Tracking devices
Taking great pictures within near space but being unable to get the camera(s) back is useless, costly and really frustrating. So we put three redundant tracking devices on board.
1. GSM tracking device :
The fist one is a GSM/GPRS/GPS tracking device with an activated SIM card.
We just call the phone device number and it replies back with an SMS message containing the exact GPS coordinates of the capsule and a direct link to Google Maps. Then using 'Get directions' on your iPhone it shows you the path to go.
This only works of course in areas (and altitudes) where GSM networks are available... this is why we also put the SPOT device on board (see below).
2. iPhone 4 tracking device :
Surely one of the highest sent iPhones in the world.
The iPhone 4 is a splendid (and very expensive) machine. I hesitated a lot before buying it and placing it into the capsule, with the risk of damaging or loosing it. But I decided it was worth the added value in recovery probability.
Just put it on board and use Mobile Me (sorry, iCloud) to show you where it is, or another iPhone or iPad equipped with the Apple application “Find my iPhone”.
The iPhone is also loaded with the TRAILS application to record the flight path and geotag the pictures taken by the NEX after the return with a software called HoudahGeo.
3. SPOT tracking device :
As a backup to the GSM/GPRS/GPS tracker and the iPhone, we put a SPOT tracker on board.
The SPOT device works everywhere in the world, even where mobile networks are unavailable, up to 6.5 km high.
This is because it connects directly to a satellite network and not to the GSM/GPRS networks.
We activated the tracking feature on it so it sent its GPS coordinates and Google Maps position every 10 minutes via email and on a web page.
With 3 tracking devices on board, using 3 different technologies, we hope to recover the capsule after every launch, or better : being next to the landing zone and seeing it fall.
1. GSM tracking device :
The fist one is a GSM/GPRS/GPS tracking device with an activated SIM card.
We just call the phone device number and it replies back with an SMS message containing the exact GPS coordinates of the capsule and a direct link to Google Maps. Then using 'Get directions' on your iPhone it shows you the path to go.
This only works of course in areas (and altitudes) where GSM networks are available... this is why we also put the SPOT device on board (see below).
2. iPhone 4 tracking device :
Surely one of the highest sent iPhones in the world.
The iPhone 4 is a splendid (and very expensive) machine. I hesitated a lot before buying it and placing it into the capsule, with the risk of damaging or loosing it. But I decided it was worth the added value in recovery probability.
Just put it on board and use Mobile Me (sorry, iCloud) to show you where it is, or another iPhone or iPad equipped with the Apple application “Find my iPhone”.
The iPhone is also loaded with the TRAILS application to record the flight path and geotag the pictures taken by the NEX after the return with a software called HoudahGeo.
3. SPOT tracking device :
As a backup to the GSM/GPRS/GPS tracker and the iPhone, we put a SPOT tracker on board.
The SPOT device works everywhere in the world, even where mobile networks are unavailable, up to 6.5 km high.
This is because it connects directly to a satellite network and not to the GSM/GPRS networks.
We activated the tracking feature on it so it sent its GPS coordinates and Google Maps position every 10 minutes via email and on a web page.
With 3 tracking devices on board, using 3 different technologies, we hope to recover the capsule after every launch, or better : being next to the landing zone and seeing it fall.