As I wasn't able to flash the newer Arducopter firmware on my Walkera X350 Pro (Devo-M) and wasn't able to find the correct Firmware to get my APM 2.6 to work with my SIM900D module. I had to come up with another way to add GSM/GPRS telemetry to my drone. I created a GPRS module using an Arduino Nano to run the configuration script on a Linkto SIM900D module. I used Andreas' AP_Modem library as a guide for the AT Commands, but I had to change some of them to have it work better in my setup.
To do this, first you'll have to add wiring to your X350 Pro's serial port, you can follow these instructions by unmannedtech "Adding Telemetry to the Walkera QR X350 Pro" - Here it is. This is already available on the APM 2.6 via the telemetry port.
What you'll need:
- Arduino Nano
- AT-command compatible modem (I used the Linkto SIM900D)
- 1 Red LED
- 1 Green LED
- 2 220 ohm Resistors
You'll need to interface the modem with your Arduino. TX from the modem's TTL port to D4 on the Arduino, RX on the modem's TTL port to D5 on the Arduino, Shared GND connecting the Modem with the Arduino and the power source and finally the VIN to your power source. The modem I'm using needs a clean 5V 2.5A source. To handle loss of connection, you'll need to connect Pin 3 of your Arduino to the PWRKEY / PWRKEY_OUT pin on your modem and then connect Pin 2 of your Arduino to the Reset Pin of the Arduino (Make sure that this wire is disconnected during upload as it won't work if it is connected).
Next interface the Arduino with the APM 2.6 or Devo-M by connecting the GND to the GND and the TX from the APM/Devo-M to the RX0 on the Arduino and the RX from the Devo-M to TX1 on the Arduino.
*Note: You can use either the same 5V supply for the modem to power the Arduino Nano or the 5V line from the Telemetry port as long as you are sharing the ground.
Next add the LEDs:
Red LED (ERR): To build the circuit, attach a 220-ohm resistor to pin D11. Then attach the long leg of an LED (the positive leg, called the anode) to the resistor. Attach the short leg (the negative leg, called the cathode) to ground.
Green LED (LED): To build the circuit, attach a 220-ohm resistor to pin D12. Then attach the long leg of an LED (the positive leg, called the anode) to the resistor. Attach the short leg (the negative leg, called the cathode) to ground.
(Took that straight from the Arduino site: HERE except for the pins obviously)
Now that it's all wired up, I'll move on to the setup:
You'll need to set the Modems Baud Rate to 57600 and set the Telemetry Port of your APM/DEVO-M to 57600 as well. Finally you need to program your Arduino with this code:
/*
* Serial_Comm_Nano.ino
*
*/
///@file Serial_Comm_Nano.ino
///@brief AT-command compatible cellular/GPRS/IP modem initialization & communication for SIM900D -> Arduino -> ArduCopter
///@author Robert Haddad
///@date 25-10-2014
#include <SoftwareSerial.h> // Include SoftwareSerial Library
//Serial Communication Ports
#define rxPin 4 // TX from GSM Modem to RX on Arduino
#define txPin 5 // RX from GSM Modem to TX on Arduino
#define LED 12 // All Good LED Turns green when data is being sent over UDP Connection
#define ERR 11 // Error LED Turns Red when error is encountered, turns off if all is okay
#define powerKey 3 // Set PWRKEY pin
#define resetPin 2 // Set reset pin
boolean isReady = false; // GSM modem is Ready to receive AT Commands flag
int count = 0; // Counter for instances of an error (For monitor/debug only);
String checker = "";
// set up a new serial port for GSM Module
SoftwareSerial mySerial = SoftwareSerial(rxPin, txPin); // Initialize mySerial SoftwareSerial
// Setup procedure
void setup()
{
pinMode(rxPin, INPUT); // Set pin mode to input for Software serial RX Pin
pinMode(txPin, OUTPUT); // Set pin mode to output for Software serial TX Pin
pinMode(LED, OUTPUT); // All Good LED
pinMode(ERR, OUTPUT); // Warning LED
