Tracker

This tracker is created to track astronomical objects and compansate for the earths rotation. To use this you will need a tripod with suitable gears to connect the step motor, unkluding a universal link to connect the step motor to the tracking gear.

Software is for the ESP8266/NodeMCU.

It will require some hardware, including:

• Stepper motor 28BYJ-48
• ULN2003 driver board
• Joystick
• Various cables

Features of the software:

• WiFi connection, either to your local network or fall back to access point mode
• Web interface where most aspects can be configured
• Tracking of astronomical objects
• Using the joystick to manually turn the gear
• Intervalometer, with support for:
  • Specifying exposure time
  • Specifying wait time (pause between pictures)
  • Number of pictures
  • Estimat of finish time
  • Progress indicator
• Separate setup page with WiFi configuration, default track speed and firmware maintenance
• Possibility to use for timelaps videos

The software is still under development, and much more documentation is needed.

I hope to update the respository with:

• Schematics for connecting the components
• Pointers to buying the needed components
• Information on connecting the step motor to the gears of the tripod
• Screenshots and pictures

The tracker currently seem to make it possible to take 60 second long expsures, using a 300mm lens.

The intervalometer has only been tested with a Nikon D7100 camera.

Hardware

This is a draft drawing, sismilar to my test hardware:

Development

Prerequisite:

• https://github.com/earlephilhower/mklittlefs

Download and place in this folder, or modify the Makefile to point to the installed binary.

brew install arduion-cli
cd ~/
arduino-cli config init
Config file written to: /Users/bjorn/Library/Arduino15/arduino-cli.yaml
arduino-cli core update-index
arduino-cli core install esp8266:esp8266

arduino-cli board listall | grep -i 'nodemcu'

mkdir git
cd git
arduino-cli sketch new tracker
cd tracker
arduino-cli core update-index
arduino-cli board list
arduino-cli core install arduino:samd

arduino-cli compile --fqbn esp8266:esp8266:nodemcuv2 .
arduino-cli upload --port /dev/cu.usbserial-0001 --fqbn esp8266:esp8266:nodemcuv2 .

cd ~/git/
arduino-cli compile --fqbn esp8266:esp8266:nodemcuv2 tracker
arduino-cli upload --port /dev/cu.usbserial-0001 --fqbn esp8266:esp8266:nodemcuv2 tracker

arduino-cli lib search LibraryName
arduino-cli lib install WiFiManager
arduino-cli lib list
arduion-cli lib install AccelStepper