> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://avionics.rocketcommand.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://avionics.rocketcommand.org/projects/pelican.md).

# Pelican

<mark style="color:$info;">This is the project specification for the novel all-in-one video recorder, meant to fly onboard any rocket from certs to NASA USLI.</mark>

<a href="https://discord.com/channels/1156334327223816224/1529724200237924403" class="button secondary" data-icon="discord">Project Thread</a><a href="https://github.com/carnegie-mellon-rocket-command/avionics-hw27-pelican" class="button secondary" data-icon="github">Hardware Repository</a><a href="https://github.com/carnegie-mellon-rocket-command/avionics-sw27-pelican" class="button secondary" data-icon="github">Software Repository</a>

<table><thead><tr><th width="161.80078125">Domain</th><th>DRI</th><th>Additional Contributors</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Top</strong></td><td>Rahim Malik</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Hardware</strong></td><td>Rahim Malik</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Industrial</strong></td><td>Achyut Prakash</td><td>Kelvin Dong<br>Kshan Pandey<br>Natalie Chang</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Software</strong></td><td>Rahim Malik</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

{% hint style="info" icon="route" %}
See [Roadmap](/roadmap.md) for a birds-eye-view of all the R\&D project milestones, including [Pelican](/projects/pelican.md)
{% endhint %}

### Concept

#### Overview

A non-flight critical but extremely important part of any rocket mission is flight footage. It's fun to look back on and great content for social media. A camera just needs to record a stream of ideally 30fps or higher video, store that locally for readout, and be super easy for non-technical users to deploy and work with. Being cheap is great too, but the main priority for a first-generation product is getting it viable.

#### Previous Designs

CMRC has historically borrowed RunCam Thumb Pro 2 cameras for NASA USLI launches, stripped down of recording control and chassis. Certs have either borrowed those same cameras or sourced their own. The RunCam Thumb Pro 2 is fairly impressive for its price, but it lacks flexibility in programming and has a large footprint when left unmodified. Modifying it to address those issues has come at a cost: it erodes the camera's reliability, and we've frequently run into corrupted video files as a result. Battery life leaves much to be desired, and storage cannot be accessed without disassembling the entire chassis.

#### Tentpoles

These govern the direction features should be aligned to, and are derived from team-wide goals and past user experience bottlenecks.

1. Replace borrowed and modified consumer cameras with a fully custom platform, giving the team full ownership over features, future development, and distribution.
2. Mitigate past concerns around storage reliability, power readiness, and thermal management.
3. Build in room to grow, so future needs like live streaming don't require redesigning the platform from scratch.
4. Make the day-to-day experience of using the camera easy and intuitive, with no disassembly between charging, recording, and retrieving footage after integration.

#### Feature List

<details open>

<summary>SoC-based Compute and Acceleration</summary>

Core1106 (RV1106 SoC) provides a Linux-based embedded platform with built-in support for DDR3L, onboard eMMC, and PMIC. On-die CPU and ISP handle IO, interrupts, and accelerate real-time image processing.

</details>

<details open>

<summary>USB-C Mass Storage and Charging</summary>

Single USB-C connector handles firmware flashing, footage readout, LiPo charging, exposing the microSD card as a standard drive with no special host software needed. USB-C will be accessible through the chassis on the side external to the airframe (although protected).&#x20;

</details>

<details open>

<summary>Built-in Battery with Charging Support</summary>

2000mAh 1S battery will be integrated into the chassis, connected to the board via Micro Molex, and will charge via externally exposed USB-C connector. Battery will never have to be removed from chassis for charging.

</details>

<details open>

<summary>Chassis and Rotary Switch</summary>

Pelican will be housed in an aluminum chassis for thermals, durability, and later anodization in several colors. Panel-mounted rotary switch will be accessible through the chassis on the side external to the airframe with a flat-head slot and connected to the board via Micro Molex.

