I am interested in tracking and/or monitoring the flight of model rockets (including high-power rockets), such as might be deployed by NAR ( http://www.nar.org/ ) or Tripoli ( http://www.tripoli.org/ ) clubs. I don't have specific specs or requirements, but just wanted some ideas about how this might be accomplished. I understand that there are commercially available products available, but these tend to be more pricey than I prefer, and I want to have a platform that supports adding new features later. Goal #1 -- Device Tracking These rockets can go really high, really fast, and once the parachute deploys they can be carried downstream by the wind for distances much greater than people might first imagine. The goal is to quickly find and recover a rocket after its return to earth. One way to do this if to have the rocket transmit an RF signal that can be detected with a simple (inexpensive) directional receiver to guide a person in the direction (and distance) to the rocket. There may be other methods of location also (sound, lights, etc.) that I would also be interested in considering. Ideas, anyone? Feature list, roughly sorted in priority order from most-desired to less-desired: lightweight and small range up to 1 mile low cost simple to use, no training needed, can use without needing "owner's manual" uses existing products (shields, boards, sensors) as much as possible can transmit tracking signal for 2+ hours tracking signal can be customized (for example to track a specific rocket when multiple rockets launched simultaneously) in-flight tracking up to 20,000 feet above ground level Goal #2 -- Flight Data Collection The builders want to know the specific details of a flight. This information might be used for improving future designs or for verification of predicted results. Feature list, roughly sorted in priority order from most-desired to less-desired: lightweight and small low cost collects and stores data 10 times per second for up to 10 minutes each flight critical data includes altitude, g-forces, and barometric pressure nice-to-have data includes temperature (internal and external), real-time clock relative to beginning of flight, and tilt/pitch fun-to-have data includes GPS tracking, noise level, speed, and whatever else you can think of can quickly and easily determine max altitude in the field without needing additional equipment (like laptop) can store data for multiple flights data can be easily converted into spreadsheet for analysis later (not while in the field) uses existing products (shields, boards, sensors) as much as possible Comments, please?

How to monitor model rocket flight?

I am interested in tracking and/or monitoring the flight of model rockets (including high-power rockets), such as might be deployed by NAR (http://www.nar.org/) or Tripoli (http://www.tripoli.org/) clubs. I don't have specific specs or requirements, but just wanted some ideas about how this might be accomplished. I understand that there are commercially available products available, but these tend to be more pricey than I prefer, and I want to have a platform that supports adding new features later.

Goal #1 -- Device Tracking

These rockets can go really high, really fast, and once the parachute deploys they can be carried downstream by the wind for distances much greater than people might first imagine. The goal is to quickly find and recover a rocket after its return to earth. One way to do this if to have the rocket transmit an RF signal that can be detected with a simple (inexpensive) directional receiver to guide a person in the direction (and distance) to the rocket. There may be other methods of location also (sound, lights, etc.) that I would also be interested in considering. Ideas, anyone?

Feature list, roughly sorted in priority order from most-desired to less-desired:

lightweight and small
range up to 1 mile
low cost
simple to use, no training needed, can use without needing "owner's manual"
uses existing products (shields, boards, sensors) as much as possible
can transmit tracking signal for 2+ hours
tracking signal can be customized (for example to track a specific rocket when multiple rockets launched simultaneously)
in-flight tracking up to 20,000 feet above ground level

Goal #2 -- Flight Data Collection

The builders want to know the specific details of a flight. This information might be used for improving future designs or for verification of predicted results.

Feature list, roughly sorted in priority order from most-desired to less-desired:

lightweight and small
low cost
collects and stores data 10 times per second for up to 10 minutes each flight
critical data includes altitude, g-forces, and barometric pressure
nice-to-have data includes temperature (internal and external), real-time clock relative to beginning of flight, and tilt/pitch
fun-to-have data includes GPS tracking, noise level, speed, and whatever else you can think of
can quickly and easily determine max altitude in the field without needing additional equipment (like laptop)
can store data for multiple flights
data can be easily converted into spreadsheet for analysis later (not while in the field)
uses existing products (shields, boards, sensors) as much as possible

Comments, please?