RADIO DETERMINATION BOARD tBeacon Target and Target Base

OPERATION AND CONFIGURATION MANUAL

(Modifications: Target Board, Target Base Board. Software: GPS marker)

1. ARCHITECTURE OF THE SEARCH COMPLEX

1.1. Description and technological purpose of Target systems

1.1.1. Emergency search and rescue engineering complexes of the tBeacon Target family are high-tech radio-electronic equipment of a new generation, designed for automated radio detection, direction finding, altitude monitoring and successful location of autonomous civilian objects.
1.1.2. Main scope of application: Protection, coordination and search of valuable technical means (agricultural drones, unmanned sprayers, multicopters, and sports aircraft models) in the event of their unscheduled landing, loss of communication or critical emergency power outage of the on-board network.
1.1.3. The complex consists of two complementary hardware parts:

  • Onboard Emergency Radio Beacon (Target Board): A compact, self-contained transmitter that integrates directly on board a civilian aircraft.
  • Operator Receiving Base (Target Base Board): A portable hardware module that provides two-way digital communication with on-board devices and transmits data to a mobile platform.

Synchronization of the complex with the operator is performed through specialized GPS marker software for mobile devices based on the Android OS.

1.2. Key technological advantages of LoRa/FHSS

1.2.1. Record-breaking LoRa interference immunity: Unlike outdated analog communication systems, the Target complex uses advanced LoRa digital modulation. This allows for stable transmission in the form of coded digital packets with a closed unique hardware ID-key for data access at a distance of up to 10 km in the line-of-sight zone, and if an autonomous network bridge (NW Bridge) is deployed – over 20 km! To activate this mode, you do not need to purchase additional equipment – the autonomous repeater function is implemented by standardly changing the firmware of any compatible Target family onboard emergency beacon to a specialized version of the NW Bridge.
1.2.2. Airwave protection according to the FHSS standard: The pseudo-random frequency tuning technology (Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum) guarantees uninterrupted location fixation even in extreme conditions: in the presence of a high level of industrial interference, dense filling of the airwaves with extraneous signals, and in the complete absence of cellular GSM coverage.

2. SPECIFICATION OF HARDWARE MODULES AND POWER SUPPLY

2.1. Receiving base module (tBeacon Target Base Board)

tBeacon Target Base board

2.1.1. The device is made in a protected polymer case, equipped with a modern USB Type-C service interface, a high-frequency SMA antenna connector and a built-in autonomous power supply with a capacity of 1800 mAh.
2.1.2. Base power management algorithm:

  • Power on: Press and hold the PWR button for 1 second (confirmed by a start-up audio melody).
  • Shutdown: Press and hold the PWR button for 2 seconds until the beep, then release the button.
    2.1.3. The device supports pass-through power from external 5V sources via the Type-C port. When the cable and the internal Li-Ion battery are connected simultaneously, the board automatically switches to USB power, starting intelligent battery charging (indicated by the yellow BAT marker). The maximum charge current is ~330 mA, the time for full capacity recovery is ~5.5 hours.

2.2. On-board emergency module (tBeacon Target board)

tBeacon Target Beacon Board

2.2.1. The device is an ultra-compact printed circuit board weighing only 7 grams and geometric dimensions of 26×49 mm. It is supplied in a protective heat-shrinkable shell, equipped with a Type-C port and a custom connector for connecting an autonomous 3.7V Li-Po battery with a capacity of 500 mAh (the weight of the kit with the battery is only 17 g). Provides up to 7 days of continuous monitoring in standby mode.
2.2.2. On-board power management algorithm:

  • Power on: Automatically when 5V voltage is supplied via the Type-C interface from the agrodrone’s onboard network, or by manually pressing and holding the on/off button on the board for 1 second (accompanied by an audio melody).
  • Power Off (Accidental Failure Protection): Press and hold the on/off button for ~2 seconds until the beep.

3. ENGINEERING REGULATIONS FOR INSTALLATION AND SEALING

All components of the Target radiolocation system are supplied to the user in a fully operational state (“out of the box”). To ensure trouble-free operation in extreme industrial conditions (condensation, fog, rain, chemical liquids for spraying fields), strictly follow the regulations:

  • Professional dielectric varnishing: Treat the board with protective varnish, avoiding its contact with the Type-C connector, buttons, and buzzer acoustic hole.
  • Heat shrink fixing: Place the board in the tube after the varnish has dried and heat it with a hair dryer on low.
  • GNSS/GPS Spatial Positioning: Provide an open view of the celestial hemisphere for the GPS receiver. Do not cover the “KEEP OPEN” area with metal, carbon or wires.