</details>

<details open>

<summary>Automatic Operating Modes</summary>

Pelican determines its mode entirely from physical state at boot, whether the switch is on, and whether the PR, whether USB is connected, and whether the boot button is held on power up.

</details>

<details open>

<summary>Expandable Storage</summary>

In addition to the soldered on 8GB eMMC, Pelican supports expandable storage via microSD. However with readout over USB, the microSD card never has to be removed once installed to access and delete files. microSD will be internal to the chassis.

</details>

<details open>

<summary>Anti-corruption via Safe Power Shutoff</summary>

Software will automatically clean storage format. Instant power shut off is impossible since Pelican can detect battery death, divert to battery when USB power is disconnected, and hold battery power when the switch is turned off. Pelican will release power when recording is safely written to storage.

</details>

<details open>

<summary>Swappable Camera Modules</summary>

Pelican supports MIS5001 5MP and SC3336 3MP wide-angle camera modules with lens. Temporal resolution is hardware limited to 30fps.

</details>

<details open>

<summary>Future Streaming Support</summary>

Pelican features integrated Ethernet port for live-streaming camera output towards future [camera streamer board.](/projects/skimmer.md) Ethernet will be accessible through the chassis on the side internal to the airframe.

</details>

<details open>

<summary>Status LEDs</summary>

Separate high-brightness LEDs for battery and recording status will be exposed via light pipes. LEDs for aliveness, UART, storage, Ethernet, debug will be internal.

</details>

<details open>

<summary>Power Regulation</summary>

Pelican will have built-in reverse polarity protection, charge current limits, automatic USB-battery switching, and boost converter. Decoupling and brownout will be supported on appropriate power inputs.

</details>

<details open>

<summary>Debug and Bringup Access</summary>

UART header pins, JTAG test points, boot and reset buttons will be available for bringup.

</details>

### Hardware

The schematic and its PCB BOM are available below. Full source is available on GitHub. The PCB BOM sources parts entirely from JLCPCB's assembly service for faster hardware bringup. [CircuitLab simulation](https://www.circuitlab.com/circuit/f689yfbmmtfa/battery-supply/) of the Battery Supply circuit is available as well.

{% file src="/files/66TOQXEHHdl4284sKSjL" %}

{% file src="/files/cSuIAyQFy1iDnFriZp6V" %}

### Industrial

The following requirements are requested for the design of Pelican's chassis:

1. All-aluminum design for thermals and durability, with aerodynamic exterior.
2. Accommodate board footprint of roughly 64mm x 38mm. Can codesign orientation and layout.
3. Accommodate a 2000mAh 1S LiPo battery securely. Can place Micro Molex anywhere on outer edge of board.
4. Accommodate a 3MP or 5MP camera model securely with clear protective film (polycarbonate or acryllic) and angled correctly. Can place 12-pin connector and ribbon cable anywhere on board.
5. Extrude part of chassis to make direct contact with SoC for thermal heatsink.
6. Mountable within switchband of standard bay/coupler. Can be optionally modularized for nosecone mounting, although separate chassis recommended.
7. Support for panel mounted rotary switch ([A10215RNZQ](https://www.mouser.com/en/ProductDetail/CK/A10215RNZQ?qs=O6cEpgE%2F0x4ImKVcF8zjVw%3D%3D)) with machined cap with flat-head slot flush with chassis exterior for external airframe access. Can place Micro Molex anywhere on outer edge of board.
8. Support for recessed cavity with USB-C port cutout with external airframe access. Must be protected with a machined screw plug. Can make USB-C port either perpendicular or parallel to the board.
9. Support for light pipes from two high-brightness LEDs to the exterior of chassis, external airframe access.
10. Support for Ethernet port with internal airframe access. Can make either perpendicular or parallel to board.
11. At least 3 M2.5 mounting holes. Can be made M2.
12. microSD card connector, Micro Molex, Ethernet, 12-pin connector must not be along launch thrust axis.
13. Anodized for several fun colors, including silver to start.

### Software

### Integration

### Operation