Stories with Tag Flight Tracking

• Show HN: Skies-adsb 2.0 – my 3D plane-tracking web app

  permalink

  Posted: 2025-02-12 06:54:48

  Verbose tl;dr

  Skies-ADSB 2.0 is a web application that visualizes real-time aircraft positions in 3D using data from ADS-B receivers. It features a globe view with customizable map layers, detailed aircraft information including photos and flight history, and the ability to filter by various criteria like altitude and aircraft type. The app is open-source and built with React, Three.js, and Node.js, offering a user-friendly interface for exploring live air traffic around the world.

  Luis Llopis has announced the release of Skies-ADSB 2.0, a significantly enhanced version of his web application designed for real-time three-dimensional tracking of aircraft. This open-source project, hosted on GitHub, leverages Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data to visualize the positions and trajectories of airplanes in a user-friendly, interactive 3D globe environment.

  Skies-ADSB 2.0 boasts substantial improvements over its predecessor. The application has been completely rewritten using TypeScript, a typed superset of JavaScript, enhancing code maintainability, scalability, and developer experience. The rendering engine has also received a major upgrade, transitioning from the older WebGL-based three.js library to the more modern and performant Babylon.js. This change promises smoother performance, more detailed visuals, and greater flexibility for future development.

  The updated application provides users with an immersive and informative experience. They can observe aircraft movements across the globe, zoom in and out to examine specific regions, and rotate the 3D globe for different perspectives. Furthermore, detailed information about individual aircraft, such as their altitude, speed, and heading, is readily accessible by clicking on their corresponding representations within the 3D environment.

  Beyond the core functionality of aircraft tracking, Skies-ADSB 2.0 offers a range of customizable settings, empowering users to tailor their viewing experience. These options include adjustments to the map style, the display of aircraft trails, and the level of detail shown for various geographical features.

  Llopis emphasizes the open-source nature of the project, encouraging community contributions and feedback. The codebase is publicly available on GitHub, allowing developers to explore its inner workings, propose improvements, or even fork the project to create their own customized versions. This collaborative approach aims to foster ongoing development and refinement of Skies-ADSB, ensuring its continued evolution as a valuable tool for aviation enthusiasts and professionals alike.

  • ADS-B
  • Aircraft Tracking
  • Flight Tracking
  • web application
  • 3D visualization
  • Real-Time Tracking
  • Open Source
  • javascript
  • HTML5
  • WebGL
  • Aviation
  • planespotting
  • Skies-adsb

  Summary of Comments ( 15 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43022603

  Verbose tl;dr

  Hacker News users discussed the performance and features of the Skies-adsb project. Several commenters praised the impressive 3D visualization and smooth performance, particularly highlighting the use of WebGPU. Some expressed interest in the project's data sources and filtering capabilities, inquiring about handling noisy or inaccurate ADS-B data. Others suggested potential improvements, including adding features like historical flight tracking and aircraft information displays. The developer actively engaged with commenters, responding to questions and acknowledging suggestions for future development. Discussion also touched on the broader ADS-B ecosystem, with mentions of other tracking software and the challenges of reliable data reception.

  The Hacker News post for "Show HN: Skies-adsb 2.0 – my 3D plane-tracking web app" has several comments, generating a discussion around the project.

  One commenter expresses excitement about WebGPU being used for this project, noting it's one of the first real-world examples they've seen and anticipating its broader adoption. They inquire about the developer's experience working with WebGPU and whether they encountered any challenges. The project author responds by confirming the positive experience, explaining that they found it easier than expected and highlighting the performance benefits and the simplification of shader management. They also mention encountering minor issues with floating-point precision and buffer mapping, but overall express satisfaction with WebGPU.

  Another commenter raises a question about the accuracy of altitude data obtained from ADS-B, referencing potential discrepancies they observed with their own ADS-B receiver. The project author acknowledges the potential inaccuracies stemming from various factors, including barometric altitude readings being influenced by weather conditions, and the inherent limitations of ADS-B data. They explain that skies-adsb utilizes altitude data directly from the ADS-B feed and suggests that the discrepancy observed by the commenter could be due to differences in data sources or interpretation.

  A further comment inquires about the choice of not including a map background and the project author responds that it was an intentional decision driven by wanting to prioritize performance. They mention that the 3D rendering is computationally demanding and adding a map would exacerbate this, potentially leading to a suboptimal user experience. They do express openness to exploring map integration in the future, possibly as an optional feature.

  Another user comments positively on the visual presentation of the planes, specifically noting the use of contrails. The creator responds, acknowledging the positive feedback and explaining that the contrails are dynamically generated based on the plane's altitude and atmospheric conditions. This adds a degree of realism to the visualization, enhancing the user experience.

  Finally, there's discussion around data sources, with one commenter mentioning their own local ADS-B receiver setup and another commenter linking to a popular open-source ADS-B receiver software project called "dump1090". The author responds, indicating familiarity with "dump1090" and confirming that skies-adsb can ingest data from various sources, enhancing its versatility.

