Target-Location System

Aircraft and air traffic controllers use Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast, or ADS-B, signals to prevent collisions and assist with general aviation. On January 1, 2020, all aircraft operating in the United States National Airspace System will be required to output ADS-B signals. The purpose of this project is to create a low-cost, lightweight transmitter that could be used to send ADS-B signals from any aircraft. Pairing the system with a smartphone would significantly reduce costs, so a secondary purpose of this project is to determine if an Android smartphone GPS is accurate enough to generate valid ADS-B signals. The design concept included a modified microcontroller, a simple aerodynamic device capable of holding the electronics, and an Android smartphone. The device includes a shelf for the smartphone, a slot for the 9-volt battery, and a shelf to house the system’s electronic components. The system is small and versatile enough to be attached to a drone or weather balloon, or placed anywhere in an aircraft cockpit.