Initial commit: project spec and README

2026-04-22 19:39:37 -04:00
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+# planeMapper
+
+ADS-B radar display on a Waveshare 7.3" 6-colour e-ink screen, driven by a Pi 5 + RTL-SDR dongle.
+
+## Project goal
+
+Render a live ~100nm radius radar map centred on home airfield, with aircraft positions, headings, altitudes, and callsigns. Refresh every 60 seconds.
+
+## Stack
+
+- **dump1090** — ADS-B decoder, JSON feed at `http://localhost:8080/data/aircraft.json`
+- **Python + Pillow** — fetches JSON, renders map image
+- **OpenStreetMap tiles** — base map, pre-cached locally
+- **Waveshare Python library** — SPI driver for the e-ink HAT
+
+## Hardware
+
+- Raspberry Pi 5
+- Nooelec NESDR Smart v5 RTL-SDR dongle (SMA, 0.5PPM TCXO)
+- FlightAware 1090MHz antenna (5.5dBi)
+- Waveshare 7.3" 6-colour e-ink HAT (E-Ink Spectra 6, 40-pin GPIO, SPI, driver board included)
+
+## Design decisions
+
+- Aircraft icons: rotated triangle/arrow aligned to heading, short track line behind
+- Colour-coded by altitude band (6 colours available on display)
+- Callsign + altitude label per aircraft
+- Home airfield marked on map
+- Potential: differentiate commercial/GA/helicopter, highlight own squawk code
+
+## Full spec
+
+See README.md in this directory.