At UAVenture we’ve been using the uLanding Lite from Aerotenna for a few months now as part of our crop spraying development work. The uLanding is a lightweight (60g), sealed radar based distance sensor with about 30m range and a fast 500Hz update rate making it ideal for low altitude terrain following and of course accurate autonomous landings.

Using a radar based distance sensor with a sealed case means that you will not be susceptible to bad distance readings caused by airborne mist from the spray system between the laser and the surface or, worse still, on the laser lenses.

The driver, written by Roman Bapst, has just been submitted to master on PX4‘s github repository and should make it into the next release.

More information: Driver details including setup and demo video

We received one of a few Sky Observer samples ZETA Science had available for testing a couple of weeks ago for evaluation before they go into production, assembled it and took it for a test flight.

The RTF model is very near completion with all electronics and cabling cleanly and accurately pre-installed. Apart from installing your own gear (cameras, receiver, LiPos, autopilot, etc.) only a few simple assembly steps need to be performed which include: freeing the pod door for access to the payload area, gluing the rudder/elevator in place, gluing the wing central wing joiner down.

Overall this looks like a very very well thought out and product with a high quality finish and has loads of room in the pod for all your UAV gear.

Specifications
Material: EPO foam 
Length: 78.71in (2000)mm 
Wingspan: 59.51in(1511)mm 
Flight weight (AUW): 2500-3000g

Radio: 2.4G 7ch TX /7ch RX 
Battery: Li-Po/ 3S 11.1V/5200-10000mAh/20C 
Balance Charger: 2-4S 
Propeller: 12*6 prop 
Motor: Out-runner brushless 4250 KV950 
ESC: Brushless 60A ESC 
Servos: (4pcs 9g + 4pcs 12g metal) 
- 12g Analog metal servo*2pcs (Aileron) 
- 12g Analog metal servo*1pcs (Elevator) 
- 9g Analog servo*1pcs (Pod’s door) 
- 9g Analog servo*1pcs (Rudder) 
- 9g Analog servo*2pcs (Flap) 
- 12g Digital metal servo*1pcs (Vertical landing/forced landing)

Here's a video of our first (manual only) flights on a cold foggy day. We'll follow up with some autonomous flights once we get a Pixhawk in there and hopefully with some better weather.

Some of the issues uncovered during the build and test flights have gone back to the manufacturer and will be corrected.

I recently received the Iris RTF package and finally had a chance to take it for a fly today. Here is what I did:

- Unboxed it
- Inserted batteries into the transmitter
- Charged the Lipo
- Flashed the PX4 firmware using QGroundControl (currently the Technology Preview version)
- Selected the Iris from the airframe config section
- Calibrated the RC and sensors
- Mounted the GoPro
- Grabbed an extra GoPro to place out in the field and video camera to film the action.
- Had Fun

The PX4 autopilot now supports the Graupner HoTT telemetry system bringing live flight data right to your transmitter’s display.

Real-time Flight Data on your Transmitter Display
The latest PX4 firmware now supports telemetry for all HoTT transmitters and receivers. With the current release you are able to view Lipo voltage, altitude (barometric) and onboard temperature so you can monitor your airframe status live without needing to look at your ground control station.

Work is currently underway on supporting current sensors as well a the addition of a range of GPS properties such as heading, altitude, satellite lock, satellite count, etc.

Setup Tutorial
Getting HoTT telemetry running with the PX4 is simple to setup. To make it easier for you we have put together a step-by-step tutorial video:

For more information, take a look at the HoTT Telemetry tutorial on the PX4 wiki.