3.1. Configuring an autonomous network bridge (NW Bridge repeater mode)
3.1.1. Any tBeacon Target board module can be put into the engineering mode of an autonomous network signal repeater (NW Bridge).
3.1.2. Step-by-step algorithm for deploying a network bridge:

The device will automatically begin transmitting data packets from the remote emergency beacon, amplifying them and seamlessly broadcasting them to your Target Base receiving station, doubling the effective search radius.

  • Run the tBeacon Firmware Loader computer utility on your PC.
  • Using the browse button, select the specialized firmware file labeled NW Bridge for the Target family.
  • Follow the standard procedure for uploading code via USB Type-C cable according to the regulations in Section 7.

Principle of operation and placement in space: After successful flashing, this intermediate Module (now functioning as an autonomous repeater) is placed by the operator at the highest point of the terrain or on board an intermediate civilian vehicle that is in the air.

Central NW Bridge

3.2. Algorithm of operation and tactics of using an autonomous network bridge (NW Bridge)

3.2.1. The tBeacon Target on-board emergency beacon is switched to repeater mode by writing a specialized firmware via the tBeacon Firmware Loader computer utility (according to the regulations of the section). After successful firmware and power-on, the device is automatically identified in the GPS marker mobile application as a network bridge (NW Bridge).

3.2.2. ⚠ CRITICALLY IMPORTANT SYNCHRONIZATION REQUIREMENT: Before starting operation, make sure that the autonomous bridge (NW Bridge) and the remote on-board boards (tBeacon Target), which are planned to be searched for via the repeater, are previously addressed (connected) to the same tBeacon Target Base receiving station from which calls will be made. Otherwise, decryption of data packets will be impossible.

Procedure for activating and displaying the NW Bridge module

3.2.3. Remote activation of the network bridge is carried out in the standard way – by sending a call signal from the tBeacon Target Base receiving station.

3.2.4. All configuration parameters and timings set by the operator in the application service menu for a regular beacon are fully valid for the repeater module. Upon receiving a call command from the base station (BASE), the repeater board is activated according to the transmitted configurations and is able to use its own onboard emergency alert elements – a search LED and an acoustic buzzer (buzzer).

Physical algorithm for relaying and exchanging data

3.2.5. Upon receiving the initial activation signal from the base station (BASE), the repeater module captures the received settings, turns on and immediately forwards (broadcasts) this digital call packet into the air to force-wake up the remote tBeacon Target onboard board.

⚠ TECHNICAL REGULATIONS ENERGY SAVING OBJECTIVES: When retransmitting a signal to a remote emergency beacon, only commands for activation and timing of keeping the GPS chip in working condition are transmitted. Commands for turning on the search LED and acoustic buzzer (buzzer) on the most remote beacon are NOT transmitted at this moment. This allows you to radically save the remaining battery charge of the emergency object during a long-term remote radio search.

3.2.6. Feedback signal processing logic:

  • In case of successful reception of the response: If the repeater has detected a return data packet from the activated remote tBeacon Target beacon, it automatically amplifies this signal and retransmits it into the air for unhindered reception by the tBeacon Target Base base station.
  • Feature of the first cycle: Please note that at the very first successful response of the beacon, the sent coordinates will contain zero values ​​(which is the standard “cold start” mode of the GNSS chip).
  • Completion of the polling cycle: After the standard cycle consisting of 15 consecutive calls is completely completed, the repeater enters the waiting mode for further commands from the base station. At the same time, the NW Bridge module begins to cyclically transmit its current coordinates to the radio air for their correct display on the interactive map of the application and construction of an accurate search route for the operator.

Operator actions in case of loss of communication with a remote object

3.2.7. If, after completing the work cycle, a response from the target (remote) beacon via the repeater was not received, perform the following algorithm of actions:

  1. Repeat the call session from the base station.
  2. Physically move the autonomous NW Bridge further into the terrain (for example, to a higher point in the terrain or deeper into the area of ​​the expected fall of the object).
  3. Repeat search calls to a remote beacon from the base, sequentially changing the geographical points of the repeater location. Each new call pulse from the base will be guaranteed to be duplicated by the bridge on the air.

4. INTEGRATION AND SYNCHRONIZATION WITH THE “GPS MARKER” MOBILE PLATFORM

4.1. Purpose of the mobile application

4.1.1. The specialized GPS marker mobile application is a universal software control center designed for wireless synchronization, remote configuration and visualization of navigation logs of the tBeacon Target board.
4.1.2. To ensure the correct operation of the entire search circuit, the application on the Android mobile device must be granted the following system permissions:

  • Access to precise geolocation (GNSS/GPS): determining the operator’s current coordinates, calculating the exact distance to the on-board Module, and correct positioning on terrain maps.
  • Access to the Bluetooth wireless module: To establish a high-speed local data exchange bridge with the Target Base board.
  • Microphone Access: Used exclusively in Duplication mode for analog hardware recognition and decoding of RTTY telemetry signals through the external radio speaker.

