I’d like to share my latest hardware ground control station. I call it the ArduStation Mega.
It retains all the features found on the DIYDrones Ardustation, as well as my Ardustation Uno but with some very important upgrades.
It retains all the features found on the DIYDrones Ardustation, as well as my Ardustation Uno but with some very important upgrades.
Notably the main processor has been upgraded to an ATmega2560 giving 8 times the size of both flash and ram, amongst other things :)
Also there is a graphical LCD that should provide a larger, more user friendly display.
The extra serial ports (4 in total) will enable future expansions as and when required. One is dedicated to the USB for loading software as well as potentially being used to allow a computer to share the installed Xbee.
If you don’t want to use an Xbee, or want to use more than one, that’s fine- three of the serial ports are broken out to the left of the board. These could also be used for adding a GPS unit, or perhaps a bluetooth to pc link for example.
Also broken out is the i2c port, so you can link it up to a magnetometer if need be (could make for simpler antenna tracking alignment)
A micro SD card will allow data logging, parameter saving, mission uploading and hopefully more!
Also there is a graphical LCD that should provide a larger, more user friendly display.
The extra serial ports (4 in total) will enable future expansions as and when required. One is dedicated to the USB for loading software as well as potentially being used to allow a computer to share the installed Xbee.
If you don’t want to use an Xbee, or want to use more than one, that’s fine- three of the serial ports are broken out to the left of the board. These could also be used for adding a GPS unit, or perhaps a bluetooth to pc link for example.
Also broken out is the i2c port, so you can link it up to a magnetometer if need be (could make for simpler antenna tracking alignment)
A micro SD card will allow data logging, parameter saving, mission uploading and hopefully more!
The rotary encoder (like a radio’s jog dial) should help with faster navigation / value editing. The buttons are also on a separate PCB such that they can be mounted flush with the display or separately subject to enclosure constraints. (Also this means I can change the layout of the buttons)
The battery supply and Xbee RSSI are connected to give health information on voltage and telemetry link signal strength. Additional analog pins are also broken out for monitoring external sensors.
The battery supply and Xbee RSSI are connected to give health information on voltage and telemetry link signal strength. Additional analog pins are also broken out for monitoring external sensors.
The PCB has been sized to match the dimensions of the LCD, giving a neat install that can be attached with screws and spacers. All of the components are mounted on the inside as well, such that the total unit size is minimised.
As with my Uno version, I use a single cell LiPo for the battery source, with an efficient step up regulator for the 5v supply. There’s also inbuilt USB charging.
The antenna tracking will be achieved by the two servo headers on the right hand side of the board. These also have a solder jumper for selecting off-board power in case heavy duty servos are to be used.
Please let me know what you think!
The antenna tracking will be achieved by the two servo headers on the right hand side of the board. These also have a solder jumper for selecting off-board power in case heavy duty servos are to be used.
Please let me know what you think!
If you want to see more, here's a video of me showing it off:
Comments
I don't know if its really an error but the tracker didn't worked for me.
I use the code from that site: https://github.com/cgwood,
for ublox GPS, I uploaded the settings "3DR-Ublox.txt" with ucenter. you can get that from google.
for the ASM code, I didn't change anything. GPS was working. but the tracker calculated curious Elevation.
I looked at "ASM.alt" and it was not correct. don't know why. so I used "asm.altitude" which is in cm. so be careful.
with that code, I got correct elevation so far, but I did only steady tests so far.
I hope that helps.
Hi Patrick, when you are talking about error's am i looking at the wrong soure code download page ?
https://github.com/cgwood, or is there another firmware download site ?
Thanks Patrick, i wil also try that, i manage to get my ublox working by reprogramming it's output
protocol, i assume that the 0.6 hex file give the same result, as if i compile the latest source code i find on the asm site also
(i'm new )
I found an Error:
change in tracker.ino for Elevation calculation:
_uavElev = toDeg(atan((uav.alt-(ASM.altitude/100))/_uavDist));
instead of
_uavElev = toDeg(atan((uav.alt-ASM.alt)/_uavDist));
I switched now to a uBlox Lea5. Works much better,
but I didn't know that a rotary switch is necessary. So I will add that soon.
Servos are working fine now, it just needs GPS, otherwise they are deactivated.
Sorry, i just saw you are using a mediatek
on the ASM
what gps are you using ?
You can't get the servoes to move ?, my test "Circuit " is also inside (near a window), my ardupilot get a fix, and transmit data to my ASM, my ASM say "NO GPS" i just ordered a new one, but i can move my servos one at the time with the Rotary switch, i can choose which one in the menu on the ASM
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 15 Next