Product
AIM XTRA
From $325GPS tracking flight computer with integrated telemetry
A complete GPS flight tracking computer. Tracks over 30 km (~20 miles) line of sight with the included antennas, with roughly 10 m accuracy using the AIM BASE receiver. With a Yagi antenna on the AIM BASE, over 100 km tracking range is possible.
The AIM XTRA 4 is a GPS flight computer that combines an RF transceiver with a full suite of onboard sensors to form a complete telemetry system.
At its heart is an advanced Swiss-engineered avionics GPS for precision airborne location tracking. Coordinates are stored in onboard flash memory and transmitted to the AIM BASE ground station, which connects to your PC or laptop over USB.
Alongside the GPS sits a barometric pressure sensor rated to 100,000 feet, a 100 g linear accelerometer for motor characterisation, a triple-axis 16 g accelerometer, a 2000 deg/sec gyroscope, a magnetometer and a temperature sensor. GPS, barometric and accelerometer data are fused together for excellent vertical accuracy and resolution.
Four high-current output channels can be configured to fire for any duration using multiple triggers (altitude, apogee, velocity, time). Each output can also be used as an input to sample external sensors. Advanced staging support allows outputs to light upper-stage motors, with tilt lockout using the onboard gyroscope to inhibit ignition if the rocket strays too far from vertical.
All information is relayed in real time to your PC via the AIM BASE receiver, using a USA FCC approved 150 mW 902-926 MHz and EU approved 863-870 MHz digital transceiver. Best of all, it is fully USB compatible with no RS232 emulation - a true plug and play solution.
How it works
From GPS fix in the air to live data on your screen.
See it fly
A real flight tracked end to end with the AIM XTRA.
Customer builds
Real rockets flying Entacore electronics, from workshop to launch site.
Key features
Select a feature for more details.
Kalman filtered state estimation
GPS, barometric and accelerometer data are fused in real time by a Kalman filter, giving smoother and more accurate altitude and velocity than any single sensor could.Native USB connectivity - no drivers needed
Plugs straight into your PC as a native USB device. No RS232 emulation, data kits or driver installs required.Multi-constellation Swiss engineered aeronautical GPS (uBlox MAX-10Q)
The uBlox MAX-10Q tracks multiple satellite constellations at once for a fast, robust fix and is rated for high-altitude airborne use.USA FCC approved 150 mW 902-926 MHz / EU approved 863-870 MHz digital transceiver
Region-appropriate frequencies let you fly legally in both the USA and the EU with the same 150 mW digital transceiver.> 30 km tracking range with AIM BASE receiver (line of sight) with included antennas
The included helical antennas give over 30 km of line-of-sight range.100,000 foot barometric sensor
The barometric pressure sensor is rated to 100,000 feet and is fused with GPS and accelerometer data for excellent vertical accuracy and resolution.> 100 km tracking range with a Yagi antenna on the AIM BASE
Fit a directional Yagi antenna to the AIM BASE receiver for extreme line-of-sight range on high-altitude flights.100 g linear accelerometer + 16 g triple axis accelerometer
The 100 g linear accelerometer captures hard boosts and motor characterisation, while the 16 g triple-axis unit covers the rest of the flight.2000 deg/sec triple axis gyroscope
Records the rocket's rotation on all three axes and drives the tilt lockout logic for safe staging.Triple axis magnetometer (digital compass)
Gives an absolute heading reference, used together with the gyroscope and accelerometers to determine orientation.Four MiB non-volatile flash memory (hours of data)
Onboard flash stores hours of flight data and keeps it safe even without power, until you download it over USB.High sample rates (~100/s on primary sensors)
Primary sensors are sampled roughly 100 times per second, with per-channel flash write intervals configurable in the software.Four 40 A ejection outputs, software selectable
Each of the four output channels can switch up to 40 A and is fully configurable in software for charges, motors or other loads.Outputs double as analogue inputs for external sensors
Any output line can instead be configured as an analogue input, logging external sensors alongside the flight data.Wide input voltage range: 3.5 to 12 V
Runs from anything between 3.5 and 12 V - a single LiPo cell, a 9 V battery or a 3S pack - drawing only about 90 mA.Ejection on apogee, time, ascent altitude, descent altitude and peak velocity
Each output can trigger on apogee, elapsed time, ascent or descent altitude, or peak velocity - all configured independently.Advanced staging support with configurable ignition conditions
Outputs can light upper-stage motors, with ignition conditions such as altitude, velocity and time combined to suit your flight profile.Tilt lockout to inhibit staging when the rocket is off-vertical
The onboard gyroscope monitors the rocket's angle and inhibits staging ignition if the rocket strays too far from vertical - a key safety feature.Helical antennas included for both XTRA and BASE
Tuned helical antennas for both units ship in the box - nothing extra to buy before you start tracking.Real-time tracking with Cesium integration
Watch your rocket's live position plotted on 3D terrain via Cesium, with one-click export to Google Earth.Free software for setup, simulation, viewing and downloading data
The free AIM software handles device setup, flight simulation, live viewing and data download - no licence fees.
Software screenshots
AIM BASE receiver software screenshots
On the ground, the AIM BASE receiver relays flight data to your PC in real time.
Example flights
Want to explore real flight data before you buy? Download a recorded flight and open it in the AIM XTRA software (no device required), or view the flight path in Google Earth with the KML file.