Developer Comment by R_Lefebvre on July 12, 2012 at 10:25am

Thanks Hans.  I'm not looking to read the signal from the Rx, since the APM already does that.  I'm looking at the transmit end, basically if you can get an Arduino to output to something like this:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__14353__FrSky_V8HT_2_4Ghz...

So, parsing to PPM I think, as you mention.  I'll look for more info, thanks.

Comment by Hans Cappelle on July 12, 2012 at 10:34am

Okay I see now. I was indeed talking of using the 2.4GHz system as is with an RX on robot side and then use arduino there to parse ppm and do whatever you want the bot to do.

Why would you want to parse the PPM signal from that module on the TX side? To use a different communication link? (If so I'm curious to know what kind of a link :)).

If the only goal is to have a custom made radio it might be a lot easier to get a cheap 6ch one from HK and then strip it to make your own housing.

Comment by Cliff-E on July 12, 2012 at 11:59am

Xbee == no thanks for now:

We've had an APM burn it's negative trace (between layers!) losing power to the xbee pro (>50mW). the Xbee was fine, USB explorer was fine, It was the APM. I think it's because the ground pin is on the very edge of the board: not so good with heat, along with that ground trace going under the bottom layer of the board (under other traces) vs. being on the bottom ground plate/trace. And running a high power XbeePro just overheated the trace (something happened). I'm running ground to the Xbee from another pin for now...

Since you're running RC_Override commands in Xbee mode, that means the code continues on the last command and if it's not hovering when it happens you've just created a very, very bad situation (i.e. fly away) for a 5lb object moving at say 3mph.

Unless the APM gets failsafe logic on the xbee (there  is none) or the algos change on RC_Override, I'd pass on this. Looks nice though.

Developer Comment by R_Lefebvre on July 12, 2012 at 12:56pm

Hans, what I would want to do is make a new Tx, from scratch, using new joystick modules from Servo City:

http://www.servocity.com/html/2_function_joystick__thick_sti.html

Some knobs, buttons, and LED's, an Arduino, and the FrSky hack module, to create an all-new transmitter.

I already want something larger that anyway, to support my hands so I can "pinch" the sticks.  Many people use trays, but given we want different functionality anyway, why not just make a whole new box?  If it could implement Ardustation, and have 6 mode "radio buttons", and a 3rd joystick for the camera gimbal channels... it would be awesome!

Comment by Jason Wise on July 17, 2012 at 3:24am

What would be amazing is see someone flying a Multirotor with a hacked up joystick similar to what we see, Id love to be able to fly, GPS lock, and use a 3rd joystick to control the gimble while I frame a shot all with one controller!

Why hasnt anyone built a Multirotor does all, one man band controller?

Comment by Nick on July 17, 2012 at 7:31pm

Looks really cool, I wonder if I can build my own.

Comment by Paul Mather on July 17, 2012 at 7:38pm

I decided to back it...I went with the Q4 as I liked the idea of 4 joysticks. Not sure what to use it on. I don't think X-Bee's are quick enough to fly by....

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