We've launched an exciting new project of our own! Introducing the Kickstarter app for iPhone!

Funded! This project successfully raised its funding goal on July 20, 2011.

Client Software and LED Decisions

Update #4 · Sep 28, 2011 · 9 comments

After spending several weeks out of town I'm back in Portland and back to work! I recently spent some time on the space coast to watch NASA launch a pair of probes to the moon. It was very exciting! If you're curious I have pictures here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/natronics/sets/72157627639086532/

Stickers

I got the stickers back from the printing company! I'm slowly working on making everyone a thank you card and sending out stickers. Keep an eye out in the mail (but it will take me a while to get to everyone!).

Also I've had a few people change addresses since I sent the surveys -- that's fine of course! Just drop me a line and I'll update my records.

Hardware

On the hardware front I've been wrestling with several ideas for how to deal with lighting the notifier. The way I built my prototype was to have some LED's shine up through a piece of frosted acrylic. This is fine for a weekend project, but not really easy to do on a large scale - plus it involved a lot of hot glue :) Not too professional I guess.

So I've been thinking about making the notifier sit in a clear/etched case where you can see the electronics and have a ring of LED's shine up through the case when the space station is overhead. This also gives more opportunity for hacking in the future -- like playing with patterns of LEDs.

Another thing I noticed is that I can get a lot more LED's on it if I stick to only one color. Those multicolor LED's are expensive! So I'm not sure if I should go down the multicolor, but ultimately fewer LED path or the many (probably blue) LED path. Any preferences?

Software

While waffling on hardware choices I started work on the client software that will set the location and send ISS pass times to the notifier. Here is a screenshot of an early version in windows.

I've also worked on refining the API that makes pass predictions and pushed all the current software progress (API and client software) to github:

https://github.com/open-notify

The API still needs some work, seems to be off an odd number of integer hours. Likely a timezone thing.

Timing 

I've gotten a lot of questions about how long this will take. I'm sorry that I can't be more specific because I really don't know. Right now I'm trying to get them all finished before Christmas. But I have to admit as I watch the days tick down (I actually have a countdown clock to help encourage - or, really, scare - me) I'm worried that I won't get them all shipped in time. I'm trying the best I can! I appreciate everyone's patience while I work out the details of the project. 

  • Image-67233-full

Comments

    1. Missing_small

      Creator Jeffrey on October 29, 2011

      If it's not too late to be counted: I think blue LEDs.

    2. Missing_small

      Creator Adam Fast on October 11, 2011

      I'd say more LEDs is better (particularly if they'll be PWM dimmable which you'd likely need if you went color anyway). Blue's fine with me, maybe go with a standard size so those who want a different color can easily order them and sub when building.

    3. Fb_profile_picture.small

      Creator Liam Kennedy on September 30, 2011

      Nathan. I'm OK with whatever you choose for the LED's.

      Have your worked out the issue with the Time Zone. I've written an App for Windows Phone which does a similar thing to pull information from Heavens-Above.com site so if it would help I can look at the code on github.

    4. Profile.small

      Creator Daniel Craig on September 29, 2011

      I vote for multi-color LEDs or white. Or, if blue is the choice, if the LEDs are fairly readily replaceable I can put my own white ones in.

      Thanks for the update!

    5. Missing_small

      Creator Mark Mitchell on September 29, 2011

      Thanks for the update! I completely understand how time consuming these kind of projects can be. I have been there. : )

      I am fine with either single (blue is good) or multi-color. If people are wanting to have a way to provide more info, single color can still acheive that. For example: it could be programmed to give a single pulse as the next pass approaches. As the approach get closer, the single pulse could happen more and more frequently, and basically just flashing as it is very close, and then it could be solid for the duration of the pass being visible. This would proivide a pretty intuitive way to guage how long until the next pass is.

      Mark

    6. Missing_small

      Creator Nicolas Weninger on September 29, 2011

      I would personally prefer the multicolour LEDs, as long as it does nit affect the brightness too much! Alternatively, have several LEDs of different colour that light up in succession to make various colours.

    7. Eightbit-8ca91727-2c28-4629-a2c3-b821d5d42ac1_bigger.small

      Creator Fabrizio on September 29, 2011

      A Mac porting for the software is on the way?

    8. 166355_495394626566_519156566_6758641_6064642_n.small

      Creator Michael Mayer on September 29, 2011

      Yes, more blue. I like how the client software looks like, although I use a Mac (VMware Fusion will solve that problem).

      We understand that the ISS-Notify can not be designed and built in a short time. Don't stress yourself too much! Quality is way more important.

    9. Headshot.small

      Creator Brent Hagany on September 28, 2011

      I vote more LED's! Just blue is fine with me.

292
Backers
$18,637
pledged of $6,000 goal
0
seconds to go

Funding period
Jun 13, 2011 - Jul 20, 2011

60331_716471253998_29706653_40112182_666267_n.medium

See full bio

  • Pledge $10 or more

    6 backers Limited (34 of 40 left)

    Get a nice, large NASA sticker, until I run out. Also my eternal thanks for helping this get off the ground.

  • Pledge $25 or more

    4 backers

    For a pledge of $25 I will send you a thank you card and a limited edition ISS-Notify sticker. And you can be proud of helping make space commonplace!

  • Pledge $40 or more

    136 backers

    If you're the hacker type, get the circuit board and all the parts you need, but not assembled. Makes for a great weekend project! I should have this ready before the finished product. If you have a soldering iron you could be the first in your block to have an ISS lamp!

  • Pledge $85 or more

    127 backers

    Be the first to get a finished ISS-Notify desk light! I will also send you a thank-you card and sign the back of the lamp!

  • Pledge $500 or more

    3 backers

    As a serious backer you will have my undying gratitude. You get an ISS-Notify desk lamp, but I will work with you to customize it! I'll have it laser etched or machined any way you like. It will be one of a kind.

Featured!