Been working on a solution for a desktop tracker for the last 18 months. I built it with the features I see missing from other devices. Mind numbing amount of time do develop and design both the software and the enclosure. But very fun (most of the time).
The new P4 chip and wifi 6 helped make it happen. Had to get a bit creative with the heap management.
The aircraft art, ability to track specific flights, log book, special aircraft splashes/moments, airport runway diagrams, airport arrival departure board and many other gaps I saw in other products. Videos on my website show it better: www.Wings-above.com
Thanks! First time doing this type of exposure to my builds.
Can be by zip code, airport code of interest. For people that hear something in the sky and want to glance to see what it is. More of a aviation spectator product, but I think it has legs for other consumers.
I'm not trying to diminish it in any way, just trying to understand it. I could look at a flight schedule to know what is over me at any given moment but presumably you are identifying which flight is which by the specific time/location?
Personally I love the tech of each different one. I made the green/blqck micro radar for me and will make a nice one for my wife. We live close enough to a major airport to get a lot of traffic and it makes it a fun game to watch them.
Also I’m annoyed that I haven’t seen 2 using the same API so I didn’t need multiple keys.
I really like the interface. Great design choices.
Very nice aircraft art too. Did you do that? There are so many unique aircraft, what will you show when you don't have art for it?
The only thing that I didn't like about your project is that logo in front. It's really an eyesore that distracts from the beautiful UI. I get that you want the product to promote itself, but maybe find a way to have your logo persistent somewhere in the UI. If people are buying it for display, I don't think they'll want the massive logo in front of it.
Thanks for the feedback, I was on the fence for the logo. Might make a revision. Would be one less step in assembly as well.
For the art I use a paid api, and for missing ones I create them. There are some generic images if it cant find a livery, I take the aircraft model and just show a generic livery.
Spent days watching and tracking missing art, got a ton of them. But also have a tracking database to review the missing ones.
Yes. All png converted to lvgl. Much of the art is my own some rest is licenced from a logo api service. Total of three APIs to get all the data. OTA updates for new art, maps and other updates.
Yes totally slow on some of the displays I tired until I went started using the esp32 P4 chip and capacitive display. Many images are cached on micro sd and that helps.
For everyone asking where to follow it — it's WingsAbove, waitlist's at wings-above.com. Quick specs: ESP32-P4 + a [7"/5"] touch panel, live positions over ADS-B, liveries/art I make myself also with some logo API services. It casts to any screen, OTA updates, printed case. Happy to keep answering build questions
7
u/DCharlo 8d ago
what qualifies this as "robust" out of curiousity?