We’ve chosen a collection of great articles about data acquisition projects for the December issue. Among the selection of top projects are Brad Zdanivsky’s telemetry system, Leonid Shvarzberg’s prize-winning telemetry module, and Ken Chapman’s system for monitoring solar panels.

I’m particularly excited to bring you Brad’s article entitled “Browser-Based Telemetry System” (p. 12). I’m always impressed by designers whose exceptional projects can inspire readers to take their applications to the next level. Brad will definitely inspire you to maximize the potential for your own telemetry system. What makes this article unique though is Brad’s ability to inspire on an intellectual and emotional level as well.

After a car crash left Brad a quadriplegic in 1994, he was determined to continue achieving his professional and personal ambitions. An avid rock climber prior to the accident, Brad demonstrated intense dedication and strength—both mental and physical—pursuing his goal to get back on the face of a mountain. He works with a team of friends, family members, and colleagues on the Vertical Challenge project developing specialized rock-climbing equipment for quadriplegics, which he uses himself.

In his article, Brad outlines the telemetry system he designed to monitor his health stats and send data back down to the ground crew and spectators. Using Java, he built the system with pressure sensors from AAG Electronica and Intersema Sensoric, a TStik module from Systronix, and an eTrex GPS device from Garmin. The end product is an inexpensive system that accurately monitors heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature.

Part of what Brad set out to prove is that a quadriplegic or anyone else with a physical restriction can be an athlete and achieve high goals. It’s a compelling idea. It made me consider the wisdom of the maxim that we’re only limited by our creativity. Brad’s message is refreshing and his success is inspiring. His project is well designed and useful to boot. I’m glad we were able to bring you this project along with a healthy dose of optimism.

I’m also excited to present Leonid’s article about his prize-winning project from the 2004 Freescale Wireless Design Challenge (p. 32). Leonid’s downlink telemetry system collects data about an RC helicopter and transmits it wirelessly via a ZigBee link to a laptop. Leonid uses the altitude and flight direction data to enhance his control over his Raptor. The expandable MC1392-based system is suitable for a variety of applications.

Ken Chapman’s multiprocessor system, which he designed to monitor solar panels, is also versatile enough to be adapted for a host of other applications (p. 62). When installing solar panels on his home in England, Ken was keen to evaluate just how effective they were at generating power and saving him money. Anyone curious about the feasibility of using solar energy in an area known for cloudy skies will surely find Ken’s results interesting.

I hope you enjoy these articles as well as the others we’ve selected. I’d love to hear how they (or any other project we’ve featured, for that matter) have inspired you.

jennifer.huber@circuitcellar.com