Iridium-tracker

Repository for code that runs on the iridium tracker for the MIDAS avionics system.

Getting Started

As there is no current platformio build target for the SparkFun Artemis board, we will be using the Arduino IDE (all rejoice).

In the arduino IDE, using the board manager, install an "Aditional Core", and enter this link.

Once this is installed, you will need to install some libraries using the library manager. These are all outlined in the big comment block at the top of Software/Iridium/main/main.ino. The libraries you need to install are:

• Iridium SBD I2C, available by searching IridiumSBDi2c in the arduino library
• Qwiic_PHT_MS8607, available by searching SparkFun MS8607
• SparkFun u-blox, available by searching SparkFun u-blox GNSS

Once you have all these installed, you should be good to start flashing code.

File Structure

.
└── Iridium-Tracker/
    ├── binaries/
    ├── Documentation/
    ├── Hardware/
    ├── img/
    ├── Processing/
    ├── Software/
    |   ├── decoding/
    │   ├── examples/
    │   └── Iridium/
    │       └──  main
    ├── Tools/
    ├── .gitignore
    ├── Makefile
    └── README.md

binaries Provided binaries from SparkFun

Documentation Provided documentation for the Artemis boards from SparkFun

Hardware Schematics for the hardware of the Artemis board from SparkFun

Processing Data and scripts for processing GPS outputs

Software Provided and written code to flash

decoding A Script to decode compressed data from the iridium service

examples Provided code examples from SparkFun

Iridium Written code to flash

main Main code with transmitting to Iridium service

Tools Provided tools from SparkFun

Running Code

Most of the code in this comes from the starter guide for the Artemis Global Tracker. To find the code that we (ISS) updated, which is the code you should be flashing, go to Software/Iridium/main.

There is a macro in this code, called noTX, located around line 100 under a comment which says "this is important". Defining this macro will prevent transmission to the iridium service, which is useful to save credits. If you are not directly testing the iridium uplink, ensure this macro is not commented. If you require the iridium service, ensure it is commented out.

You can also reference the examples in Software/examples if you want to see how to do other things with the module.

Decoding

In Software/decoding there is a script to decode the encoded message sent to the iridium service. You can compile, and then run, this script with make and ./a.out, or do it all in one command with make run. Once the script is running, copy in the text from the iridium service into the terminal, and hit enter to get the decoded packet.