
Over nine months, John Hauerstein developed and refined avionics hardware and software for the Terrapin-Rocket-Team/SRAD-Avionics repository, focusing on robust telemetry, radio communication, and manufacturable PCB designs. He integrated APRS messaging and Si4463 radio modules using C and C++, implemented JSON-based data serialization, and enhanced reliability through buffer management and error correction coding. His work included end-to-end PCB design in KiCad, simulation-driven signal integrity improvements, and the creation of modeling tools in MATLAB. By aligning hardware and firmware, introducing test-driven workflows, and optimizing data flow for live video and telemetry, he delivered production-ready, flight-critical avionics systems.

June 2025 monthly summary for Terrapin-Rocket-Team/SRAD-Avionics: Delivered reliability and configurability enhancements to live video transmission and avionics data prioritization, plus comprehensive radio configuration optimization across Ground-Receiver, Radio, and Teensy-based avionics. Implemented configurable 4GFSK data rates, RX buffer refinements, and data-priority transmission logic, along with telemetry radio configuration and stability-focused updates. These changes improved live video quality over constrained links, tightened hardware configurations, and reduced risk in flight-critical data paths. Testing-driven payload improvements and Friday testing iterations informed the rollout. Overall, the month delivered stronger system reliability, improved data fidelity, and greater configurability, enabling safer operations and easier maintenance.
June 2025 monthly summary for Terrapin-Rocket-Team/SRAD-Avionics: Delivered reliability and configurability enhancements to live video transmission and avionics data prioritization, plus comprehensive radio configuration optimization across Ground-Receiver, Radio, and Teensy-based avionics. Implemented configurable 4GFSK data rates, RX buffer refinements, and data-priority transmission logic, along with telemetry radio configuration and stability-focused updates. These changes improved live video quality over constrained links, tightened hardware configurations, and reduced risk in flight-critical data paths. Testing-driven payload improvements and Friday testing iterations informed the rollout. Overall, the month delivered stronger system reliability, improved data fidelity, and greater configurability, enabling safer operations and easier maintenance.
May 2025 monthly summary for Terrapin-Rocket-Team/SRAD-Avionics focused on reliability, hardware/telemetry enhancements, and development acceleration. Delivered key fixes and infrastructure updates to enable payload transmission readiness and faster iteration on ARC/live video workflows, with notable improvements in data reliability, testability, and 3D CAD modeling readiness.
May 2025 monthly summary for Terrapin-Rocket-Team/SRAD-Avionics focused on reliability, hardware/telemetry enhancements, and development acceleration. Delivered key fixes and infrastructure updates to enable payload transmission readiness and faster iteration on ARC/live video workflows, with notable improvements in data reliability, testability, and 3D CAD modeling readiness.
April 2025 SRAD-Avionics monthly performance summary focusing on hardware integration, reliability improvements, and production readiness. Delivered end-to-end enhancements across the flight computer stack with a strong emphasis on hardware robustness, RF integration, signal integrity, and data-driven analysis capabilities that reduce integration risk and accelerate field deployment.
April 2025 SRAD-Avionics monthly performance summary focusing on hardware integration, reliability improvements, and production readiness. Delivered end-to-end enhancements across the flight computer stack with a strong emphasis on hardware robustness, RF integration, signal integrity, and data-driven analysis capabilities that reduce integration risk and accelerate field deployment.
March 2025 performance summary focusing on hardware bring-up, firmware refactors, and integration alignment across SRAD-Avionics and Airbrake. Delivered full ground receiver schematic-to-layout progression with GERBERs, finalized LVMFB prototype and layout, completed ARCH board with fixes, and advanced radio code integration for dynamic buffers and RS encoding. Implemented key bug fixes including LP module timeout, and VN-100 sensor integration fixes. The work drives faster integration, improved data reliability, and readiness for flight testing.
March 2025 performance summary focusing on hardware bring-up, firmware refactors, and integration alignment across SRAD-Avionics and Airbrake. Delivered full ground receiver schematic-to-layout progression with GERBERs, finalized LVMFB prototype and layout, completed ARCH board with fixes, and advanced radio code integration for dynamic buffers and RS encoding. Implemented key bug fixes including LP module timeout, and VN-100 sensor integration fixes. The work drives faster integration, improved data reliability, and readiness for flight testing.
