4 SkyeTracker Android App

The SkyeTracker device (e.g. Arduino or ESP32) uses Bluetooth to control system settings and send out updates to the Android SkyeTracker app.

The phone with the SkyeTracker Android app must be paired to the SkyeTracker device prior to using the app.

Hold the phone close to the SkyeTracker device during the pairing process.

In the phone bluetooth settings, find and select the HC-06 device. If it asks you for a password, enter 1234.

Once the pairing process is complete, launch the SkyeTracker app.

The SkyeTracker must be configured with the location, DateTime and Limits via the Android App.

Here is a short video on how to pair the SkyeTracker to an android device.

SkyeTracker app

This rest of this page describes the serialization protocol that the Bluetooth communication uses.

The configuration data uses the following format:

Cf|{"d":true,"a":45.936527,"o":-75.091255,"e":90,"w":270,"n":0,"x":90,"lh":12,"lv":8,"sh":31,"sv":31,"an":false}

Property	Description
`d`	`true` if the system uses dual-axis, `false` for single-axis systems
`a`	Latitude
`o`	Longitude
`e`	East azimuth
`w`	West azimuth
`n`	Minimum elevation
`x`	Maximum elevation
`lh`	Length of the horizontal actuator (in inches)
`lv`	Length of the vertical actuator (in inches)
`sh`	Speed of the horizontal actuator
`sv`	Speed of the vertical actuator
`an`	`true` if system uses an anemometer, `false` otherwise

Date and time information is broadcast using the following format:

Dt|{"sT":0}

Property	Description
`sT`	Seconds in unixtime

Position data uses the following format:

Po|{"aZ":0.00,"hP":0.00,"aE":0.00,"vP":0.00,"dk":true,"sZ":0.00,"sE":0.00,"tS":1,"tE":0}

Property	Description
`aZ`	Azimuth (in degrees)
`hP`	Horizontal position
`aE`	Elevation (in degrees)
`vP`	Vertical position
`dk`	`true` if it's dark outside, `false` otherwise
`sZ`	Sun azimuth
`sE`	Sun elevation
`tS`	Tracker state
`tE`	Tracker status

When the anemometer is enabled, additional wind data is available using the following format:

Wind|{"sT":0,"sC":0,"sH":0}

The SkyeTracker device can be controlled from external applications like the Android app.

Name	Description
`Track`	Start tracking
`Cycle`	Is a test mode, speed the tracking up so that one hour is every 5 seconds. Used for adjusting stoppers and cable ties etc.
`Stop`	Stop tracking and actuators
`Park`	Move panels to 180 degrees azimuth and 45 degrees elevation
`Protect`	Move panels to 180 degrees azimuth and 90 degrees elevation, facing straight up to minimize wind force on tracker, triggered by anemometer.
`GetConfiguration`	Retrieve the device configuration
`GetDateTime`	Get device unix time
`SetDateTime`	Set device unix time
`BroadcastPosition`	Start broadcasting device position
`StopBroadcast`	Stop broadcasting device position
`SetC`	Update configuration
`SetA`	Update size/speed of horizontal and vertical actuators
`SetL`	Update limits
`MoveTo`	Move in direction
`East`	Move towards east
`West`	Move towards west
`Up`	Move up
`Down`	Move down