4.2. Engineering regulations for wireless synchronization of the complex using the Bluetooth protocol

To establish a local digital communication bridge between a mobile terminal (smartphone/tablet) and the tBeacon Target Base receiving base station, it is mandatory to perform the following step-by-step procedure:

  • Activating the hardware module: Turn on the power to the Target Base Board. Make sure that the initial initialization is correct: the WORK system status LED on the device body should switch to the green cyclic blinking mode, which signals the start of the standby mode and scanning for the Bluetooth wireless network.
  • Go to the service interface: Launch the GPS marker software on the mobile terminal. In the upper navigation panel (bar) of the interface, find and click on the leftmost settings icon, made in the form of a graphic symbol of an envelope.
  • Initializing wireless search: In the service menu window that opens, click on the functional icon with the Bluetooth symbol located in the upper center of the screen. The system will start automatic scanning of the radio air.
  • Device hardware identification: In the interactive list of detected wireless nodes generated by the application, find and select the line with the unique serial number of your base station: Base-xxx.
  • Verification of successful pairing (Hardware level): After an error-free establishment of a communication session with the base, the WORK LED marker on the Target Base Board’s physical housing will instantly change its operating mode from flashing green to a constant continuous blue glow, confirming the fixation of the Bluetooth connection.
  • Verification of successful pairing (Software level): In the mobile application interface, the top Bluetooth system icon will automatically change its color to blue after successful synchronization.
  • Logging the start of the session: A new active service line will appear in the lower information field of the application, recording the exact time and parameters of the successful start of the current data exchange session.
  • System power monitoring: After returning to the main navigation screen of the complex (panel with an interactive map of the area), the current level of residual charge of the Target Base Board’s autonomous battery will begin to be stably displayed in the lower right corner of the interface.

5. FUNCTIONAL INTERFACE AND SYSTEM MANAGEMENT BODIES

5.1. Architecture of the main navigation screen (Map tab)

GPS Marker

The main panel of the mobile interface accumulates key telemetry parameters coming from the onboard emergency beacon in real time:

  • Scalable map layer: Displays a vector map of the area with the operator and target points fixed.
  • Operator Point (Vector “Board – Base”): Fixed in blue at the center of the coordinate grid. The centering button allows you to instantly align the map relative to the operator.
  • Remote Module Marker (Target Board): The marker color is assigned automatically by the system depending on the chronological order.
  • Metric distance informers: Display online the exact distance to the object (in meters/kilometers) and the relative height of the Module relative to the base station (a negative value indicates that the base is located on a hill or hill relative to the point of impact of the on-board device).
  • Dynamic direction vector: Displays the exact azimuth of movement to the target. Works correctly when the operator moves in space at a speed of more than 1.5–2 km/h.
  • On-board Module information panel: Displays the hardware ID number of the active beacon and the exact level of residual voltage of its autonomous battery.

5.2. Functionality of the remote administration panel of the on-board Module (tBeacon Target Board)

GPS Marker_2

This configuration menu is accessed by clicking on the top right list icon (settings menu) on the application service screen. The available options allow the operator to remotely optimize the power saving protocols and the on-board alarm logic:

  • Waiting and activation: Sets the time interval during which the on-board Module, after successfully receiving a call signal, keeps the navigation GPS chip in the mode of maximum reception of satellite data, without going into deep sleep mode. This parameter is key and directly affects the overall battery autonomy of the device.
  • Search LED Activation Time: Determines the exact duration of the integrated high-power LED module on the board to cycle after receiving an activation command. Entering a numerical value of 0 completely deactivates the light indication for maximum energy savings.
  • Search signal activation time / Emergency siren: Adjusts the duration of continuous operation of the built-in acoustic SOS emitter (buzzer) after a remote call of the Module. A value of 0 switches the siren to complete silence.
  • RTTY Signal Transmission: Functional switch for activating the backup analog telemetry duplication. Switches the onboard device to the mode of transmitting coordinates in the form of an open (uncoded) analog signal using the frequency shift method on the standard civil frequency of 433.075 MHz. (Attention! In the current firmware version, this slider is temporarily deactivated at the software level).
  • ⚠️ CRITICAL SETTINGS STORAGE REGULATION: Any parameter changes take effect and are written to the non-volatile memory of the on-board Module ONLY AFTER PRESSING THE “SET” BUTTON and sending the next successful call (CALL)! The settings will change only when the remote board physically receives and confirms the configuration packet from your base.

6. TACTICS OF CALL, DECODING AND HARDWARE SYNCHRONIZATION OF EQUIPMENT

6.1. Activation of remote search and decoding of telemetry signals (RSSI / SNR)

6.1.1. To send a remote digital request to activate the on-board device, perform a short single tap on the call icon in the mobile application or press the physical CALL button on the Target Base receiving station housing. The base module will automatically generate and broadcast a series of high-frequency digital packets using LoRa technology.