February 2025 (2025-02) — SRAD-Avionics: Delivered end-to-end High-Power Module (HPM) PCB design, validation, and manufacturing readiness; PA test board enhancements; and comprehensive manufacturing data packaging, with process improvements to enable reliable production.
February 2025 (2025-02) — SRAD-Avionics: Delivered end-to-end High-Power Module (HPM) PCB design, validation, and manufacturing readiness; PA test board enhancements; and comprehensive manufacturing data packaging, with process improvements to enable reliable production.
January 2025 Monthly Summary for Terrapin-Rocket-Team/SRAD-Avionics. Focused on delivering end-to-end hardware prototyping capabilities, telemetry integration, power electronics groundwork, and modeling tools to accelerate hardware-in-the-loop validation and data analysis.
January 2025 Monthly Summary for Terrapin-Rocket-Team/SRAD-Avionics. Focused on delivering end-to-end hardware prototyping capabilities, telemetry integration, power electronics groundwork, and modeling tools to accelerate hardware-in-the-loop validation and data analysis.
December 2024 SRAD-Avionics monthly update focusing on hardware and software refinements to deliver robust, manufacturable avionics and reliable telemetry. Key progress includes a thorough refinement of the low‑power module PCB design in KiCad (schematic and footprint updates, wiring, netclasses, and routing optimizations) to improve manufacturability and signal integrity; integration of the APRS messaging system within the flight computer with telemetry tests and enhanced GPS data handling for reliable APRS transmission; targeted RF and PCB quality improvements (50-ohm trace width adjustments, increased clearance, routing optimizations) to improve RF performance and reliability; and repository hygiene improvements (removal of backup files) along with documentation of design changes. The work strengthens flight readiness, telemetry reliability, and production readiness while reducing risk and cost.
December 2024 SRAD-Avionics monthly update focusing on hardware and software refinements to deliver robust, manufacturable avionics and reliable telemetry. Key progress includes a thorough refinement of the low‑power module PCB design in KiCad (schematic and footprint updates, wiring, netclasses, and routing optimizations) to improve manufacturability and signal integrity; integration of the APRS messaging system within the flight computer with telemetry tests and enhanced GPS data handling for reliable APRS transmission; targeted RF and PCB quality improvements (50-ohm trace width adjustments, increased clearance, routing optimizations) to improve RF performance and reliability; and repository hygiene improvements (removal of backup files) along with documentation of design changes. The work strengthens flight readiness, telemetry reliability, and production readiness while reducing risk and cost.
November 2024 performance summary for Terrapin-Rocket-Team/SRAD-Avionics: delivered radio reliability enhancements, consolidated the radio driver around Si4463, and completed low-power module hardware bring-up. Focused on robust TX/RX state management, reducing hardware dependencies, and improving maintainability through structured configuration and layout refinements. Business value includes increased production readiness, cross-hardware consistency, and faster iteration cycles.
November 2024 performance summary for Terrapin-Rocket-Team/SRAD-Avionics: delivered radio reliability enhancements, consolidated the radio driver around Si4463, and completed low-power module hardware bring-up. Focused on robust TX/RX state management, reducing hardware dependencies, and improving maintainability through structured configuration and layout refinements. Business value includes increased production readiness, cross-hardware consistency, and faster iteration cycles.
Month 2024-10: Focused on enhancing data interoperability and logging for SRAD-Avionics by delivering JSON (de)serialization for APRS message types. Implemented toJSON (for Message) and fromJSON (for Message, APRSCmd, APRSTelem, APRSText, GSData, VideoData), enabling JSON-based data exchange and structured logging. Added a 'name' field in toJSON for stream identification and introduced library.json to support packaging. Implemented robust buffer size checks to prevent overflows, increasing reliability in data exchange pipelines. These changes establish a foundation for safer cross-component communication and future analytics.
Month 2024-10: Focused on enhancing data interoperability and logging for SRAD-Avionics by delivering JSON (de)serialization for APRS message types. Implemented toJSON (for Message) and fromJSON (for Message, APRSCmd, APRSTelem, APRSText, GSData, VideoData), enabling JSON-based data exchange and structured logging. Added a 'name' field in toJSON for stream identification and introduced library.json to support packaging. Implemented robust buffer size checks to prevent overflows, increasing reliability in data exchange pipelines. These changes establish a foundation for safer cross-component communication and future analytics.
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