I am successfully using a 4G LTE network connection to send bidirectional telemetry AND HD (1280X1024 / 25fps) Video from my drones. The video is perfect, the telemetry is perfect - regardless of range (assumes 4G is available). I use my cell phone as a hotspot and connect using MISSION PLANNER on my laptop. The video is "snow free" and is viewed on CHROME or FireFox browsers.
The cost of all the equipment is under $100, but I do have to pay for a data plan ($15-$50/month) - and a small monthly amount for server time. The server setup is special to allow for the 4G<->4G connection. The telemetry data is encrypted, the video data is not (at this time, anyway). The system camera is non-standard but tiny.I can control the drone with a joystick connected through Mission Planner. The latency is 0.8 seconds - max. The total weight of the system is 100 grams. No equipment other than a computer running Mission Planner is needed on the "ground side" (except for a cell phone or other hot-spot).
I was thinking that others could use my setup as well. In that case I would have to set up multiple accounts on the server and manage them. Before I take this any further -
Would anyone else be interested in the setup I have?
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Charles, am surprised to hear the cell tower reception is worse at altitude...i get pretty good signal (4 bars) on mine at 300ft or so, and the tower nearest is like 1 mile away.....i always thought with signal it would be better at altitude due to clear LOS and no obstructions, up to a certain altitude of course....but even while on commercial flights i have gotten 3 bars inside a metal jetliner even as high as about 1,000ft
I'm a little reluctant to give too much away, since I worked very hard to get things working the way they are now - especially with the live HD video feed I get over 4G.
I will tell you that getting a hand-held remote (with real joysticks and a MODE control) connected to Mission Planner is harder than it should be. The Logitech game controller that MP supports natively is a joke.
And I should warn you as well that - while Verizon et. al. gives you a "coverage map", that map is at ground level. There are locations around here where you get 2-3 bars at ground level and nothing at all at 350', so an automatic failover to 433/915Mhz (depending on local laws) is a must. I am a "ham" radio operator, so I can legally run 1W on those frequencies.
Ray Anderson said:
I have been looking for a way to connect via 4g to fly highway inspections and provide transportation security feeds via 4G. Is there any chance that you could provide a schematic of what you are currently flying? Once I can prove capability, I will be filing for an FAA BLOS waiver to enable the business model.
I realize that a static ip would make things work without a server. But I also use webRTC, and that requires a server (at least as far as I know). So I needed a server anyway, so using that same server to deal with the ip issues fixes everything.
And you state you use your home computer to communicate with your drone - great. Is your home computer at the field where you fly? I use my laptop at the field, and I first used a simple 4G "dongle" on my laptop (or used my cell phone as a hot spot), so BOTH ends had dynamic ip addresses. Now, when I go to the field, I use a Raspberry pi + a TEENSY3.2 to connect simultaneously using 4G and 915MHz. The Raspberry provides the 4G connection and the TEENSY looks at both the (high power) 915MHz and the 4G data and switches between the two seamlessly (using Mavlink CRCs and timing). Now, my laptop connects only to the "switchbox" (Raspberry pi + TEENSY) with a USB connection.
I use a TEENSY to do the same type of switching on the "air side" as well. There are places where 4G isn't available, and the 915MHz connection comes in handy. LEDs on my "switchbox" tells me which channel the data is coming from. Of course, I lose live HD video when using 915MHz, but I still have telemetry and control. I continuously send LD video over 5.8GHz.
And to make things more clear - I send telemetry data from the 'copter over BOTH 4G and 915 simultaneously. I send control information from the ground over BOTH 4G and 915 simultaneously. But I only RECEIVE from one at at time (on both ends).
I do this today using FlytOS with a Pi3 and a USB 4G modem, you dont need any special server if you get a static IP from your ISP , i then use my own home PC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJrobih0Kqk&t=18s
Hi Charles,
I am interested. As we have carrier NAT in Germany, all mobile devices have private IPs and cannot offer services directly. We need a facilitator to connect two mobile devices.
Maybe you can setup the facilitator/mediator service with zerotier (https://www.zerotier.com).
This will setup a VPN/SDN and uses NAT punch through to connect all devices directly, which will decrease latency and traffic on server.
If you setup such a service, I will be one of you first clients... ;)
BR
Bjoern
Can you please explian how you setup the AWS machine to do the connection between the drone and the mission planner?
Charles Linquist said:
Thanks Charles. BTW: This is a Parrot Disco! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1Fpq4inefg
They are now available for $399 (clearance basically), down from $1300 on launch. They are a perfect candidate for 4G control. And you confirmed what I have learned: That I need to use AWS as a proxy basically. I am working with someone who already has done this in Singapore. It seems there that he does not need AWS as his carrier allows inbound connections on the internal network IP and as a bonus only charges for data that traverses the network firewall! So the data charge is zilch! Sadly we have to jump through more hoops here.
The IP addresses are managed by the AWS server ("ec2"). Both sides - the ground and the air contact the same server - by name. The server is set up to run a "reverse SSH tunnel". Since both sides have contacted the same server, it knows the ip addresses of both and connects them through the tunnel.
Hi all,
one big question: how the IP address or "reachability" is managed? Is there a way to use AWS or an AWS-like service? I think DynDNS is not working anymore
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