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New Opensource LRS Coming

Posted by Melih Karakelle on November 12, 2010 at 4:49am
Hi Guys,

I just finished the test of our new opensource long range system modules.
This modules 3th generation and i guess i should design 4th generation before publishing them.

r0010338.jpg


I'm using RFM22B radio modules and ATMEGA328P chips on Rx and Tx.
Rx modules including 8 channel servo ports and RS232 for telemetry uplink

Tx modules including PPM-Input for analog servo control and RS232 for Computer based controls and Telemetry downlink.


System range will be around 4-5km.

Firmware Upgradeable over RS232.


Ground tests was unbelievable, it's working around 500 meters into the city (after 20+ concrete building)

I will share the flight test results, sources and schematics soon.


If you have any idea about design and inputs, please share with me before 4th generation's production..

Thanks for reading

Melih

Tags: flytron, lrs, long, range
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Comments

  • Melih Karakelle November 17, 2010 at 9:44pm
    @Kamu

    No, my 50mw video transmitter's range was around 1km. This is why I flight behind a car and folded phone line antenna for reducing OpenFARC output. I guess it's range more than 5km. Today We tested it's control capabilities. We will test the range in this week.
  • Melih Karakelle November 17, 2010 at 9:35am
    Today we tested the OpenFARC system for first time.
    The platform was a disposable Depron plane, our FC480 camera and FTX50 50mW 2.4ghz video transmitter.
    After first flight, we played with a funjet for testing high speed responses
    Results:
    - It's working from 1 km away without any problem when transmitter behind the car's metal body (antenna was a 17cm phone cable)
    - Refresh rate and latency was similar with a 2.4ghz Futaba tx/rx
    - We finished 3 hours flight and ground test without any problem

    Next week i will order 4th generation PCBs for first release of OpenFARC system.
    Thanks for reading

  • fang wan November 15, 2010 at 7:15pm
    Wow, That is what I want.
  • Antioch November 14, 2010 at 7:24pm
    I wonder if there's a higher date-rate unit available? 32 KB/sec is kind of low for streaming video.
  • Matt November 13, 2010 at 4:24pm
    This looks amazingly good, with programmable failsafe! It looks like it could turn out to be very compact. I like the way that it's not on 2.4Ghz so that a video transmitter can be used without interfering. Will the transmitter just take in a PPM stream?
  • Melih Karakelle November 13, 2010 at 2:36am
    Project's code name is OpenFARC (Opensource Far Aerial Radio Control)
    Here is the project's home page: http://blog.flytron.com/category/openfarc-project

    @Ivan,
    Dont worry, i'm working about simple design :)
    We are in a public holiday for 10 days, then i will send the design to PCB producer.
  • Ivan November 12, 2010 at 11:53pm
    Melih,

    My $0.02: Forget about additional features, buttons, etc. Make it opensource, simple, cheap, and release it fast.
  • Melih Karakelle November 12, 2010 at 10:05pm
    Thanks for great ideas and comments.
    - it will be compact
    - serial ppm output
    - receiver side analog rssi
    - tx-rx rssi over telemetry
    - a button (better than my jumper solution)
    - a sma socket pad for commercial antennas
    - 10 channel output if it possible
    - I2C slave port
    - shell type pinouts for external telemetry or autopilot modules
    - failsafe
    - servo commands over rx telemetry port for direct autopilot controls

    This is the list of features. I'm not sure about I can do that all features my self. This is an opensource platform and I hope other atmega users will help me to finish it.

    I'm waiting for new ideas from you
    Cheers
    Melih
  • Jhon November 12, 2010 at 8:28pm
    another idea is make it shape compatible with the autopilot i think you are designing too,
    so both could be connected, something like a shell,

    just take a look at ardupilot mega and the arduimu, :D

    dont forget a PPM output conector too my friend
  • Jhon November 12, 2010 at 2:15pm
    i have no idea about the components in the bottom of the pcb, but if there are not, then you could relocate the tx module in the bottom to make a more compact pack,

    does it has fail safe? how its done the link? i see no buttons in the receiver,

    maybe you could make it ready to connect it to simpleOSD and see RSSI or dBm,wich would be better as far as i know, because RSSI is not stable at all
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