The UgCS team has accomplished what we believe is a first – integrating a Mode S/ADS-B out transponder with a small drone, enabling radar visibility throughout the drone’s flight. A BeagleBone Black computer with CAN bus shield was used to integrate a Sagetech XPS-TR, the world’s smallest transponder, with the A2’s flight controller. The flight controller continuously sent the drone’s location and commands through the CAN bus shield to the BeagleBone, which passed that information to the Sagetech transponder. The transponder was powered by the 6S onboard battery, which also powered the drone itself. The BeagleBone was powered by a separate 2S battery, but with a converter the same 6S battery could have been used for all 3 devices.
With an antenna located about 3m below the drone, the mission was a complete success, with the drone appearing and remaining visible on the website www.flightradar24.com throughout the flight.
Video footage of the flight can be found here:
UgCS 2.8 will feature a communications interface with the Sagetech ADS-B transponder, enabling configuration of ICAO ID, Flight ID and Squawk Code parameters through the UgCS system.
For more information visit www.ugcs.com, www.sph-engineering.com, and www.sagetechcorp.com.
For inquiries please contact us: ugcs@ugcs.com.
Safe flights,
UgCS Team
Comments
Darius - regarding legislation - we have got temporary permission for transponder use from Latvian CAA. But this isn't common practice now.
George - Sagetech recommended us to place transponder antenna on short mast (50cm) on top of drone. We will try this in near future.
http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/whoop-whoop-live-air-traffic-ov...
from
http://www.sprut.de/electronic/pic/projekte/adsb/adsb_en.html
"The fastest and cheapest way to get an own ADS-B-Receiver is the use of an DVB-T-Stick and the free software. This software can convert some DVB-T-sticks into ADS-B-receivers that decode the ADS-B-data and stream this data via network.
AdsbScope can receive this data from the network and visualize it.
"
Congrats!
You are maybe the first with a small quad, but the firm I work for here in Norway, did fly Penguin B fixed wing with the Sagetech, two months ago. :-)
Lars
Gregory - there are options such as using microadsb.com usb ADS-B receivers. Obviously, they wouldn't transmit the location of your vehicle, but UgCS has ADS-B integration, meaning that you would get warnings with incoming aircraft that do have ADS-B transponders.
Great work.
ADS-B is not currently accepted by Transport Canada to satisfy sense-and-avoid for commercial drone approvals, but this is the future.
The long, dangling antenna looks a bit concerning. Especially as users will be commercial apps, with a variety of payloads, often close to the ground or other objects.
Could the antenna point up (in a rigid pole) instead of down - empty space above the drone, but often not below.
George
follow-up
(and more links since edit is off)
http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/ugcs-integration-with-ads-b-and...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=k-oirv-SX9U
Thank you @Kristaps,
could you provide legislation on the use, configuration and operation of that smallest transponder in case of small drones ?
I recall blog's discussion of April 23, 2015
"How it is made" 3DR Pixhawk and Sagetech ADS-B integration
http://diydrones.com/profiles/blog/show?id=705844%3ABlogPost%3A1975...