Blogs

How do you get to your flying field? What does your Mobile Ground Control Station Look Like?

Posted by Bill Bonney on August 12, 2013 at 11:00pm

We are pretty close to the launch of MAVPilot (A Pocket GCS for your iOS device). I’ve been getting up early to do testing in the relative peace of the weekend mornings. And as a way to get some exercise and not to only spend my time just be standing in a field for a couple of hours, I ride loaded. It's a Cargo Bike from XtraCycle. (And I can also fit the kids on it for trips to the beach!)

MAVPilot is coming along great. Yesterday, I was testing some new features. One being audio alerts for when using using the fence as a safety feature. Now when if you exceed the fence boundary you will get a warning as the craft engages Return to Home or Land, depending on how you have set it. More info here and here on ArduPilot.com site. The next feature for fence will be to outline the boundary on the map.

more info here http://www.communistech.com/blog/

control, gcs, ground, mobile, station, ios, ipad, iphone

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Comments

Phil P August 14, 2013 at 3:29am

Yes there will always be the fun police.
Göran Sandström August 14, 2013 at 2:10am

Wow @Phil that's a cool GCS, but likely not something you'd want paranoid types to spot.
Admin

Thomas J Coyle III August 13, 2013 at 6:00pm

@Bill,

You would have to get a small trailer to tow behind your bike to hold the portable generator:-)

Regards,

TCIII Admin
Developer

Bill Bonney August 13, 2013 at 5:43pm

I think 5 23" monitors are not going to fit the bike. :-o
Phil P August 13, 2013 at 4:43pm

I've gone the opposite of a minimalist approach. This is my GCS trailer build, which is now fully operational. It all fits inside a small 6x9 trailer. Check my two blogs for build details.
Gary McCray August 13, 2013 at 9:34am

Admire your XtraCycle Bill, we have a few riding around here in Fort Bragg CA, the bikes and the conversions.

Great bike made a bit south of here in Oakland and it is in 3rd world countries everywhere providing basic transport and hauling.

But your use as the basis for a ground station has got to be the coolest use of all.
Tommy Larsen August 13, 2013 at 7:28am

@Thomas: No the computer has a normal temp so that's no problem :)

@Bill: If the touch panel kills the contrast, i will just remove it and use the mouse as today :)
Admin

Thomas J Coyle III August 13, 2013 at 6:48am

@Bill,

My Pelican case CGS will sit either on the SUV tailgate or be under a tent such as at the AVC so the black case is not an issue for me. Also, when the case is open for use, there are two cooling fans for the mini-ITX to help circulate air through it.

Regards,

TCIII ArduRover2 Developer.
Developer

Bill Bonney August 13, 2013 at 6:44am

@larsen: be warned that resistive touch panels can kill contrast, so if you can check out the impact before purchase, its a good idea to do so.

@thomas: i really don't want anything black, as the sun kills it. I'll proably revert back to an older silver keyed Mac Book (when my partner upgrades) OR if I can find a small lightweight popup tent, I have to pedal it you know!!!!!
Admin

Thomas J Coyle III August 13, 2013 at 6:16am

@Tommy,

Nice installation. Doesn't the computer get hot under the backseat on a hot day or do you keep the air conditioning on:-)

Regards,

TCIII ArduRover2 Developer