Hi,

I’m currently working on a graduation project to convert a RFP plane into a fully autonomous UAV. I intend to design the system from the ground up. What I need is sensors to help me find the angular and linear acceleration rates. I was looking at several of the Ardu boards like the ArduIMU+ v3 and ArduPilot Mega 1 IMU Shield. What’s the difference between these two boards?

I currently have an Arduino Uno board. What I want to do is have the sensors feed the rate data to the Arduino Uno board where my custom auto pilot algorithm would reside. I know the ArudIMU+v3 board has a GPS port for me to include, but does the ArduPilot have one too? I believe it does, but the website wasn’t very specific. Also, would these two boards be compatible with my Arduino Uno board? I would also like to store the rate data onboard. I know the ArduPilot Mega has memory for that, but does the ArduIMU have that capability also or can I have the option to store it on a micro SD card?

I would also like to mount a FPV camera on my UAV. What parts do I need to do that? I want to be able to transmit those images down to a ground station live. What’s the max range that I can do this in?

So out of the ArduIMU+v3 and ArduPilot Mega 1, which one would work best with my Arduino Uno board and provide me with the capability I need? Again, I’m trying to design my own autopilot system and not use an existing system.

Also, does the APM 2.5 ArduPilot Mega 2.5 Fully Assembled System allow me to program my own autopilot system? Basically what I want from the board is provide me with the sensor data including GPS, and the desktop software suite that comes with it. I just want to be able to modify the code and use my own guidance and navigation software and stability and control system.

Thanks,

Henry

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  • Hi,

    By far the simplest would be just to buy an ArduPilot Mega. It's an Arduino, and it has all the necessary sensors wired up and ready for use. If making one's own hardware, it would make best sense if it was better than the off the shelf stuff. But there is not really much to improve, IMO. Well you could use the new ARM arduino with more procssing power but really an AVR seems enough. Or you can see if InvenSense have their new nine-axis sensor ready, and make something with that.

    ArduPilot has 3 or 4 UARTs (serial ports). You can use one for the GPS connection. All versions use #1 so you might want to do the same. I can't answer about the Arduino Uno or the ArduIMU as I don't know anything about them. If you get an APM1 or 2, you won't need the Arduino Uno for anything. They are Arduinos.

    FPV, you need a CCTV camera (small CMOS or CCD one), a transmitter and a receiver. The TV transmission uses old school NTSC or PAL TV from the analog days but it is the best for that. Max. range with small antennas is as far as you can see the plane, just about. I had 14 km with a 60cm dish in the receiver end, but the transmitter was not flying/moving.

    Yes, you can program the ArduPilots as you want, starting from zero.

    Regards

    Soren

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