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Ublox GPS boards

Posted by Cronselaar on August 3, 2009 at 2:10pm
OK firstly... I'm a total electronic nube.No jokes!I do how ever have something that might help people who want the ublox modules but who are not "PRO's".As a student i do have a lot of time and found this in one of my favourite shops.http://www.rfdesign.co.za/pages/5645456/Products/GPS-Products/Receiver-Boards.aspThey have a whole bunch of Ublox GPS boards.The boards feature onboard power regulators, ic drivers, Bla,don't know what they are,Bla serial ports,USB ports ect.I do believe we are however interested in the serial ports, and even more so in one of the boards that feature 2 serial datalines 2Tx 2Rx. eg.http://www.alphamicro.net/resources/u-blox/RCB-4H_Data_Sheet%28GPS.G4-MS4-06034%29.pdfThere are other boards also available with the new 5H ect.Hope this is of useGerritP.s. The boards are really cheap. devide the price by 7.8 to get $

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Need help tracking UAV/ powered parachute

Posted by Connor on August 3, 2009 at 4:00am
Hello i have read about a project that some students have done and i am trying to recreate it. I want to launch a weather balloon with a uav attached to it so that it will go to about 100000ft take some pic's then return home the only problem is i don't know the best way to track it. Can anyone help please???I just had an idea for recovery and was wondering if it is possible to make a powered parachute out of a 1.8 m Dual Line Stunt Parachute Parafoil Sport Kite? or any other ideas just thought it would kill 2 birds with one stone, slow down desent of craft and help fly back to launch site.
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Ublox GPS questions

Posted by JvdB on August 3, 2009 at 12:40am
Hi guys,I've been waiting for the Ublox GPS to come back in stock at sprakfun but that seems to be taking ages.What's new on the Ublox GPS, is DIYdrones taking up the Ublox GPS in store together with the antenna? Or should we wait untill sparkfun has them back in stock?I also read somewhere that Jordi is making some kind of gizmo adapter in a way that non-pros' can use the Ublox as well without the fiddly soldering job? Not that it will be a big problem but I like it easy.I've been actually waiting for a couple of weeks now on the Ublox GPS becasue this is the GPS I want to use on my easystar UAV.
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new to drones

Posted by Danny Scioli on August 2, 2009 at 6:38pm
hello all..im new to drones and autonomous flight..i have a good general knowledge or rc,electrical systems and general electronic circitry....just try to get some input on how to incorperate all of it,what i will need for parts and tools,what i can expect to spend and just some good pics of all the other blogers projects(as long as its not top secret lol) thanks guys (and hopefully girls) for any info...
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Wild Hawk Rtf

Posted by Robert Drone on August 1, 2009 at 2:50pm
What does anyone think of the wild hawk [easystar clone] from exceed?Wild Hawk Picture:

wildhawk.JPG

Link to siteEasyStar Picture:

multiplex-easystar-rtf-47297.jpg

I'm thinking about trying one for now so I can get started flying but I wanted to ask what anyone thought and do some research before I make a decision. Feel free, no, please comment!=]-Rd;)
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Features for next version of Ardupilot

Posted by Peter Seddon on August 1, 2009 at 6:39am
Developing and especially testing hardware and software is never easy and by opening the process to others, solutions can often be identified very quickly and development move on more quickly.I don't know how you went about developing the A/Pilot and I couldn't find any threads about future features so excuse me if I am talking out of turn but I and I am sure others would like to be involved in the process in terms of features for the next version, writing code and testing. Would that be practical?So here is a feature I would like to see:A setup facility for the A/Pilot so that parameters could be configured in an application that then get uploaded to say the EEPROM. I have trouble tweaking about with the source code to make parameter changes (it is too easy to change the wrong parameter).regards Peter
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3D Robotics

