Autorotator

The Cambridge University Spaceflight Autorotator is an azimuth & elevation controller used to automatically track balloon payloads. At least one Yagi antenna is mounted onto the controller.

CUSF auto rotator
Antenna Rotator tracking a payload over the North Sea

A python script runs on a host computer to download the latest payload position from the online tracking system before calculating the required azimuth and elevation angles fort he rotator. A custom made board (RadioFox) is responsible for finding the rotator’s position and then setting the azimuth and elevation.

CUSF RadioFox
The RadioFox autorotator control board
The azimuth/elevation control unit controlled by RadioFox
50 baud from 700km