antennas should all go on right side of drone

    • components

    • elrs

    • vtx

      • right side to optimize for task 2 approach

      • mounted with gromets because it matches the 30x30mm mounting pattern ontop of drone!

      • mech people will likely improve accordingly, i did my best lol

      • should have null pointed toward GPS antennas to avoid interference, nearby bands

    • gps

      • spread out on top, already mounted, no change

  • putting the antennas on a VNA in person will be nice to verify assumptions

Ground Antenna Locations

Separate tower for video receiver and elrs

Battery Information

  • We are running four batteries (and not six)

    • this was proven preferable from flight tests

  • If the four arms are corners, then one battery per side

    • this has negligible impact on flight characteristics

Wiring Information

  • there's a few blanks to fill in currently in the doc but I (@Daniel Puratich ) do not have time before competition, hopefully onsite EEs are available for fun

  • if someone wants to fill in, plz do!

  • probably not, sadge