New Portable Open-Source ArduPilot Ground Station (Arduino and Xbee Based)
I been working on this project for about a year, but i never had the time to finish it. Is very difficult go to the field with your bulky laptop all the time, not to mention that you can damage it and the battery life is to short (the sun on the screen don't let you see anything). So i spent some time using Olimex development board with the Atmega128, but i want it to make it simpler, open-source, bigger screen (with back light) and Xbee compatible. So i come to this:
-Atmega328 at 16Mhz with Arduino Bootloader.
-XBee Socket and 3.3V powered (I've included some holes near to the antenna so you can hold it with a strap) .
-Can be powered with 2 and 3 cell LIPOS (diode protected and regulated).
-Huge 4 line screen with backlight, very clear under the sun! (2 pots to control the backlight and contrast).
-FTDI port to upload code, also the boards is ready to be programmed with XBee (using this trick).
-Six button to navigate and change screen and options.
-Very noisy buzzer that can be used to alert you when it has low battery or low altitude.
-6 I/O analog pins available, including the I2C port.
-2 powered SERVO OUTPUTS (Tilt & Pan) than can be used to control a directional antenna (NICEE!).
-Extra 3.3V and 5V volts outputs.
-Status LED's.
-The software is ArduPilot compatible and Open Source (out of the box).
What you can do:
-Portable Telemetry.
-Send commands (Ardupilot mega).
-Robotics.
-Remote control robots, can be used with Wii NunChuck to send commands.
-Smart toaster's and dishwashers. (I use it to control my reflow oven).
The cost would be around $57dlls. 17 units will be ready in the next 10 days. Any orders?
Has no official name, but for now is ArduStation (Later i will release the ArduToilet, LOL). The pictures only show the first prototype, that have some minor mistakes like the holes to close to the edges, i didn't include the reset button and the 5V power regulator get pretty hot (when 3 cell lipo is attached), so i change it to the big ventilated version. All this is fixed in the release version. I still working on the software.
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Moderator Comment by Gary Mortimer on June 10, 2009 at 12:22pm -
Good idea Jordi!!
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Comment by Eric Jay on June 10, 2009 at 12:22pm -
Wow!! This morning I was sitting at the BMW dealer getting my bike serviced and sketched out a ground station using a 4x20 LCD for my yet-to-arrive ArduPilot! My list of features includes many of those you list. Your servo outputs to control a directional antenna are brilliant.
I'm going to provide Morse code output at about 35-40 wpm (via earphone) that will provide only a few key parameters from the telemetry stream updated maybe every 15 seconds (or whatever works best) along with adding distance from launch and bearing from launch to aid in spotting the aircraft if you lose visual. That info is probably available already from whatever drives your servo tilt-pan.
It would also be useful in almost any plane where you want to watch the behavior in flight under manual control and get info like airspeed and altitude without looking away from the plane. Not so useful if you don't know Morse code though. (voice anunciator?)
You're an innovative and prolific guy, Jordi.
I want one. How do I order?
Eric
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Moderator Comment by Gary Mortimer on June 10, 2009 at 12:30pm -
The guys at ATTF were only recently saying how we might one day get voice announcements a bit like car GPS units one day from our RC aircraft.
Morse code, wow hard core. Dont mix your dits and your dahs ;-)
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3D Robotics Comment by Jordi Muñoz on June 10, 2009 at 12:35pm -
Gary and Eric, thank! =)
I will post the product in the store, so you can place orders. Is going to be FIFO service. =)
OHH good idea about the voices, and you can personalized it like "Sink rate idiot!!, Pull up!" LOL... Of course you can adapt something more boring and serious.
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Developer Comment by Mark Colwell on June 10, 2009 at 2:06pm -
Just what the Dr. ordered I need one of those displays for other uses, but since it will do GCS thats even better.
I will order 1 asap when you post to Store.
Now how about a DCM and 2 way comms for the Sparkfun 6DF board??
I know I am jumping the gun here, Thanks Jordi ..
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Admin Comment by Thomas J Coyle III on June 10, 2009 at 3:21pm -
Jordi,
Will you put it under kits or boards? Haven't seen anything yet.
Regards,
TCIII
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3D Robotics Comment by Jordi Muñoz on June 10, 2009 at 3:25pm -
I guess i will add a new tab called development boards. I will put it tonight (California time).
Be patient please! =)
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Comment by Joseph Glanville on June 10, 2009 at 10:13pm -
Very nice Jordi. :)
Interesting project.
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3D Robotics Comment by Jordi Muñoz on June 10, 2009 at 10:41pm -
Now you can back order it:
http://store.diydrones.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=DE-0001-01
=)
Thanks for your support!
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Comment by helitron on June 10, 2009 at 11:24pm -
Jordi,
great idea again with the portable GS, just ordered one ! Have planned to develop such a GS for a long time already for my quadrocopter but was also a problem of time :-).
Erwin
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