[ARDF] Looking ahead to ARDF apps (in 2012)

[Charles Scharlau]

Just about a year ago (Jan 2011) I sent several emails to this list
regarding smart phones and fox hunting. It wasn't clear at the time what
new possibilities those handheld computers might hold. I suggested then was
the time to start experimenting with apps designed for use in ARDF.

For the past year I've been doing just that: concentrating on Apple iOS
products, and seeing how they might help promote the sport. I have been
pleasantly surprised by how much they can do.

As 2012 dawns, I'm happy to announce that a new app for ARDF, orienteering,
and just plain hiking in the woods, should be ready for beta testing early
in the new year.

The app pushes the limits of what mobile computing devices can do when
operating "autonomously". That is to say, the app focuses on providing
maximum utility while *not* connected to the internet. The app already has
a long list of features, and a number of potential uses, but for now I will
focus on just one application: "Simulated ARDF". Below I'll describe how
Simulated ARDF works from the points of view of a hunt organizer, and a
participant.


SIMULATED ARDF

Think of Simulated ARDF as a new activity, different from real ARDF in
several respects, but similar enough to be immediately familiar to anyone
who has participated in radio sport. Simulated ARDF can give newcomers a
realistic taste of hidden transmitter hunting, and might also serve to help
hone the skills of ARDF athletes.

Why simulate ARDF? Real ARDF requires real transmitters, batteries,
antennas, flags, punches, printed maps and all the cost and maintenance to
keep everything operational. Participants must purchase and maintain
receivers and antennas, which newcomers to the sport must borrow and learn
to use at the same time they attempt to master orienteering skills with map
and compass. Simulated ARDF removes and simplifies all of those
complexities.


THE TOOLS

Here is a list of all the equipment necessary for putting on a Simulated
ARDF event:

o A computer (Mac or PC) running Google Earth (a free Google map software
program) and iTunes (a free Apple software program).

o An iPhone or iPad for each participant: iPhone 3Gs or later; iPad with
GPS preferred, running iOS 4.1 or later.

That's all that is required. But some nice-to-haves include:

o Either paper orienteering maps of the event venue, or map tiles (a
software version of the map compatible with the app) produced from an
accurate orienteering map. Organizer-provided maps are almost a necessity,
but in some instances Open Street Maps or other internet-available maps can
suffice. In all but the smallest venues it is wise to provide both paper
and software maps to participants.

o Orienteering flags. One for each "simulated" transmitter. (Course
features can be substituted for flags.)

o Spare compasses. These are a necessity for anyone wishing to use an iPod
touch device. Note: compasses and magnetic objects need to be kept well
away from the iPhone/iPad to avoid magnetic interference.

o iPhone battery extenders?


HUNT ORGANIZER

The main responsibilities of the Hunt Organizer are:

1. Design and vet the course.
2. Lay out the course and generate the "foxes.kml" file using Google Earth.
3. Distribute the "foxes.kml" file to the participants.
4. Create and print the orienteering maps, and map tiles, and distribute
them to the participants. (Create just once per venue.)
5. Place the flags (if used) in the forest.
6. All the administrivia that surrounds any organized event.


HUNT PARTICIPANTS

The main responsibilities of the participants:

1. Download and install the app on their iOS device(s).
2. Download the "foxes.kml" file and map tiles (if provided)  using iTunes.
3. Charge their phone!
4. Show up on time, and stay safe out on the course!
5. Submit their results afterwards, in the form of a track.kml file.


THE APP

The app pretty much takes care of everything else! Once the "foxes.kml"
file has been installed, and a GPS fix has been obtained, the app has all
the information it needs to simulate the hunt. Here's how it works:

The "foxes.kml" file provides accurate lat/lon coordinates for each
simulated transmitter. The built-in GPS receiver tells the app the lat/lon
coordinates or the phone's current location. The built-in digital compass
tells the app which direction the phone is pointed.

The participant points the phone as if it were a directional antenna, and
the app determines if the phone is pointed toward or away from the
simulated transmitter location, and adjusts the signal strength (of an
audio tone generated by the app) accordingly. The effect is very much like
swinging a beam antenna and listening for the strongest direction.

The app can record "bearings" taken by the participant, and display those
bearings as lines on the map. The app will calculate crossings of two or
more bearings, and display those crossings as an approximate position of
the simulated transmitter. The bearings are recorded to a .kml file that
can be exported and viewed using Google Earth for later analysis.

As you proceed in the direction of a transmitter, the app calculates your
distance to the simulated transmitter, and increases the app-generated
audio signal strength accordingly. The effect is very much like approaching
a real transmitter and hearing signal strength go up.

The app is capable of displaying a downloaded map resident in flash memory.
With a downloaded map there is no need for the app to download map tiles
over the internet, so no network service is required during the hunt. The
app displays your position on the map, as well as the orienteering symbols
for Start and Finish at their designated locations on the map. (The
simulated transmitter locations are *not* shown, of course!)

The app can rotate the map display in a number of different ways,
including: true north up, magnetic north up, and heading up. The latter is
especially helpful, since it has the effect of automatically keeping the
map correctly oriented to your surroundings, making map navigation easier
for beginners.

The app records the participant's track (a record of all their locations)
and stores it to a kml file that can be exported and viewed using Google
Earth. The track includes both positions and times, and can be used to
determine the time spent on the course, and to verify proximity to each of
the foxes/transmitters, total distance traversed, and speeds at various
times.


LIST OF FEATURES

This email is already far too long. I won't extend it with a lengthy list.
But here's a few things that might be of interest.

o The app is also capable of providing a Simulated  Orienteering event,
with a virtually unlimited number of controls.

o The app can provide simulated radio transmitter signals to guide you to
standard orienteering controls, providing you with "eyes free" navigation.

o As with orienteering, there is no limit to the number of ARDF
transmitters the app can simulate and track. Anyone ready to track down 50
transmitters?

o When not simulating an event (i.e., no "foxes.kml" file is present) the
app can be used for recording and analyzing bearings taken for "real"
objects. The app will then assist you with navigation to those objects.

o The app can provide all your favorite "whoopee" tone effect modes (audio
pitch signal-strength indications), including some you've never imagined!

o There is support for iOS devices lacking GPS. How that works is too
lengthy to describe here. The best user experience will be had with devices
having GPS.


WHAT'S NEXT

There's still plenty of work to be done before the app is ready for prime
time. In early 2012 the app should be ready for a small group of testers to
run it through its paces and provide feedback on ways to improve it.

If you would like to help with testing, please contact me at the email
address below. If you've expressed an interest before, please do so again.
I will be working from a current list.

In addition to having a voice in how the app works, testers who provide
feedback during beta testing will receive vouchers to download the paid app
for free.

Feel free to forward this email to anyone you know who might be interested
- either in testing, or in the app itself.

73,
Charles
NZ0I
mailto:charles.scharlau at gmail.com