Hey all,I'm just getting started -- I've never flown an RC aircraft before, but I've got 3 months time off coming up and I want to dive in with both feet. I'm a professional programmer with a lot of Android experience, so I went to the San Mateo, CA Maker Faire a few weeks ago and picked up one of the PhoneDrone boards -- http://store.diydrones.com/PhoneDrone_Board_p/br-phonedrone.htm. Here's what I'm thinking so far, I'd love if someone could tell me if I'm insane:To Fly, to start:* Get an RC glider with a simple electric motor* Connect the glider's servos to inputs and outputs of the PhoneDrone board* Connect the PhoneDrone board to an Android phone with a data connection* Write some software that uses the phone's accelerometer to try to keep the glider in level flightTo simulate (on mac):* Write a plugin for the X-Plane simulator to connect it with UAVPlaygroundor* Get a copy of windows running via ParallelsWould it be a lot simpler to pick up one of the ArduPilot boards, and leave the PhoneDrone board until I get the hang of directing the glider with the ArduPilot board?I've been having trouble finding resources on how the existing ArduPilot setup typically works -- how is it connected to the plane's control surfaces? How does one handle switching control of the plane from traditional RC to drone mode? Why do the documents recommend an 8-channel RC controller? What are the channels used for other than power, ailerons, rudder, and elevator?Has anybody done any work with the PhoneDrone board that I can look at? The fellows representing it at the Faire seemed pretty tired when I chatted with them, and didn't really give me much information.- Peter
You need to be a member of diydrones to add comments!
Have you made any progress since your last post? I am trying to do something similar but am envisioning the PhoneDrone to be on the ground connected to my Android phone and have the Phonedrone connect to the Xbee ground unit. Is this possible?
I also purchased a phonedrone board and am finally getting around to playing with it. I am unable to connect via the micro usb connector. When windows tries to install the driver I point it to the arduino mega driver that it's asking for and it fails. I'd had this issue before with a real mega 2560 and had to reflash the usb chip so I tried that and then found that the phonedrone is using a ATMEGA32u2 for the usb communication and the stock Mega 2560 is for a 8u2 chip. Now I can't communicate with a pc at all because I've programmed for the wrong chip.
I can recompile the arduino usb firmware for the 32u2 but would rather use the DIYDrones code/hex file. Is there anywhere I can download this?
hi before i start i will just let you know i am new at this and am only learning this stuff myself so i could be wrong.
how is it connected to the plane's control surfaces?
servos are run by the PWM pins that are pinned out one end of the board.
How does one handle switching control of the plane from traditional RC to drone mode?
the code is always listening on the last ch of the autopilot and you then tell the code PWM it will recieve if you want it to be in auto or whatever.
Why do the documents recommend an 8-channel RC controller? What are the channels used for other than power, ailerons, rudder, and elevator?
ailerons, rudder, elevator, motor, and one more to tell it the mode (as per last Q "AUTO", etc)
as far a i can work out 8ch is recommended for extra stuff like taking photos and stuff. plus it is hard to find a controller that will allow you to send all the codes for the modes. untill your in the 7ch+ range.
p.s i have just got a turnigy 9x 9ch (actually 8ch not sure were they get the 9 from) its a good cheap $60 radio that should do everything you need.
Until there is more documentation, one place where you might start is with the Android SDK to simulate the functionality of the ArduIMU AHRS(Might as well focus on what needs to be done anyway and is already well documented).
Replies
Peter,
Have you made any progress since your last post? I am trying to do something similar but am envisioning the PhoneDrone to be on the ground connected to my Android phone and have the Phonedrone connect to the Xbee ground unit. Is this possible?
Thanks,
John
You wanna join us in our Google Group https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=de&fromgroups#!forum/phone-drone-adk
Also, do you have any direct contact you can forward to someone from diydrones that can give us details to the board?
I also purchased a phonedrone board and am finally getting around to playing with it. I am unable to connect via the micro usb connector. When windows tries to install the driver I point it to the arduino mega driver that it's asking for and it fails. I'd had this issue before with a real mega 2560 and had to reflash the usb chip so I tried that and then found that the phonedrone is using a ATMEGA32u2 for the usb communication and the stock Mega 2560 is for a 8u2 chip. Now I can't communicate with a pc at all because I've programmed for the wrong chip.
I can recompile the arduino usb firmware for the 32u2 but would rather use the DIYDrones code/hex file. Is there anywhere I can download this?
Thanks in advance,
Mark
hi before i start i will just let you know i am new at this and am only learning this stuff myself so i could be wrong.
how is it connected to the plane's control surfaces?
servos are run by the PWM pins that are pinned out one end of the board.
How does one handle switching control of the plane from traditional RC to drone mode?
the code is always listening on the last ch of the autopilot and you then tell the code PWM it will recieve if you want it to be in auto or whatever.
Why do the documents recommend an 8-channel RC controller? What are the channels used for other than power, ailerons, rudder, and elevator?
ailerons, rudder, elevator, motor, and one more to tell it the mode (as per last Q "AUTO", etc)
as far a i can work out 8ch is recommended for extra stuff like taking photos and stuff. plus it is hard to find a controller that will allow you to send all the codes for the modes. untill your in the 7ch+ range.
p.s i have just got a turnigy 9x 9ch (actually 8ch not sure were they get the 9 from) its a good cheap $60 radio that should do everything you need.
hope this helps.