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HK GCS now supports APM binary and UavDevBoard (Matrix Pilot/Serial UDB Extra)

Posted by Paul Mather on November 30, 2010 at 5:00pm
aeroquad.gif
Recent additions to my GCS include the APM binary stream and the UavDevBoard (Matrix Pilot/Serial UDB Extra) data stream plus playback of UDB text file on the Data File tab. Quad model is also a new addition (many more models coming soon). Screen is now resizable and depending upon the instruments size, either the glass cockpit or 3D model can be clicked and selected as the "big" instrument. Minimum screen size is now 800X400 which should work well on older laptops and netbooks.

Next on the To-Do list is APM 2-way with MAVlink support, Installer and more models. Still hoping to add AttoPilot support shortly.

If you're having problems installing, make sure to run the DirectX download EVEN IF you have the latest DirectX installed. These include additional drivers MISSING from the standard DX installer.

Minimum requirement still includes .NET 2.0, Google Earth and the Google Earth API.

Download the latest here: http://code.google.com/p/happykillmore-gcs/downloads/list?saved=1&ts=1291154906
Links to minimum requirements here: http://code.google.com/p/happykillmore-gcs/
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Comments

  • AVS December 26, 2010 at 10:29am
    Mitch, It would just be a tcp server so no IIS needed
  • AVS December 26, 2010 at 10:28am
    HK, thanks for considering. Good luck :)
  • Paul Mather December 26, 2010 at 9:33am
    That's a possibility. I'm still concerned about them getting blocked if the user has Norton....which would cause more headaches than it's worth.
  • Mitch Robbins December 26, 2010 at 9:15am
    IIS would be an absolute nightmare.  There are a few open source "tiny" servers that could do the trick.
  • Paul Mather December 26, 2010 at 9:14am
    I just checked the code and I'll have to do a couple changes. I have it hard coded in the javascript. I can make it so I pass the full path instead of just the model name to the javascript. Then if you want to change the location of the http server, you can do so in the Settings.txt file. I'll also add a heading offset so you (and I) don't have to rotate the .dae files anymore. That will make life easier. It will probably be tomorrow before I can get back to this. I'm off to Christmas #3 of 4 this afternoon.
  • Paul Mather December 26, 2010 at 9:05am
    Fab, the down side to that is trying to get a local http server operating on everyone's computer. It would be an absolute nightmare if I expected anyone to get IIS working on their computer. Then add Norton or McAfee or any other "Internet security" programs to the mix. An absolute nightmare. Unless GE allows for a C:\ path I think I'm going to stick with requiring people have somewhere on the web to post their .dae files. Once they downloaded once they are cached...so it shouldn't be an issue without an internet connection (or at least it hasn't been for me so far). I think I already did the work to allow the users to define the URL if they want.... there is a file called Settings.txt that gets automatically built in each of the 3D models sub folders. I can add an argument where users can specify their own URL if they want.
  • AVS December 26, 2010 at 6:47am

    HK, GE will download models from the local disk using a local http/tcp server path. This means that you can start an http server on a local "models" sub folder (on a port of your choosing) below your gcs folders or any other place of a users choosing.

     

    If performance is important, then you can pre-load models into the tcp server and serve them to GE from memory instead of disk. You can do the same during runtime with other bitmaps/images such as instruments or textual telemetry representations allowing you to serve models or overlays to GE via http without them ever hitting the disk.

     

    Once again, thanks for contunuing the GCS battle. I am very pleased that you have put Labview out of the picture :)

     

    Fab

  • Mitch Robbins December 26, 2010 at 6:40am
    Thanks for the quick response.  That explains it.  I'll peruse the source code and find the server request.  I have a server on line and will experiment with it.  I'll definitely send you any models that prove viable if you want to use them.
  • Paul Mather December 25, 2010 at 9:57pm

    Rana, I'll have to look at your post tomorrow.

     

    Mitch, I'm using Sketchup. What I've been doing (and I have plans to re-work this at some point) is I re-size a model I like to match the EasyStar model (some arbirary wing span). I strip out the propellors (which make the model files even bigger). I insert a transparent circle in the prop's place. Then I export to Generic Direct .X using the 3drad plugin to a 3D Models subfolder. I then run the GCS to make sure it's not 180 off. Once I get that ironed out, I rotate the model 180 degrees and export to a .dae file and upload it to my website happykillmore.com. The bad thing about GE is it has to download the model from a URL, not from a local path. I have not found a way around this so actually, everyone who's using my GCS is downloading the GE models from my website without knowing it.

     

    If you have access to your own website or someplace you can dump it, I think I have a way for you to make it work. Or if the models are something you think others would like to use, let me know and I can post it on my website.

  • Mitch Robbins December 25, 2010 at 6:17pm
    Incredible piece of code!  Ran perfectly "out of the box" after initial install.  I've been trying to compile a few different directx aircraft models using sketchup and the Rad3d plugin.  They're showing up fine in the 3d model view in the instrument panel but not in the google earth map view.  I expect I'm missing something.  What are you using to build the models?  If it is sketchup/Rad3d then are there some specific export parameters required.  TIA Mitch
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