Apollo Guidance Computer and DSKY

[ttb]

Did someone say... cookies?!?

No problems, feel free to use and modify. Its GPL'ed for now but will prob switch to BSD licence.

I build a display yesterday, just one line of 7 segments and shift registers, then my soldering iron died halfway thru will post a pic soon

Thanks

ttb

[ttb]

Here you go...

Sorry about rotation

Only three of the shift registers are installed right now, gotta solder the rest of the socket legs in first, once I can afford a new soldering iron. The LEDs at the top are from a previous project.

Thanks

ttb

[Javster]

kOS is what you're looking for!

[ttb]

Hey all,

kOS is what you're looking for!

I've heard of this mod, will look into it. Thanks!

So I got my hands on my Grandfather's old soldering iron (it is the iron i first learnt to solder on, 20 years ago ) and have been working on the hardware side of things. I now only have 4 functioning 7 segment displays, as I accidentally blew up a segment on my fifth display (forgot to use a resistor, doh!). Have put together a 3V power supply using a LM317 voltage regulator, this will power the shift registers and the display. Will post some pics when its a bit more complete.

Thanks

ttb

[ttb]

Hey all,

Here is the latest pics. Haven't finished it yet, I've been working on it all day and its getting on to beer o'clock, so giving it a rest for the day. To all the electrical engineers out there laughing at this, I'm just a hobbyist

Javascript is disabled. View full album

Maybe tonight or tomorrow, I'l make a post with detailed project notes and the current direction of this project, as it has changed a bit since the first post.

Cheers

ttb

[ttb]

Hey all,

Update on the current direction of this project. I intend to implement a look-alike DSKY from the Apollo Program. The DSKY will interface to KSP via an arduino. The arduino will implement certain functionality of the Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC). The software for the AGC was written with the specific intention of going to the moon, so if it were to be directly emulated it wouldn't work for KSP, as our universes are different Plus I want to use this project to do more than just fly to the Mun. Nav functions I would like to add are circularisation burns, Hohmann transfers etc.

I have obtained a book called "The Apollo Guidance Computer: Architecture and Operation" by Frank O'Brien (Springer, 2010, ISBN 9781441908766), which gives a very excellent and detailed analysis of the AGC and DSKY. I highly recommend this book to any that are interested in the AGC. Included is a blow-by-blow account of how the AGC would be used by the astronauts in each stage of flight. I intend to reimplement (as far as possible) the program numbers, routine numbers, error codes and verb and noun codes as the original AGC. Some liberty will have to be taken to match the KSP universe. Also the data available to me so far from KSP is limited.

I am currently building a prototype (as seen in this thread). If the prototype works Ok i will leave it as is. However if I feel like it, I will construct a proper model. Also if there is suficcient demand I would consider making this for others that dont want to build it from scratch.

As previously stated, all circuit diagrams, parts lists and code will be open source.

After building a (very rough) single line display, I have decided that when it comes time to build the project proper, I will order or make some PCB's. Theres just too many wires otherwise, and heaps of time involved. See the pics in the post above to see what I mean

If anyone would be willing to work with me to write a native KSP plugin that can export data over USB-serial, I would really appreciate it, and I would offer to build them a DSKY/AGC for the cost of parts only (would build it for free but I'm just too broke). I don't really want to learn C#. Currently I am using the Telemachus mod and a Python script to get the data to and from the arduino, which works OK, however I can only access the information supplied by Telemachus, which is limited. I would love to get more info from KSP such as mass of the rocket. This would allow me to write more nav routines.

Thanks

ttb

[ttb]

Hey all,

So i cant possibly afford the $$ to build this properly at the moment, so I've written a version in Python. Check out the thread http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/68657-basaGC-%28Apollo-Guidance-Computer-%28AGC%29-implementation-for-KSP%29-WIP for more info.