digitalWrite(LED,LOW); // Set All Good LED to Off
digitalWrite(ERR,LOW); // Set Warning LED to Off
digitalWrite(resetPin, HIGH); // Set reset pin to high
// Set Data Rate for Serial Ports
mySerial.begin(57600); // Start GSM Module Serial Communication @ 57,600 Baud Rate
pinMode(resetPin, OUTPUT); // Set reset pin to output
// Wait 3 Seconds for power on (Add Auto on feature through GSM module power button pin
startUPWait();
// Initializing GSM Module
mySerial.print("AT\r");
while(!isR eady){
if(mySerial.available()){
String b=mySerial.readString();
if(b.indexOf("+CREG: 1") > 0 || b.indexOf("+CREG: 2") > 0){
isReady = true;
//while(!sendATCommand("AT+IPR=57600","OK",100)); // Uncomment to set Modem Baudrate
//while(!sendATCommand("AT&W","OK",100)); // Uncomment to write settings to non-volatile memory
while(!sendATCommand("AT V1 E1 X1 S0=0","OK",100)); // Set error response and do not pickup on ring
while(!sendATCommand("AT+CREG=2","OK",100)); // Set various notice messages and parameters
while(!sendATCommand("AT+CMEE=2","OK",100));
while(!sendATCommand("AT+CR=1","OK",100));
while(!sendATCommand("AT+CRC=1","OK",100));
while(!sendATCommand("AT+CSNS=4","OK",100));
while(!sendATCommand("AT+CSMINS=1","OK",100));
while(!sendATCommand("AT+CSCLK=0","OK",100));
while(!sendATCommand("AT+CIURC=1","OK",100));
while(!sendATCommand("AT+CGEREP=2","OK",100));
while(!sendATCommand("AT+CIPMUX=0","OK",100)); // Single channel communication (ie only one socket can be opened)
while(!sendATCommand("AT+CIPMODE=1","OK",100)); // Transparent bridge mode
while(!sendATCommand("AT+CIPCCFG=8,10,400,0","OK",100)); // GPRS params
mySerial.print("AT+CMUX=0,0,4,32768,10,3,30,10,2\r"); // GPRS/IP params
delay(2000);
while(!sendATCommand("AT+CGATT?","OK",1000)); // Make sure GPRS is Attached
while(!sendATCommand("AT+CSTT= \"internet\",\"\",\"\"","OK",1000)); // AT+CSTT="APN","username","password" - login to service provider/carrier
while(!sendATCommand("AT+CIICR","OK",1000)); // Connect!
while(!sendATCommand("AT+CIFSR",".",100)); // Get IP address (for info only);
while(!sendATCommand("AT+CLPORT=\"UDP\",8888","OK",100)); // Prep UDP Port 8888
while(!sendATCommand("AT+CIPSTART=\"UDP\",\"drone.dyndns.com\",8888","OK",1000)); // AT+CIPSTART="protocol","ip address or domain","port #"
Serial.begin(57600); // Start Serial port for communication with Ardupilot
digitalWrite(LED,HIGH); // Turn on All Good LED
digitalWrite(ERR,LOW); // Turn off Warning LED
delay(1000);
digitalWrite(LED,LOW);
} else {
digitalWrite(ERR,HIGH); // Turn on Warning LED
digitalWrite(LED,LOW); // Turn off All Good LED
}
}
}
}
// AT Command Sender
boolean sendATCommand(String input, String output, int wait){ // AT Command, Expected Result, Delay before issue command
boolean resp = false;
mySerial.print(input + "\r"); // Send input command to modem
delay(wait); // Delay function time "wait" variable
while(!resp){
if(mySerial.available()){ // Check if response is available
String b=mySerial.readString(); // Store response string in "b"
mySerial.read(); // Clear buffer again
if(b.indexOf(output) > 0){ // True if expected result is returned
resp = true;
count = 0;
digitalWrite(LED,HIGH); // Green LED ON
digitalWrite(ERR,LOW); // Warning LED OFF
digitalWrite(LED,LOW); // Green LED OFF
return resp;
} else if(b.indexOf("DEACT") > 0 || b.indexOf("NORMAL POWER DOWN") > 0){ // Check if lost connection or modem power down
if(powerUpOrDown()){ // Reset comm hardware
digitalWrite(resetPin,LOW); // Restart Modem
}
} else {
digitalWrite(ERR,HIGH); // Warning LED ON
count++;
return resp;
}
}
}
}
//Start Up Wait Period with LEDs
void startUPWait(){
digitalWrite(LED,HIGH);
digitalWrite(ERR,LOW);
delay(500);
digitalWrite(LED,LOW);
digitalWrite(ERR,HIGH);
delay(500);
digitalWrite(LED,HIGH);
digitalWrite(ERR,LOW);
delay(500);
digitalWrite(LED,LOW);
digitalWrite(ERR,HIGH);
delay(500);
digitalWrite(LED,HIGH);
