Android based UAV controller is coming!!!
So, here is my other post that I've promissed. I think this one may excite many of You. Well I'll let the picture speak here now...
This is a Samsung tablet based UAV controller. The device is intended as a replacement for a regular transmitter and will communicate directly with my all in one UAV controller elliminating a need for a regular RC transmitter, wire harness and etc. This will result with less mass and less power consumption on the airframe!
The current version can communicate with the UAV board with an xTend module, but can also be easily converted to an xBee or something else. The board inside also has a pressure sensor to provide for reference pressure readings as well as additional expansion ports for digital and analog IO's. Additionally I've added expansion microSD card slot for data logging.
Currently the tablet software supports display of all telemetry information and serves as a command center - it allows for waypoints definition and PID tunning. The picture above is an older picture that is a bit cleaner as the inside wiring is a mess. New mold for an enclousure is on the way that will allow for more organized "guts" and better board and battery retention.
I'm also experimenting with porting of live video onto the tablet's screen; with a little, but some luck so far.
The tablet serves just as a node and the controller is capable of acting on it's own as a regular transmitter / receiver.
Similarly as with my previous project, this one consumes lot's of my time and resources - I'm getting close to the end of the line with the bidget too without my wife complaing ;) Therefore if You would like to contribute please feel free to contact me!
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Developer Comment by R_Lefebvre on January 16, 2012 at 9:38am -
This is awesome.
Please make the base station such that the tablet mounting is generic. Don't make it work with only one tablet. Not only would that mean we all have to use the same tablet, but after a year your mold will be useless after they change the models around.
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Comment by Gareth Rens on January 16, 2012 at 11:15am -
This is indeed awesome! How will the xbees communicate with the tablet? Via usb (i thought they hadnt added that feature yet?) or bluetooth or wifi?
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Comment by Gareth Rens on January 16, 2012 at 11:21am
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@Robert: Why not copy apple? (All the hi-fi systems/ ipod docking stations)
They have a large outer area that you put different size inners in for different ipods/tablets.
So you buy the main case and then buy the correct size adapter for your tablet!
However, perhaps making 3 different overall sizes would work: a 7", 10" and 12"...
:)
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Developer Comment by R_Lefebvre on January 16, 2012 at 11:28am -
That would work with Apple products, because they seem to keep a standard interface, location of the ports, etc. Not true for Android devices however. And I'll never buy an Apple product so...
You know what I would like even more than this. Or at least... in the meantime? Some way to use Android devices to be able to talk to the APM to change settings. It's way easier in the field to connect my smart phone to the APM and change PID settings than it is to try and get a laptop connected.
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Comment by Gareth Rens on January 16, 2012 at 11:38am
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I just meant the apple type of architecture. Each inner would be specific for that tablet.
There is a bluetooth UAV APM controller: http://diydrones.com/profiles/blog/show?id=705844%3ABlogPost%3A4241...
http://diydrones.com/profiles/blog/show?id=705844%3ABlogPost%3A3557...
I however HATE bluetooth... A usb/wifi connection from the tablet to the xbee would be number 1 :)
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Comment by Matt Williamson on January 16, 2012 at 1:30pm -
This is amazing. I'd really love to see some video
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Comment by Matt Williamson on January 16, 2012 at 1:30pm
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Oh there is a video in the comments! Thanks!
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Comment by Darren on January 16, 2012 at 1:52pm -
my samsung 7 tab is waiting for your invention! ;)
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Comment by Juan Soler on January 16, 2012 at 2:27pm
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Have you posted this on Kickstarter? If not, why not?
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Comment by Radoslaw Kornicki on January 16, 2012 at 3:26pm
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Well let's look at the one of 1'st question - it will not be possible to make one base station for all; 1'st the differences in tablet sizes, 2'nd each of those tablets have connectors in different places so not a solution either.
As to the communication Bluetooth is not a good solution, this has to go via USB it took me months to get the USB implemented on some earlier versions of Android. So far I have tested it with 5 different tablets and an iPad (talking about getting close to end of the rope :) ).
I will attempt to put it on a Kickstarter, but I'm a realist - the market is small and the needs quite great. I don't think I can get what is needed which is about $5k at least to where I'm invested so far. Rapid prototype enclosures are about a k a piece, molds for initial runs even more. Anyway I will keep plowing:)
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