FlightScnr: Your Personal Radar for Overhead Flights
Summary
- FlightScnr is a plug-and-play desktop radar showing live overhead flights with no soldering or coding.
- Uses an ESP32 T-Encoder Pro, polls ADSB/route APIs, and caches results to stay under free tiers.
- A 3D-printable shell and local web setup provide an easy desk display and a Wi-Fi captive portal.
It has been a fantastic week for aviation enthusiasts who also enjoy tinkering. Just a few days ago, we witnessed an impressive project where someone projected planes onto their ceiling. While intriguing, it posed significant setup challenges. Enter FlightScnr, an innovative plane tracking gadget that requires no soldering or coding expertise.
FlightScnr Shows You the Skies Above from Your Office Desk
No Need to Look Out the Window
This innovative project, FlightScnr, created by Yash Mulgaonkar, offers a seamless experience for aviation fans. The device utilizes a LilyGO T-Encoder Pro, powered by an ESP32-S3 R8 microcontroller, providing both a screen and a scroll wheel for interacting with the radar. Mulgaonkar has designed a 3D-printable shell that doubles as a stand, making it a perfect desk companion.
Here are all the features that come with this project:
- Live sweeping radar display with radar pips for overhead air traffic
- Flight details for each visible aircraft – Origin/Destination, model, altitude, heading
- Polls adsb.fi in the background and caches route API lookups (AirLabs, FlightAware, FR24) in flash/RAM to minimize API calls to try and keep you under the free-tier monthly limits
- Easy setup with a captive portal for Wi-Fi setup and a local web interface (flightscnr.local) to configure your coordinates, ranges, API keys, and other display configurations
- Clock, because why not?
Mulgaonkar proudly declares that the project requires zero soldering or coding from the user. Therefore, if you’re looking for an easy-to-make project and have a passion for aviation, the FlightScnr is an ideal choice. You can find instructions for building your own and download the source code from the project’s GitHub page. The 3D printing schematic for the shell is available on Makerworld.
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For more information on this project, visit the source link Here.
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