• Show HN: I built a DIY plane spotting system at home

  permalink

  Posted: 2025-01-25 13:14:37

  Verbose tl;dr

  A hobbyist built a low-cost, DIY plane spotting system using a Raspberry Pi, a software-defined radio (SDR), and a homemade antenna. This setup receives ADS-B signals broadcast by aircraft, allowing him to track planes in real-time and display their information on a local map. The project, called "PiLane," leverages readily available and affordable components, making it accessible to other enthusiasts. The website details the build process, software used, and provides links to the project's source code.

  A software engineer, driven by a fascination with aviation and a desire to understand the air traffic patterns above their San Francisco Bay Area residence, has meticulously documented the creation of a personal, at-home aircraft tracking system. This endeavor, christened "PiPlane," utilizes a Raspberry Pi 4 microcomputer as its central processing unit. The system leverages software-defined radio (SDR) technology, specifically employing a low-cost RTL-SDR dongle to receive unencrypted ADS-B signals broadcast by aircraft equipped with transponders. These signals, which contain crucial data such as aircraft identification, altitude, and GPS coordinates, are then decoded and processed.

  The software component of the project employs readily available open-source tools. "Dump1090," a popular utility for decoding ADS-B signals, captures the raw data from the SDR. This information is subsequently fed into a custom-written Python script, crafted by the engineer. The script's primary function is to enhance the received data by enriching it with supplementary information gleaned from external sources, including aircraft registration details and photographs retrieved through API calls to publicly accessible aviation databases.

  The processed and augmented aircraft data is visualized on a user-friendly web interface, also developed by the engineer. This interface provides a real-time, dynamic display of air traffic within the system's reception range. Aircraft are depicted as icons overlaid on a map, with each icon providing detailed information about the corresponding aircraft upon selection. This includes not only the basic ADS-B data, but also the added details such as the aircraft's type, operator, and even a photograph. Furthermore, historical flight data is stored, allowing the user to review past air traffic activity.

  The project documentation meticulously details every step of the system's construction, from the hardware assembly and software installation to the intricacies of the custom Python script and web interface. This detailed documentation serves as a comprehensive guide for anyone interested in replicating the project. The creator emphasizes the accessibility and affordability of the components involved, positioning PiPlane as a viable undertaking for other aviation enthusiasts and hobbyists with a modest technical background. The entire project embodies a practical application of software-defined radio and data processing techniques to satisfy a personal curiosity and achieve a tangible, functional outcome.

  • DIY
  • Plane Spotting
  • Aircraft Tracking
  • ADS-B
  • Home Automation
  • Electronics
  • Software Defined Radio
  • SDR
  • Raspberry Pi
  • Open Source
  • Aviation
  • Flight Tracking
  • Real-Time Tracking
  • Antenna
  • Signal Processing

  Summary of Comments ( 7 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42821457

  Verbose tl;dr

  HN commenters generally praised the project's ingenuity and execution. Several appreciated the detailed blog post explaining the hardware and software choices. Some questioned the legality of publicly sharing ADS-B data, particularly decoded Mode S messages containing identifying information. Others offered suggestions for improvement, including using a Raspberry Pi for lower power consumption, exploring different antenna designs, and contributing to existing open-source projects like ADSBexchange. The discussion also touched on data filtering techniques, the range of the system, and the possibility of integrating ML for aircraft identification. A few commenters shared their own experiences with similar projects and related technologies.

  The Hacker News post "Show HN: I built a DIY plane spotting system at home" generated several interesting comments discussing the project and related topics.

  Many commenters expressed admiration for the project's ingenuity and the author's technical skills. They praised the clear explanation of the setup and the use of readily available components like the RTL-SDR dongle. Some users inquired about specific technical details, like the antenna used and the range of the system, demonstrating a genuine interest in replicating or adapting the project for their own purposes. The author actively engaged with these queries, providing further details and helpful advice.

  A recurring theme in the comments was the discussion of alternative software options for decoding ADS-B signals, with users suggesting programs like dump1090 and ADSBexchange. This highlights the active community around software-defined radio and plane spotting, with readily available tools and resources. Some comments delved into the technical aspects of ADS-B and its limitations, such as the reliance on aircraft broadcasting their position and the potential for signal interference.

  Several users shared their own experiences with similar projects or related hobbies, creating a sense of community and shared interest. Some discussed the legal and ethical considerations of receiving and displaying ADS-B data, emphasizing the importance of responsible use. A few comments touched on the potential applications of this technology beyond hobbyist plane spotting, such as monitoring air traffic density or tracking specific flights.

  Overall, the comments section demonstrates a positive and engaged community response to the project, with a mixture of technical discussion, practical advice, and shared enthusiasm for DIY electronics and aviation.