GUI

The Mimic Graphical User Interface (GUI) is ideally the only interaction the user will need to employ to control the model and transmit the telemetry. GUI.py is the main program for the ISS Mimic Project. Run it on the Pi by changing to the Mimic directory and using the command: python3 GUI.py or by double clicking the Mimic Icon on the desktop.

The program is intended to provide useful insights into the ISS activities, even without the physical model.

Mimic Program Main Screen

This is the main screen for the Mimic Program. There are six buttons: Control, Light It Up (future LED control), Mimic, Simulate Orbit, Settings, and Exit. Clicking the MIMIC button gives you the MIMIC screen which allows you to start the telemetry and transmit the data to the model. You may also select sub screens with more detailed info on them.

One of the most popular is the Orbit screen where you can see the current orbit and position of ISS.

Another popular screen is the EPS screen. This leads to a summary of the the solar arrays and SARJ angles. You can watch the solar arrays soaking up the sun and charging (bright colors) or discharging (muted/shadowed colors). You can also tell if we are in day or night by a bright or shadowed Sun up top. (night image shown here)

The ISS screen shows the current configuration of ISS and is clickable. With the addition of LEDs, clicking on a module will light up that module on the model. It also supports a simple PCB version of the module stack (what we call all the modules put together).

The C&T Screen takes you to an overview of the active antennas. You can click each antenna for data for each type: SGANT, Ku-Band, and UHF. The SGANT is the very antenna that send us our live data!

The Robotics screen shows an overview where you can click into detailed pages for the MT and MBS, SSRMS, and SPDM. MT/MBS screen shows the current position of the MT and has an animated graphic that moves while it is actually translating! The SSRMS and SPDM screens show all the joint angles, whether the end effectors have a captive payload, and what base they are operating on.

The ECLSS screen provides an overview of basic cabin temps and pressures. You can click into Water Recovery, Thermal Control, and more coming soon. On the Water Recovery screen, you can see how full the urine tank is on the WHC, and how much waste water and clean water the crew has. You can also see the when the water processor is working. On the thermal screen you can see cooling loop temperatures.

An EVA overview screen illustrates where the various airlocks are and you can enter into US or Russian Segment EVA screens. When an EVA is in progress, the applicable button will flash. The EVA button on the MIMIC screen also flashes. US screen of an EVA not in progress is shown below the overview screen.