Announcing the official DIY Drones Trust Time Trial (T3) Contest

Posted by Chris Anderson on July 31, 2009 at 8:30am

Thanks to the good ideas of Gary Mortimer and others, we're now launching a Trust Time Trial contest. The idea is simple: you set up four waywaypoints, spaced 200m apart, on your own field and time your UAV completing the course. Upload the data in the comments here. Best time on Sept 1 wins (I've got a prize this month--a new FunJet kit). In the future, we'll add complexity and stricter standards to the trial, but this first one is easy: 1) Must complete the pattern as shown above, totally autonomously (go into auto mode before waypoint 1 and exit after you hit waypoint 1 again). The four points are arranged in a square, with 200m on a side (obviously the two diagonal paths are longer). Any aircraft/autopilot allowed. It doesn't matter how close to the waypoints you get, as long as you pass on the outside of them. 2) For this first one, altitude is not graded. 3) Fastest time to hit all points and return to 1 wins (one lap). Must provide GPS track with timestamps and on-board video. (If you don't have/can't afford a small onboard videocamera like the FlyCamOne 2, we'll let it go this time. But in the future: video or it didn't happen!) 4) Must also demonstrate that fun was had. Kids, picnics, silly hats, marching bands, something. GPS tracks are best achieved with an onboard GPS datalogger, like the i-Blue 747 or smaller Sanav ML-7. But if you don't have one or don't want to add the weight, you can just capture the GPS track from your telemetry stream, although you'll have to figure out how to convert it to KML format to export to Google Earth (see below). If your Ground Control System has a built-in map+track function, a screen shot of that is fine, but it should be possible for people to check to confirm that your leg lengths are at least 200m. Evidence data should include these four things: 1) Total time, along with aircraft and autopilot used. A photo of the aircraft would be nice. 2) Screen capture of path exported to Google Earth or an equivalent, annotated with waypoints and where autonomy began and ended. Here's a sample from Dean Goedde (waypoints and autonomy not marked): 3) GPS datalog file, any format 4) Onboard video, embedded from YouTube or Vimeo. [Not absolutely required but requested]
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T3

Paparazzi: The Plug and Play autopilot..?

Posted by Sami Finnila on July 30, 2009 at 1:30pm
I just recently moved over from NXT to Paparazzi and I must admit I'm amazed. Excluding some problems with my radio equipment it was really easy to get flying fully autonomously; just earlier today I got everything plugged in. As the airframe I used one of my EasyGliders. It has AuW of 1,4kg and about 400W brushless setup. With it I'm using a 2.4GHz radio which is plugged to the Paparazzi through the PPM encoder; so no need for a PPM radio. Installing the Paparazzi in place included little soldering (10 wires total including the wires to the datamodem) and cluing all the parts in place.So earlier today I finally got to flying with the PPZ and was hoping for some testing with the so called AUTO1 (i.e. "fly by wire" -mode) but this is what happened; once I had the A/C at a safe altitude I engaged AUTO1 and flew with it some 10 minutes; I worked like a dream right from the start and I hadn't changed a single parameter up to that point (granted, I was using a configuration file that had been made for EasyGlider by another user and I had to make a configuration file for my 2.4GHz radio but still!). Then I engaged AUTO2 and... well... It worked as it's supposed to. I.e. I was flying fully autonomously during my first flight with the Paparazzi. If that's not PnP in the world of RC then what is? (Ok ok.. I had a 35sec flight before this; That flight ended in a crash due to bad 35MHz PCM radio but that's nothing related to the Paparazzi anyways...)Ok, I have to admit that PPZ with all it's features isn't as simple as ArduPilot, for example, but, still, I wouldn't consider it much harder to use once you get the hang of it. Besides once you get into it you'll get to like all the features that already exist in PPZ code repositories; there's, for example, code for a stabilized camera mount, gyros, additional sensor etc. readily available.IMHO the PPZ is nowadays much more of a PnP autopilot than people tend to think. One important thing is that all the needed parts are readily available and assembled. As for the price I paid for my PPZ+PPM encoder+Datamodems about 460$ (CheBuzz PPZ). It's much more than you'd pay for ArduPilot but then again the PPZ is also somewhat more cabable and has much more features although the amount of the features may not suit everyone's taste in terms of conveniency and ease of use.Oh and one more thing; as you may know the PPZ ground station and pretty much all the software made for PPZ is made for Linux, or Ubuntu to be more precise, and this may sound a little sacry BUT Ubuntu these days is probably one of the easiest and intuitive OSes to use AND install. Especially the installing of the Ubuntu is SO much easier than it is for windows, for example; you can even install Ubuntu while you're still using Windows Vista or XP or whatever and you don't need to format your hard drive or any partitions as Ubuntu will make a new partition for you on the fly which isn't possible with Windows and after installing Ubuntu you'll be able to use either operating system as needed. And if you don't want to install Ubuntu onto your laptop that's fine too: a LIVE CD for PPZ has been made which makes it possible to simply burn the CD and put it into your laptop, restart and you're done. As a side note I want to point out that I actually moved over from Windows to Ubuntu permanently once I had first tried the LIVE CD.PS. Now that I reread this post I realised that it really sounds like a 2nd class PPZ advert and there's a reason for it too; IMO many people don't really know how easy it is to use PPZ and this can be seen on many discussions on RC Groups, for example. It seems that especially the Linux part is a very powerfull deterrent for many people. But the fact is that using Linux (Ubuntu) these days is so much easier and convenient than it used to be that in my honest opinnion it's actually much better and easier to use than Windows and in many ways much like Mac.Sami F.
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T3

