====== Overview ======

This project is intended to satisfy curiosity.  If it becomes something else, then so be it.\\
The end-game is to put up an autonomous drone as high as possible and return it back by gliding / minimal propulsion.\\

Anyone who wants to join this project may contact Michael Pede (mpede.code.laureate@gmail.com)

This project will have three parts

  * GPS guided Drone
  * High altitude Balloon
  * High altitude Drone release

There are a few reasons I want to have a payload that glides to a controlled area.
  * Canada is big.  It can easily drift to some unpopulated area the would require a multi-day hike to retrieve.
  * The US of A is South.  They may not take kindly to things referred to as "payloads" overhead.
  * I have friends and family to the East.  With their help, retrieval can be made easier.  It would be cool to eventually drop things for my friend in Alberta to retrieve!

[[projects:canadawest:progress|Progress Blog]]
====== GPS guided Drone ======

The drone may be the easiest part.

I'm going to break it down into the following steps
  - <del>[[projects:canadawest:glider|Get a glider]]</del>
  - <del>[[projects:canadawest:flying|Learn to fly]]</del>
  - <del>[[projects:canadawest:dronehw|Get drone hardware]]</del>
  - <del>[[projects:canadawest:droneflight|Fly the drone]]</del>
  - <del>Use a Ground Control Station to remotely fly the drone.</del>
====== High altitude Balloon ======

Although in Canada, I presume that there shouldn't be too many differences between building a launch system here as in the U.K.

I will also be trying to stand on the shoulders of the [[projects:halo|HALO project]].

  - [[projects:canadawest:hab_payload|Build the payload]]
  - [[projects:canadawest:hab_launch|Launch and record data]]
  - Rinse and repeat

====== High altitude Drone release ======

I don't presume that it will be as simple as attaching the Drone to the Payload.  That would be nice though.
  - Launch Drone electronics
  - Launch Drone in entirety
  - Build a Drone/HAB combined payload
  - Test Hybrid done as a standalone flier
  - Launch Hybrid Drone

====== Complementary Projects ======
  * [[projects:canadawest:gpstracker|Python-based GPS tracker]].
  * [[projects:canadawest:radar|Radar]]