Having completed the first set of tests, the pirates are now moving to the integrated testing - tracking, and full power/duration.
This set of images shows the fine calibration process. A truck carrying the target beacon drives down range, and the system locks on and starts following. Using a manual process, the laser spot is brought right to the center of the beacon. (In the first image, the laser spot is about half a diameter away)
Once locked, the system is tenacious – As fast as Danni (image 3) can weave and run, the green spot could just as easily have been painted on the beacon panel.
With basic tracking demonstrated, KCSP is getting ready for their grand finale – an all systems combined full-power tracking demo also known as the RC car test.
The day is drawing short now, and we still have two more teams to schedule. UMichigan is up next, and USST is getting ready with their equipment – they were held up at both the border and the base gate, and so are more than a day behind.






For the obvious reasons, I invariably get too busy to blog exactly when things get interesting...


