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ArduPilot Ground Control Station ready for public beta testing

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

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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

Tags: control, gcs, ground, station
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Comments

  • 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
  • automatik May 17, 2010 at 9:29am
    Hi Peter,

    data file includes only navigation and attitude data - in ArduPilot firmware those two sets of data are prefixed with !!! and +++ .

    Hmm, multiple times I ran GCS and AP for almost an hour without a glitch... Based on all other things you mentioned, I think something else might be amiss .
    As Chris mentioned, which AP version are you using? Was your AP battery properly charged ( I saw same thing you mentioned with flightswitch position only when my on-board battery was dangerously low , i.e. almost discharged )
  • 3D Robotics
    Chris Anderson May 17, 2010 at 7:38am
    Peter, what AP are you using? I used this yesterday with ArduPilot 2.6 and everything was working fine.
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