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WiFi Telemetry with Cheap 3$ ESP8266

Posted by Omer on July 29, 2015 at 7:30am

Hello all,

It's not a new achievement using wifi as Telemetry but this UART to WiFi module has really long range (up to 400 meters), and unbeatable price. Very small form factor (about 2cm x 1.5cm) and light (3 gr). Great for the small sized UAVs. And your Smart Phone or Tablet will become a GCS with no additional hardware. And with module's available GPIOs it's functionality can be increased (PWM, I2C sensors) you can drive LEDs or get sensor data over wifi.

Get firmware from https://github.com/jeelabs/esp-link > this is the stable solution for UART only

Another eriksl's great firmware for ESP8266 https://github.com/eriksl/esp8266-universal-io-bridge > A lot of functions supports pwm display temp sensors but UART bridge not stable, random drop outs

I've been experimenting with new ESP8266 UART to WiFi module and happy to announce you that it can be used as Telemetry module. It should work on all MAVlink devices that uses Serial communication. I tested with ESP-03 and APM 2.6 (3.2) and range is acceptable for Follow Me, or Guided missions. it works reliable enough and its really cheap, start as low as 2,5 $ at several stores (its a 3.3v device you will need a good (about 300ma) power source).  I think APM 2.6 users should receive at least a one last bug fix release (several reports indicates 3.2.1 has some issues with altitude calculations), of course you can compile your own verison.

releated fix 

https://github.com/diydrones/ardupilot/issues/706

https://github.com/R-Lefebvre/ardupilot/commit/8360b3d

For those who are interested, I can provide APM:Copter 3.2 (not 3.2.1) firmware with the fix. I am happy with it, doing some great auto flights, checking parameters, follow me flights, you can fly your UAV even without RC controller, directly from your wifi enabled GCS.

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Comments

  • Sky Racer October 31, 2015 at 2:07pm

    my wifi telemetry on PixHalk  has very short range useless range do I need a booster for this to work?

  • Omer October 15, 2015 at 4:56am

    These modules are newly released, I did not tried them it can be used out-of-the box who dont want to deal with ESPs 

    Wireless Wifi Telemetry Module with Antenna for Pixhawk APM Flight ...

  • Omer October 8, 2015 at 8:02am

    Since eriksls firmware changed in time -no AP mod- i highly recommend esp-link firmware, for those who interested in this subject, i recommend ESP-12 with 4M flash. Documentation is also up-to-date and more development efforts are being made. 

  • Omer October 8, 2015 at 7:48am

    Linked firmware is more reliable if you guys dont need to read another sensor or just need telemetry info use this firmware from this link.

    https://github.com/jeelabs/esp-link

    jeelabs/esp-link
    esp8266 wifi-serial bridge, outbound TCP, and arduino/AVR/LPC/NXP programmer - jeelabs/esp-link
  • Dave Whittington August 20, 2015 at 11:21am

    @naish88,

        Thanks for spending time on my questions. Here is the project - a thrown object finder.  I was wondering if I could use the ESP chip as a simple transmitter on WIFI frequencies on a small object so that a cellphone could see the transmission for a few minutes - thus the severe small size and weight restrictions. I think getting the 3.3v with enough power and small/lightweight is going to be the problem - the chip (an ESP-09) is small enough.

    Thanks again

    Dave

  • naish August 19, 2015 at 11:11pm

    @ Dave

    It's hard to tell if it will last.. it really depends on a lot of variables ( transmitted power, data rate, temperature, ecc).

    If you tell more about the project we maybe can help more. 

  • Dave Whittington August 19, 2015 at 10:46am

    @naish88,

         Wow - thanks much for the URL to that help page - best info yet! I can now see the ESP on my tablet and cellphone.

          What I said about the Arduino was confusing - what I meant was that somewhere it was said that the 3.3v from a 5v Arduino UNO couldn't supply enough current. Also, that I needed a 3.3V Arduino in order to safely drive the TX/RX etc. I'm not sure what to order there - it looks like a seeeduino has a switch for 3.3v - I want to have an easy to use USB port to my PC.

     

    Question: Do you think two large (AG13) watch batteries could drive it for a half hour? I'm trying this out in the field.

    Thanks much for your expertise!

    Dave

  • naish August 19, 2015 at 2:59am

    @Dave 

    You need to connect the pin CH_PD to VCC to enable the wifi.

    Also you are wrong.. it's the opposite you CANNOT use an 5V arduino. a 3.3v arduino is ok, or alternatively you can use a 5v one with a level converter. 

    http://benlo.com/esp8266/esp8266QuickStart.html

    ESP8266 Quick Start Guide
    Projects using the ESP8266 Microprocessor
  • Dave Whittington August 18, 2015 at 8:49pm

     I purchased three of these WIFI chips from ebay but when I just connect Vcc (3.3v) and GRND, I see the power LED but not always the Blue LED - sometime it pulses when I touch the PCB. I never see it as ESP_**** on a tablet or my cellphone. Any ideas? I did read the caution that an Arduino UNO 3.3v cannot be used. 

    Thanks!!

  • naish August 12, 2015 at 11:49pm

    @ Bernardo..  Yes I'm.

This reply was deleted.