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Remzibi OSD + APM Integration v2.1.2

Posted by Matthias Badaire on May 17, 2011 at 2:30pm

 

1/ Software Update on the integration of Remzibi OSD and APM

I am just updating Blake's and binzi's Blog contents:  Blake and binzi

I do not know how to make a firmware for APM Planner, so you will need to use Arduino GUI tool

 

Replace your ArduPilotMega folder with the ArduPilotMega folder from APM2.1.2-OSD.zip:  APM2.1.2-OSD.zip

 

Configure the APM_Config.h to your need

//to deactivate use OSD_PROTOCOL_NONE
//#define OSD_PROTOCOL OSD_PROTOCOL_NONE
#define OSD_PROTOCOL        OSD_PROTOCOL_REMZIBI

// port 3 is the telem port on the shield
#define OSD_PORT            3

// set a radio switch to activate/deactivate the OSD output :

// below 1450 will display the OSD

// above 1450 will stop displaying the OSD

#define OSD_MODE_CHANNEL    6

// choose your unit to display the disctance to waypoint in feet or meter
#define OSD_UNIT            OSD_UNIT_METER
//#define OSD_UNIT            OSD_UNIT_FEET

Then follow the normal process from the wiki above.

http://code.google.com/p/ardupilot-mega/wiki/Code

 

2/ Hardware

To connect your APM with the Remzibi OSD, you need to have a cable from Telem port to Remzibi GPS port. GND and TX (from APM) are enough.

If you do not see any OSD info at first, stop your camera feed to see if the OSD shows up anything. You might be starting in the wrong TV mode (PAL/NTSC). You just have to push the OSD button for about 1 second.

 

3/ Remzibi

You need to use Remzibi OSD software from Remzibi site and update your layout with APM.bin and flash the firmware using ARDU firmware (Announcement) in the same software.

Note: for metric or feet units , be carefull to use the right unit in the Remzibi OSD software. You need to change the APM_Config.h for feet/meter of the next waypoint in the status at the bottom

 

4/Usage

Once everything is connected, normally the APM sets HOME for the OSD once it gets a GPS_fix. If you connected your OSD after that, then you can just push the OSD button once to force the HOME location on the OSD.

The arrow and distance from home will always display home direction and distance to home direction. It won't show the next waypoint direction (too complicated yet )

 

5/ what's new

I have updated all the units and it should be displaying proper values now

 

Tags: apm, osd, remzibi
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Comments

  • spagoziak November 22, 2011 at 11:27pm

    Is it possible to connect both a generic xbee (like the one from goodluckbuy) and remzibi simultaneously?  Something like make a Y line out of serial tx and send it to both rem and xb, then ground them all the same, and send the ard tx to the xb rx?  

  • Matthias Badaire October 29, 2011 at 6:37am
    Yes you have to solder some pins on it.
  • Matthias Badaire June 15, 2011 at 2:34am

    @Peter : Thanks for the bin

    @Luke: If you use a laptop on the field and it might make sense indeed.

    Or (like me) you do not take a laptop and you want to keep it lightweight, then using xbee makes no sense as :

    - you need to add xbee on the plane

    - xbee on the ground

    - an OSD on the ground.

    You do not save weight on the plane and have a new source of interferences in your vehicule.

    For reference about OSD from diydrone, check the last part of the announcement here :http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/diy-drones-2011-product

    @Johann:

    - did you flash the OSD using ardupilot layout (menu->View->OSD Layout->Ardupilot)

    - do you have home set : click once the button on the osd to set home. AH does not show until home is set

  • Andrew Fernie June 10, 2011 at 5:07am
    If you want to use the Remzibi at the same time as the Xbee you can tap off the Serial0 data line and drive the Remzibi with that(requires soldering on the APM or IMU card) The Remzibi is only monitoring data, it never has to transmit, so this works O.K. Makes debug a bit messy as any code you add to print data values to the serial port for debug purposes will be buried in the middle of the data to the Remzibi, but by using one channel from your TX to turn on and off the symbology it can be done. My system is working fine this way.
  • Matthias Badaire June 10, 2011 at 2:58am

    Thanks Peter,

    Can you share your APM.bin. I did not look in the flickering issue but I am happy that you solved it 8).. nice

    Second issue : The video shows an old version that was not right. The one attached to the post should be working fine. I have made the mistake several time . The artificial horizon should be parrallel to the real horizon ie: if you bank to the right, the horizon should bank to the left ... unatural unless you fly 8))

    As is, the code is not ready to go streamline and there is no easy way to connect the APM to the OSD and use Xbee at the same time. It needs a bit of tinckering. I might write a message to Chris to ask what should be done to integrate it. I know they are working on a DiyDrone OSD and he might want to support only one official OSD eventually.

  • Developer
    Mark Colwell June 6, 2011 at 7:10pm
    Finishing SkyWalker this week, maybe I can get this in the air...
  • Matthias Badaire June 6, 2011 at 6:58pm
    @mark : +1 I have already reserved the project name 8)
    @HK : is it how it worked in ardupilot (no mega)? I understand that it makes more stuff to test and an in house osd is in the work but I could not wait and I would like my investment not to be lost.
  • Developer
    Mark Colwell June 6, 2011 at 6:38pm
    Maybe  just start a Google code page? I get tired of adding all my stuff to APM 2.xx
  • Matthias Badaire June 6, 2011 at 6:33pm

    Updated it to 2.1.2 and fixed all the wrong units.

    Would be nice to see this code be integrated in main APM codebase.

  • Matthias Badaire June 2, 2011 at 8:20pm
    Did a quick check and GPS coordinates looks ok on my system at least.
This reply was deleted.