Posted by killervette on October 19, 2011 at 5:17pm
Ok, I have no rc experience. I am looking into arducopter. I have no interest in flying it via remote control. I want to use my pc. So for that I would need the xbee kit and mavlink? How does the pc communicate with the copter, USB xbee dongle? I tried reading all the faqs, but they don't address my questions.
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You will need an RC transmitter and receiver to operate the ArduCopter, if only to arm the motors and perform certain tuning functions and auto-trim. You can get a cheap transmitter and receiver for about $60. You should also really have the transmitter available as your failsafe method of controlling the copter, even if you fly from a joystick. You might lose xbee connectivity during the flight, and you might even have time to switch over to the RC controller (maybe)
There are a few members here who operate mainly with joysticks, I have no experience with flying by joystick so I cannot offer any advice.
If you code, it is possible to code around the RC transmitter requirement, but you will be patching throughout the releases.
The PC communicates with the copter over either USB or via its 3rd TTL port. The Xbee adaptor on the copter is normally attached to the "telemetry port", which is Serial3, the 3rd TTL port. If you get the Xbee telemetry kit (and have a soldering iron) you'll have what you need to communicate wireless to the copter while in flight. The 900Mhz is useful in the US, but uses frequencies not permitted in all countries. You didn't list your location, so I will not spend time guessing.
People have been looking into using PCTx to have the PC talk directly to their transmitter. Yes, for this setup you will still a transmitter.
You can use an Xbee to talk directly to the copter, but 1. I don't think direct control via Xbee is supported by the software, and 2. I don't know if the data rate over an Xbee will be fast enough.
Personally, I've only been able to work with the default mode which sends an ASCII character per packet... but that's at least 8-times slower than what could be done if the packets where raw numerical data.
Replies
You will need an RC transmitter and receiver to operate the ArduCopter, if only to arm the motors and perform certain tuning functions and auto-trim. You can get a cheap transmitter and receiver for about $60. You should also really have the transmitter available as your failsafe method of controlling the copter, even if you fly from a joystick. You might lose xbee connectivity during the flight, and you might even have time to switch over to the RC controller (maybe)
There are a few members here who operate mainly with joysticks, I have no experience with flying by joystick so I cannot offer any advice.
If you code, it is possible to code around the RC transmitter requirement, but you will be patching throughout the releases.
The PC communicates with the copter over either USB or via its 3rd TTL port. The Xbee adaptor on the copter is normally attached to the "telemetry port", which is Serial3, the 3rd TTL port. If you get the Xbee telemetry kit (and have a soldering iron) you'll have what you need to communicate wireless to the copter while in flight. The 900Mhz is useful in the US, but uses frequencies not permitted in all countries. You didn't list your location, so I will not spend time guessing.
More questions?
People have been looking into using PCTx to have the PC talk directly to their transmitter. Yes, for this setup you will still a transmitter.
You can use an Xbee to talk directly to the copter, but 1. I don't think direct control via Xbee is supported by the software, and 2. I don't know if the data rate over an Xbee will be fast enough.
Personally, I've only been able to work with the default mode which sends an ASCII character per packet... but that's at least 8-times slower than what could be done if the packets where raw numerical data.