AeroThrust V3

The new ground station software for UBC AeroDesign's electric propulsion test stand rig.

AeroThrust V3 replaces the legacy PyQt5 test stand with a 60 FPS, real-time desktop application built with Tauri, React, TypeScript, and FastAPI. It features non-blocking telemetry streaming, automated test sweeps, granular 4-channel strain gauge calibration, and local SQLite data logging with automatic CSV export.

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🚀 For Operators: How to Download & Run

You do not need Python, Node, or Rust installed to run the app.

1. Go to the Releases page on this repository.
2. Under the latest version, download the installer for your computer:
   • Windows: Download AeroThrust V3_1.0.x_x64-setup.exe
   • macOS: Download AeroThrust V3_1.0.x_aarch64.dmg
3. Run the installer, launch AeroThrust V3, and you're ready to test!

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⚡ Quick Start: Running a Test

1. Connect: Choose Virtual Simulator (for offline practice) or Physical USB Serial (for the real test stand), select your COM port, and click CONNECT.
2. Tare: Ensure the motor is off, then click TARE ALL (or click ⚙️ CHANNELS... to zero individual load cells).
3. Log Data: Click NEW TEST RUN, enter your motor/propeller/battery specs, and click Start Recording.
4. Run Motor:
   • Automated Sweep: Pick a recipe in the Auto Test Sequence bar (e.g., 10% to 100% Stepped Sweep) and click ▶ RUN AUTOMATED SWEEP.
   • Manual Control: Check ARM MOTOR and use the slider or quick-step buttons (+5%, 25%, 50%).
5. Stop & Export: Click STOP & EXPORT when finished, then click 📥 DOWNLOAD CSV to get your testing data.
6. Emergency Stop: Hit the Spacebar or click the red E-STOP button at any time to instantly cut the motor to 0% throttle.

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🛠️ For Developers: Running in Development

If you are developing or maintaining the codebase:

Prerequisites

• Python 3.10+
• Node.js 18+ and npm
• Rust Toolchain (rustup.rs)

1. Setup Environment

# Set up Python virtual environment
python -m venv .venv
# Windows:
.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1
# macOS/Linux:
source .venv/bin/activate

# Install backend dependencies
pip install -r backend/requirements.txt

# Install frontend dependencies
cd frontend
npm install
cd ..

2. Launch Local Dev Stack (3 Terminals)

Open three terminal windows from the repository root:

• Terminal 1 (Physics Simulator):

  python sim/virtual_stand.py

• Terminal 2 (FastAPI Backend):

  python backend/run.py

• Terminal 3 (Tauri Desktop App):

  cd frontend
  npm run tauri dev

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📦 How to Build & Release New Versions

Publish an Official GitHub Release (Cloud CI/CD)

Whenever you push a version tag to GitHub, the GitHub Actions pipeline (through .github/workflows/release.yml) automatically builds both Windows (.exe) and macOS (.dmg) installers and attaches them to a new GitHub Release:

git tag v1.0.x
git push origin v1.0.x

Check the Actions tab on GitHub to monitor the cloud build.

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📂 Basic Project Structure

thrust-stand-v3/
├── backend/            # FastAPI async daemon, SQLite WAL, COBS/CRC16 binary protocol
│   ├── app/
│   │   ├── hal/        # Hardware Abstraction Layer (Serial & TCP simulator)
│   │   ├── routers/    # Control, session, telemetry, and sequence endpoints
│   │   └── services/   # ConnectionManager, SafetyWatchdog, SequenceService, Storage
│   └── run.py          # Backend entrypoint
│
├── frontend/           # Tauri desktop container & React/TypeScript interface
│   ├── src/
│   │   ├── components/ # Gauges, plots, actuation sliders, safety banners
│   │   ├── hooks/      # useTelemetryStream (50Hz ref buffer), useKeyboardEStop
│   │   └── styles/     # theme.css (UBC AeroDesign 2023 Brand Identity)
│   └── src-tauri/      # Rust native window configuration & sidecar definitions
│
├── sim/                # Standalone physics simulator (motor inertia, battery sag, noise)
│   ├── virtual_stand.py
│   └── test_client.py
│
├── docs/               # Architecture specs, legacy V2 audit, and SAE 2027 rules
└── README.md

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🛡️ Safety Highlights

• Hardware Watchdog: If USB communication drops or the app freezes for more than 250 ms, the stand controller cuts throttle to 0% automatically.
• Over-Current Tripwire: Cuts motor output if current exceeds safe ESC limits.
• Low-Voltage Warning: Alerts operators to prevent permanent LiPo battery damage.
• Global E-Stop: Hotkeyed to Spacebar and Escape globally across the application.