digitalWrite(ERR,HIGH);
delay(1000);
digitalWrite(LED,LOW);
digitalWrite(ERR,LOW);
}
// Main Loop
void loop(){
digitalWrite(LED,HIGH); // Keep Green LED ON while connected
// Relay All GSM Module communication to Autopilot
if(mySerial.available()){
char b=mySerial.read();
Serial.write(b);
// Check For Disconnection
checker += b;
if(checker.indexOf("\n") > 0 || checker.indexOf("\r") > 0){ // Check for new line
if(checker.indexOf("DEACT") > 0 || checker.indexOf("NORMA") > 0){ // Check for lost connection or Modem power down
digitalWrite(LED,LOW); // Green LED OFF
digitalWrite(ERR,HIGH); // Warning LED ON
if(powerUpOrDown()){ // Reset Comm Hardware
digitalWrite(resetPin,LOW); // Reset Modem
}
}
checker = "";
}
digitalWrite(ERR,HIGH); // Flash Warning LED on data send/receive
digitalWrite(ERR,LOW);
}
// Relay all Autopilot communication to GSM module and USB (USB for monitor/debug only)
if(Serial.available()){
char c=Serial.read();
mySerial.write(c);
digitalWrite(ERR,HIGH); // Flash Warning LED on data send/receive
digitalWrite(ERR,LOW);
}
}
boolean powerUpOrDown() // Cycle power on Modem
{
boolean powered = false;
pinMode(powerKey, OUTPUT);
digitalWrite(powerKey,LOW);
delay(1000);
digitalWrite(powerKey,HIGH);
delay(2000);
digitalWrite(powerKey,LOW);
delay(3000);
powered = true;
return powered;
}
On your GCS, choose UDP then 57600 Baud and Click connect once the green LED on your setup is on/solid (Green LED blinks when the module is connecting and the Red LED blinks when the data is being sent and received) click the connect button and it should connect and then start to receive parameters from the drone. Once its connected, you should have a pretty good connection, mine averages between 80 - 99% signal strength with a 1 to 1.5 second delay.
I used this page which helped out a lot and you should too Testing the dronecell ...
Happy Flying :)
Comments
The code is compatible with Arduplane or just with arducopter?
just now
I have many plans! but whether they come off is another thing :)
I'm from a Python/VB/Sybase background, so C will be new to me, but looking at the example programs, I think I'll do just fine.
I wrote a bespoke Python web server a couple of years ago (to control servos and relay switches), so I'm thinking of making a web interface to control the APM. I'll definitely keep you posted.
I've also hacked an Android G1 in the past to output ttl serial directly from the usb port (I was planning to make my own flight controller at one stage, but found the APM & it's many benefits)
- I have youtube's of these experiments, if anyones interested.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOyDG85cEm6fTWRKLJfEebcBsCsq...
You little diamond! After reading how Andreas' firmware had stagnated, I was ready to give up, although was thinking about fitting a Nano in the middle to do the job, but you have already done it!
I'm extremely grateful. Thank you for sharing this!
Andy
OK thx mate.
@Drone University. It fairly meaningless to measure the voltage using multimeter of a signal line as it will be the RMS value of a alternating signal. The value will be determine by the cycle of bytes on the line. You need an o-scope to see if levels are valid. The only information you can determine is that there is a voltage on the line
Interestingly, power is very unstable between APM blue TX (going to Arduino RX) and black ground (oscillates rapidly between 3.80v and 4.80v), and power is very stable between APM orange RX (going to Arduino TX) and ground (4.30 fixed).
Here is the diagram I applied. Do you guys see anything wrong here ? Thank you
I purchased a new modem and new arduino and everything work much better, except I am stopped here :
Basically, the 2 tests in the Main loop fail and I have no idea why :
- if(mySerial.available()){
- if(Serial.available()){
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