Have always been into models and have copious cars to use and a delta wing glider. I don't want to spend $270 on all the Ardupilot kit then $89 on the EZ then more on the RC control gear to have my first flights royal screwed due to my inexperience with flyers (I'm pretty bad :D).
I have been building guitar pedals since I was 8 and was programming when I was 7 with my father, I am 28 this Sunday so am fairly confident I can give this a good fiddle once I have a definite direction. My hope is to turn my first RC car (a Blitzer Beetle) into a Ardupilot testbed. Having read through the other posts, it seems that some counter measures on breakout boards would be wise.
My basic purchase will be the Ardupilot, GPS reciever (faster the better probably - LS20031), FTDI cable and LiPo.
I just want it to go roaming around a car park which i will plan out with GPS co-ords. It will be fully autonomous (throttle and steering) and with perfect reception wouldn't need object detection but just in case I am thinking I should add an emergency stop. I'm not looking for object detection and avoidance just an "Arrrrgh!!" stop routine.
I would want to drive round the car park 20% throttle until I've got the waypoint navigation sorted then up the throttle in 10% increases, tweaking the code as I go. Object detection may be wise to sort with another board so only a distress signal is "seen". IR and/or ultrasonics seem the obvious sensors but having never done any UAV/UGV tinkering before I'd really like some more experienced input. I will also be moving on to UAV from the UGV but that wont be for a while so my shopping list is geared to be dual purpose.
What would you recommend?
If everything is simple enough a shopping list would be nice :)
If it will be a few nights of swearing any other help would be nicer :D
Thank you
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