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Navio+, Awsome flight controller from Emlid. Tested with 4G Cellular communications

Posted by Bernt Christian Egeland on April 19, 2015 at 10:30am

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Hi Everyone.

I would like to share my experience using navio+ as flight controller.

At first when discovered navio i was a little skeptic if this board could really be as good as it looks. I read all the documentation over at Emlid.com and i finally decides to order one for testing.

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When i got my hands on this board, i immediately fell in love. Nice layout and solid connectors and at last, this board fits beautifully on top of the RPI. 

Then i installed Real Time Kernel for RPI and Ardupilot. Installation went painless, just following theirs instruction line by line.

An important note! You dont need to be a linux geek to get this going. Everyone is able to put this togheter.

After the installation is complete, you can launch anyone of the supported vehicles:

  • APMrover2
  • ArduPlane
  • ArduCopter-quad
  • ArduCopter-tri
  • ArduCopter-hexa
  • ArduCopter-y6
  • ArduCopter-octa
  • ArduCopter-octa-quad
  • ArduCopter-heli
  • ArduCopter-single

 

Typical ArduPilot start command:

sudo ArduPlane -A udp:<GCS_DYNDNS>:14550

Then just use Mission Planner and connect using UDP option. 

So after several days with bad and ruff wheatear, the sun was finally shining and i immediately packed up for maden flight.

Today i was flying for 60min using Navio+ as flight controller and 4G for video and telemetry.

I have one word;  Awesome.

My aircraft Skua FPV was rock solid after running Autotune function. 

My setup:

  • Navio +
  • RPI 2
  • 4G USB Cellular adapter
  • Logitech C920 webcam with gstreamer
  • Logitech Gamepad F710
  • GCS ( My Laptop with Mission Planner )
  • Airframe Skua FPV

This brilliant board keeps everything in one piece, specially when using 4G / 3G cellular. There is no need for extra converters as i used before with APM or pixhawk in conjunction with RPI.

I simply connect the 4G usb to RPI2 and start the Ardupilot with UDP telemetry option. Simple as that.

 

Guys at Emlid currently works to get the Odroid-C1 support for  Navio+ .

APM autopilot port for Navio+ currently works with:

  • Raspberry Pi Model A
  • Raspberry Pi Model B
  • Raspberry Pi Model A+
  • Raspberry Pi Model B+
  • Raspberry Pi 2 Model B

 

 

I will post an "HowTo configure RPI, Navio+ and Cellular network"  at my website: UAVmatrix.com

So for those of you that are skeptic, try it. you won’t be disappointed.

Emlid gives you great and fast support at theirs community section.

Regards

Bernt Christian Egeland

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Comments

  • benbojangles April 21, 2015 at 12:36am

    I'm interested in the Logitech controller more - is the throttle stick always centered like on most analogue game controllers? How might the pilot be affected by this for things such as take-off? You must hold it at zero throttle with your thumb?

  • Bernt Christian Egeland April 20, 2015 at 11:23pm

    @Marc Dornan
    I’m not sure how much data i consumed. I will check next time and post the numbers. 

    @    johnkowalsky
    This setup makes it allot easier and cleaner. One piece for everything. :)
    Before when I’m used Pixhawk or APM, i had to use TTL to UDP converter in between to be able to stream telemetry at UDP which involves extra cables and components.

    @c j g
    Yep, I’m currently working on this. I guess my next video will probably be with VPN.  I will make a How To tutorial as soon this is tested.

    +1 for security..

  • Tim V April 20, 2015 at 5:52pm

    @c_j_g,

    Great IDEAS on setting up VPN, given not much has yet been done on the security side of things.

  • Marc Dornan April 20, 2015 at 2:14pm

    The point is maybe just how easy it is. This was one of the more effective demonstrations of 3G/4G control and FPV that I have seen. Strikes me as easier than creating a serial link to an APM or Pixhawk (not that I have tried).

  • Marc Dornan April 20, 2015 at 8:12am

    Bernt

    Great stuff. Could you indicate how much data was consumed in your one hour flight. I am sure frame rate makes a big difference here.

    Thanks

    Marc

  • Moderator
    Vladimir "Lazy" Khudyakov April 20, 2015 at 7:31am

    Paparazzi? No?

  • benbojangles April 20, 2015 at 6:34am

    Ah, thanks. I have now been acquainted with the Mission Planner Joystick feature :)

  • Bernt Christian Egeland April 20, 2015 at 12:14am

    @benbojangles
    Y    es its possible to increase the video performance. For some reason the gstreamer did`t work as intended with Real Time Kernel for RPI.  I will look into that.
    Im only using the embeded Joystick function in Mission Planner. No need for extra software or programs. 

  • benbojangles April 19, 2015 at 11:42pm

    Such potential! So do you feel that it is possible to increase the fps video? Also, do you feel that eventually it is possible to use as ground station: Android Droidplanner + Tablet + 4g Sim card + Bluetooth gamepad? I have also no idea how you made the Logitech gamepad control the UAV, but amazing nonetheless. In my mind you used something like xpadder or glovepie to control sections of the screen area? I don't know, just thinking.

    Thanks for inspiration.

  • Bernt Christian Egeland April 19, 2015 at 11:10pm

    @Justice Bentz 
    Yes correct. As long as you have power and cellular network you can fly unlimited.

    It will switch between 3g and 4g seamlessly. 

This reply was deleted.