I would like to present 2 new functionality implemented in the PitLab FPV System to increase safety and performance of long range FPV flight.We call it wind assistant and thermal assistant.

The Wind Assistant is used to measure wind speed and direction at current altitude, usually different then speed on the ground. It not require and additional hardware, only needs to make a full circle in the air on constant throttle and constant altitude stick position. Internal algorithms calculate drift of the plane and display numeric value on the OSD screen. Wind speed and directions can be displayed on radar screen area or in the air/ground speed control. It will not display until first valid measurement will be performed.

Information about wind speed and direction can be crucial to plan and perform long range flight.

The Thermal Assistant is used to visualize position of the detected ascending and descending thermal currents. Having that points are on radar screen, it is easier to circle in the ascending currents to get the higher altitude and finally increase the distance of the flight. Position of points is all the time recalculated using data from wind assistant to follow real thermal moved by wind. If new thermal currents will be detected, the old one is cleared.

Thermal assistant can be used by any kind of plane, not only by gliders.

This functionality require Autopilot module, because variometer sensor is mounted on autopilot board.

For more details about assistants please read document: Wind Assistant and Thermal Assistant in PitLab & Zbig FPV System. The functionality is on last phase of tests and will be released soon with firmware 2.40.

http://youtu.be/CzNJJzaFGOM

Hello and happy new year for all of you.

I would like to present new functionality of assisting pilot for landing in hard conditions like fog or night recorded last night by Jwalentek, our test pilot using OSD+AP kit,

On screen are 2 new components. One in the centre of view is envelope of runway with approaches lines, second below is ILS with 2 crossed lines showing relation plane to ideal landing path.

At this moment it is experimental firmware. Final functionality should be available soon.

http://youtu.be/ki9lvRnekAI

The Buddy Flight™ is a extension of Pitlab FPV System supporting flying in a group. On the radar view in the OSD, pilot can see position of up to 6 other planes. If you fly with camera and goggle you know how hard is to locate other plane in space. Pilot can see planes in front of it's plane on similar altitude and short distance. With Buddy Flight™ you can see other planes up to several kilometers around you on all altitudes, even in a clouds.

Other planes are presented on radar screen as markers with user defined letter (A-Z). If the buddy plane is higher (20-100m) then our, it's marker is combined with triangle symbol pointing up. If difference of altitude is bigger, the double triangle is presented. Similar when buddy plane is below us - like on above video - we can see it as a single or double triangle pointing down.

Flying with a friend it is great fun, but the system has also other important safety features. First is anti-collision, because you can see planes flying on you even from back side. Other feature is searching a lost or crashed model. System remember last position of the all planes and if one of them will stop transmitting it's position, other planes will see it's last position alternating with "X" letter and can fly to this point.

There is thread about Buddy Flight ™ on RC Groups.

I would like to introduce GPS-GLONASS module with optional magnetometer. Major benefits of using those mixed GNSS modules is fast and accurate position fix, because it use both constellation of satellites to predict position.

It supports 3 types of I2C magnetometers from different manufacturers: most popular HMC5883, MAG3110 and MMC3140. Magnetometer on module allow to mount it in magnetic clean place, far away from fields from power wires.

Module has supercapacitor to keep for few minutes backup voltage for GNSS chipset. It allow fast fix after battery change in plane or copter. Connector has raster 0,1" is easy to mount. Crimping tool can be the same as servos.

Boards are available in our shop. Worldwide shipment is only 2,6 Euro.

• GPS-GLONASS receiver module (without mag)
• GPS-GLONASS module with HMC8553 magnetometer

Module is also compatible with our FPV OSD and RTH Autopilot.

Documentation, technical data and sample code with magnetometers support, can be found on GPS-GLONASS module with magnetometer website.

The out test team together with users every day suggests new functionality for PitLab FPV System including OSD and Autopilot. Now we have pleasure to announce version 2.09 with many new features and correction. Full description can be found in the Download page of the FPV System project.

In last days was finished PCB for beta test version of ground station and send to manufacturing. This version will be manufactured in limited volume only 15 pcs  for beta tests purposes. It looks like below:

Click on the board picture to enlarge

Ground station will have big LCD on the front, tracking antenna driver, 2 channel video diversity, SD card for telemetry logging and measuring of current consumption on the ground. Will be mounted inside plastic enclosure.

Join to our community and help to create best FPV system ever!

We have threads on RC Groups and on our biggest national FPV forum: OSD, Autopilot and Ground station threads. Threads are in PL, but English is also welcome.

Some time ago I made GPS module with MMC3120 magnetometer. I wanted to have possibility to place the module far away from magnetic and electromagnetic disturbances generated by the drive system in multicopters. Short after the magnetometer became not available. Now I made another, bit more optimised module with choice of mounting 3 magnetometers: MMC3140, MAG3110 and HMC5883. All it works on I2C bus.

In last days I made comparison of the magnetometer parameters. I compared the data span, noise level, sensitivity to ambient temperature change.

Results of test you can find in article on my website: Comparison of magnetometers

If you are interested in comparisons, some time ago I made similar comparison of pressure sensors where was compared MPXH6115, BMP085 and HP03SA.