Finally, my autopilot is "finished"....

But is is ever? I define finished as in it works every time I go fly now. I go to the field, turn on my plane and it takes off, flies to waypoints, and lands with no user intervention. It's done this now for the last 4 times I've been to the field! So it feels more "finished" than ever.I didn't use any kits or open source stuff, and built everything from scratch. Except the EZ-Star of course! I also use my own sensor fusion algorithm, which is to be featured in Circuit Cellar early next year. It's inertial based, and all the boards are from the chips up, no modules.

antenna_setup.JPG

PLUS: I don't use a PC, so now I don't have to worry about overheating or Java updates crashing my plane!

GCS_Screen.JPG

Check out my setup here: http://bordelon.net/ezstar.html
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Comments

  • I can't find the article. Does anyone have a link to it?
  • Very impressive little drone! Also, it includes a lot of the features that people keep telling me to give up on because they're too difficult, so that gives me hope! I don't suppose you'd consider posting a few details on how you did it? Maybe just an overview of your system as a whole? I think I speak for many of us less-experienced Droners when I say it'd be really useful...
  • Hi Tj,

    Has your article appeared in Circuit Cellar yet?

    Cheers
  • That is so cool!
  • Is there any way you could give us some more details? I'm very interested in this setup, particularly things like what chip you used for the digital radio.
  • Thanks! I love the EZSTAR! I finally got to focus on my autopilot and not my airplane for a change.
  • Way to go TJ. Quite an accomplishment. Well done!!!!
  • Moderator
    Oh, ok just clicked your site link, sorry should have done that first, 430 it was! All very interesting, theres a competition here with your name missing ;-)
  • Moderator
    Wow, what frequency are you using there?? Quite a big yagi, is it in the 400's
  • Congrats Tj,
    Very impressive. I am really interested in the radio modem part. Will that appear in the CC article also? Do you have plans on making the schematic/layout and source code available?
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