6.1.2. The Target Base board will continue to send pulses cyclically, sequentially polling all devices within the radio wave range. At the same time, the already activated on-board Module forcibly blocks its own responses for 20 seconds in a row, freeing up the radio air and providing the opportunity to record signals from other boards in the group that are activated for the first time.

6.1.3. Upon successful reception of the return data packet, an information log with the following key industrial wireless communication parameters is instantly generated in the “Monitor” window of the mobile interface:

  • RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator): An indicator of the power level of the received radio signal, calculated in dBm. Allows you to estimate the degree of approach to the object.
  • SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio): The ratio of the level of the useful signal to the general background of surrounding radio interference. It characterizes the pure quality of the communication channel in the conditions of operation of third-party radio electronic devices.
  • Absolute NMEA satellite coordinates (Navigation initialization features):
    ⚠️ PLEASE NOTE: When sending the very first call signal, the tBeacon Target Board response window will display zero values ​​instead of geographic coordinates. This is normal system behavior, since the integrated GNSS/GPS chip of the on-board Module needs some time for a “cold start”, scanning the satellite constellation and accurately calculating location points. As soon as the internal computing processor of the tBeacon Target Board completes the calculation of geographic coordinates, the on-board Module will automatically, without repeated operator prompting, send the current package with accurate navigation data to the air.

6.2. Engineering regulations for address synchronization of Modules (device ID identification)

6.2.1. All standard equipment sets of the Target line are delivered to the user in a fully configured state ready for operation (“out of the box”) with pre-installed factory binding and mutual addressable digital data encoding. This completely eliminates the possibility of interception of telemetry signals or unauthorized access to the on-board device by third-party base stations.

6.2.2. In the event of a production need to integrate and bind new additional devices (Target Board) to one receiving station (Target Base Board), the operator is required to perform a strictly regulated step-by-step hardware ID synchronization procedure:

  • Initializing the pairing mode on the receiving base (Target Base Board): With the base device completely turned off, press and hold the PWR button. Hold the button pressed for 4 seconds – until the start-up audio melody of switching on is completely completed and an additional isolated sound signal (buzzer) sounds. Immediately after that, release the button. The base module will go into standby mode for registering new ID addresses.
  • Initializing the pairing mode on the onboard emergency beacon (Target Board): With the onboard device completely turned off, press and hold the on/off button located directly on the printed circuit board. Keep it pressed in the same way – about 3 seconds until the start-up audio melody is completely finished and an additional isolated sound signal (buzzer) does not sound, then release the button. The Onboard Module will enter the registration mode, indicating this process by continuous rapid flashing of the red and green LEDs.
  • Sending a synchronization pulse: Short press the physical CALL button on the body of the receiving base station Target Base board.
  • Verification of successful pairing (Dual-loop confirmation): Upon successful fixation of the individual digital ID code, the green and red LED markers on the Target Board will start flashing simultaneously, and a final confirmation audio signal will sound. At the same time, the Target Base receiving station must generate a similar response audio signal in the opposite direction.
    ⚠️ CATEGORILY IMPORTANT: Make sure to receive mutual audio confirmation from both the Target Board and the Target Base! If one of the specified hardware modules did not issue a final sound signal, press the CALL button on the base again.
  • Data capture and storage: To exit the engineering registration mode, briefly press the power buttons on both hardware devices. Unique individual ID addresses are successfully entered into the non-volatile memory of the electronic boards; during subsequent updating or changing the firmware (flashing) of the devices, the established binding is NOT LOST.

7. FIRMWARE LOADER UPDATE

For scheduled updates of the software code, expansion of device functionality, as well as to ensure full compatibility with the security protocols of the Google Play mobile platform and international civil frequency standards, the firmware replacement procedure is performed strictly through the tBeacon Firmware Loader computer utility:

  • Preparing the software package: Run the tBeacon Firmware Loader utility on your personal computer (Windows OS).
  • Initialize the data file: Use the navigation dialog and the browse button to specify the exact path to the pre-loaded official file of the current firmware (.bin format file).
  • Hardware preparation of modules: Make sure that the Target Board or Target Base receiving station is completely turned off via its own controls (power buttons). In this case, the internal autonomous battery of the device must be physically connected to its standard power connector on the board.
  • Switching and initializing interfaces: Connect the hardware device to the computer using a standard, fully-wired USB Type-C data cable through the appropriate connector on the board. Modern operating systems (Windows 10/11) automatically recognize the integrated chip and instantly initialize the virtual system COM port.
  • Automatic launch and download verification: The tBeacon Firmware Loader program independently identifies the active system port and performs a seamless write of the microcode to the device’s non-volatile memory. After the progress bar (performance indicator) is completely completed and a service message appears about the successful completion of the session, disconnect the Type-C interface cable and reboot the device to activate the new code architecture.
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