Blogs

ArduPilot Ground Control Station ready for public beta testing

Posted by automatik on May 12, 2010 at 9:30pm

LabVIEW based ArduPilot Ground Control Station ( GCS) is ready for public beta test.

GCS wiki: See wiki for installation and configuration instructions (read through it, or at least watch video )

Requirements:

- Windows OS
- LabVIEW run time engine 9.0
- Google Earth ( if you already have it you don't have to re-install it. Google Earth version prior to 5.1 ( newest) should be fine)

- Ground Control Station application (zip file) - Updated May 16, 2010 !

Optional: Code for GCS can be found here ( you will need LabVIEW 8.6 or higher)

New Features of ArduPilot GCS :

Data logging
kml logging
voice synthesis
(UI has been redesigned, code architecture has been changed, etc.)

Short introduction video explaining how to start and stop GCS:

http://vimeo.com/11772440

more comprehensive GCS video ( worth watching ! ) is here:

http://vimeo.com/11608873

control, gcs, ground, station

E-mail me when people leave their comments –

You need to be a member of diydrones to add comments!

Join diydrones

Comments

Rana May 19, 2010 at 5:31am

Leonardo,
I have replied to your query below in the thread you have started.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Hi automatik, is there any way you can add a functionality to your GCS for it to forward the telemetry data received in a com port (where the xBee modem is connected), to another com port (where we can connect the Ardustation)?

Please have a look in the thread I've opened below:

http://diydrones.com/forum/topics/ardustation-pc-ground-station?xg_...

Thank you,
Leonardo
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Peter Seddon May 19, 2010 at 4:28am

Sorry about this second post but I have retstarted my pc and restarted the gcs.
The latitude and longitude at the bottom are reporting 0 and the GE aircraft is on the equator. There is no indictaion of the mode (manual is selected) but changing mode has set it to Fly by wire but once again it will not indicate any other mode. If I maximise the window then part of the lower part of the window disappears behind the toolbar at the bottom.

I still seem to have valid data in the received data window although only the hsi and heading is working. Pressing stop does not shut it down - it only seems to freeze it.

There seems to be a data file produced but I suspect it stopped when I swicthed modes.

Any suggestions as to what maybe wrong?

Peter
Peter Seddon May 19, 2010 at 4:06am

I decided to remove the various groundstations I had installed and concentrate on this one so I removed Labview 8.6, and Labview 9 and reinstalled 9.

The GCS seems to start up ok, receives data, generates a data file and kml file which places the aircraft at the correct position. The hsi works but there are a couple of problems and I have a question:
1. The application does not close down when I press Stop and has to be removed using task manager. It will not then restart other than by restarting the pc.

2. The mode switch indicator works intermittently - it signalled Stabilise when I selected each position in turn and just stuck at that

Can it be used without GE connected to the internet using cached data?

Peter
ps I am using a Del laptop with win 7 64bit
automatik May 18, 2010 at 9:37pm

Hi Taylor,
not sure..can you post your kml file ( it's APflight_date_time.kml) and I'll take a peak
Taylor Cox May 18, 2010 at 8:26pm

Ok. I have everything setup and I have the data coming in on the GC..the gps has a lock ..and the longitude and latitude value are displayed...but.... on the google earth part of the GC my plane is not shown on their and it does not zoom in...what could I being doing wrong?
Taylor Cox May 18, 2010 at 7:15pm

Is the battery meter working well for everyone? Mine is just stuck on showing a full battery
automatik May 18, 2010 at 7:14pm

@Leonardo - I think that would be possible and will look into it

keep the test reports coming :)
FlyMario May 18, 2010 at 3:49pm

That looks sweet. I will probably use it.
Leonardo Lisboa May 18, 2010 at 11:58am

Hi automatik, is there any way you can add a functionality to your GCS for it to forward the telemetry data received in a com port (where the xBee modem is connected), to another com port (where we can connect the Ardustation)?

Please have a look in the thread I've opened below:

http://diydrones.com/forum/topics/ardustation-pc-ground-station?xg_...

Thank you,
Leonardo
Peter Seddon May 17, 2010 at 10:46am

I am using AP 2.6 with thermopiles and my flight battery was fully charged. I am using an Xbee link rather than serial cable.

I do have two versions of Labview installed - 8.5(or maybe 8.6) for the standard AP software station and 9 for this GCS.

I have just been having problems with my Eagle Eyes on another aircraft and found I had to do a restart on the PC when I swapped USB devices so I will try again with the GCS after a restart.

Peter