Thanks

ttb

[ArsenioDev]

Hey there! This project is AWESOME! I've been looking for something like this for a while. there exists a plugin for getting telemachus data out over serial (gotta find that link) but i would be happy to make an enclosure when the time comes. I know where to get a ton of parts for really cheap if thats what you need

[NeoMorph]

Cool... The more peeps working on Apollo type mods the better. I've been working on my Nav Ball and DSKY for a while now... I've gone the Telemachus way because my brain just doesnt work like it used to nowadays (ex programmer who learned toooooo many languages and now they tend to mix up in my brain).

Looking forward to seeing you stuff.

[ttb]

Hey there! This project is AWESOME! I've been looking for something like this for a while. there exists a plugin for getting telemachus data out over serial (gotta find that link) but i would be happy to make an enclosure when the time comes. I know where to get a ton of parts for really cheap if thats what you need

Hi ArsenioDev,

I'm afraid that I can't even afford cheap parts at the moment, but I would be interested in your sources for cheap parts when the time comes Specifically I need 74HC595 shift registers, 7 segment displays (green), and momentary square pushbuttons (these seem to be the most expensive).

Thanks

ttb

[ttb]

Cool... The more peeps working on Apollo type mods the better. I've been working on my Nav Ball and DSKY for a while now... I've gone the Telemachus way because my brain just doesnt work like it used to nowadays (ex programmer who learned toooooo many languages and now they tend to mix up in my brain).

Looking forward to seeing you stuff.

Hi NeoMorph,

Thanks for your post. I would be interested to see your approach as well Unfortunately I'm a wee way away from building a prototype due to financial constrains

Thanks

ttb

[ArsenioDev]

hmm...I would believe that my source carries these parts. Dx.com (under diy parts and components)

[Ricovandijk]

Following this with great interest!

I used to love navigating the ACG in Orbiterim with NASSP addon. Exactly what I am wishing for in KSP!

May I suggest building a DSKY for in game, and a 'ground station' UI where you can change parameters.

preferably so that the user can crate commands like:

execute a manoeuvre node:

Verb [number] = data input

Noun [number] = manoeuvre

user input fields:

1) Dv prograde

2) Dv normal

3) Dv radial

Exe

user input fields:

1) time hours

2) minutes

3) seconds

exe

user input fields:

1) vessel mass

2) vessel thrust

3)

exe

Display:

1) Dv total

2) Duration of burn

3)

display:

1) vessel mass start

2) vessel mass end

3) propellant mass used

display:

1) attitude x

2) attitude y

3) attitude z

exe (end program)

Verb [number] = execue

Noun [number] = maneuvre

etc..

that way you can fly to the moon the Buzz way with a pre-configured list of realistic commands, and also customise it for your custom crafts for Duna and beyond.

I have no programming skills but I'll keep my eyes on this project to see if I can be of any assistance.

so exiting!

Cheers!

Edited July 22, 2014 by Ricovandijk

[ttb]

Hi Ricovandijk,

Thanks for your post. Until recently, I haven't had much spare time to work on this, but a new version is in the works. The software has been (almost) completely rewritten with a emphasis on realistic DSKY operation, and as far as possible, realistic AGC operation. I am planning on implementing a "ground station", this will basically be a interface to uplink commands to the computer. IRL, the NASA computers in the RTCC did most of the heavy calculations and uplinked these to the computer, also ground control could calculate a more accurate state vector than the AGC, this was regularly uplinked to the AGC. I may implement the latter by having the basaGC only able to calculate a approximate state vector (this would drift over time as the IMU drifts as in real life), and the ground station could uplink a accurate state vector.

I have decided to initially only provide functions for flying to the Mun for now, Minmus and other planets will come later.

I would not be able to directly implement the interface in KSP, as I have no knowledge of C#, nor the desire to learn. Also, as I am using Telemachus as the interface between KSP and basaGC, I currently have no way of directly interacting with maneuver nodes, however there is nothing stopping me from making a "node" in the basaGC, and then having the computer fly that node (this node would not show up in KSP).

I will post here when the new version is available on Github, hopefully within a week or two.

Thanks,

ttb