An example of fully working aerial photography UAV

Posted by Krzysztof Bosak on July 30, 2009 at 8:59am
Note precise track following and functional mission simulator. It helps a lot to confirm on the flying field that everything is set up OK. In the worst case, it will fly to customizable rethome zone and automatically return to takeoff point but the flight would be wasted.

UAV autopilot for aerial photography from Krzysztof Bosak on Vimeo.

kbosak at box43.pl
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New Project: Quadcopter - first hover, then OSD, FPV, UAV... the works...

Posted by Gian Carlo M. on July 29, 2009 at 10:00pm

(THIS TOPIC IS BEING DISCUSSED HERE)


I've never introduced myself so I'll take the time now (feel free to skip this paragraph). I have a business background but I am a technology enthusiast. Recently my interest about the business and strategics/social aspects of Open Source (especially Open Hardware) has really grown. In order to better understand the OS movement (and satisfy my geek alterego) I have been tinkering with Arduino, learning some programming languages, etc. And then I learned about DIY Drones....Once upon a time I flew RC Planes (that was during 1995 and 1996, I believe). I've been wanting to restart the hobby for quite some time, but now I believe I have what it takes ($). Unfortunately I live in a city that is not very RC-plane-friendly and I don't have a park or something nearby. For that reason I've been considering a Quadcopter project (for the VTOL and stability characteristics). This project should not only satisfy my flying needs, but also teach me about electronics, programming, etc.I am thinking about using a platform based on Arduino since I have learned some programming on it. Currently I am leaning towards the AeroQuad.In the future (if the thing take-offs) I plan on installing video gear for FPV. Followed by that I plan on programming (or if I get lazy I'll just buy a kit) some OSD. And than I should go into the UAV territory.I have many doubts about the project... here are some that maybe someone can help clarify:
  • Is the AeroQuad the best choice for what I need now and plan on installing in the future?
  • How much thrust do I need for something like this?
  • Does the AeroQuad support X configuration (I've only seen + configuration), and is that a hard thing to change?
  • Is a Quadcopter a good platform for UAVs?
  • Can a Quadcopter develop good forward speed? I imagine it to be slower than a heli. I haven't seen any movies of people flying quad's on long distances (which is something I'd like to do).
Based on my needs I believe this will be a VERY long (and probably expensive) project. I do want to discover the best COSTxBENEFIT solutions, of course.The "foward speed" thing is a factor that will probably take me into a next step that will be to transform the Quadcopter into a mix of Quad/V-22 Osprey/Airplane (that's why I have the question about the X configuration). Does anyone know a project like this?Sorry about the long post, I hope someone has the patience to read it.

(THIS TOPIC IS BEING DISCUSSED HERE)


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3D Robotics

Contest idea: DIY time trial. Fastest GPS track wins

Posted by Chris Anderson on July 29, 2009 at 9:00pm
Gary Mortimer has a good idea: a DIY time trial contest, where you time your UAV flying autonomously over an agreed-upon course. You upload GPS track, time and, onboard video. Fastest time each month wins something cool that I'll donate (like a Funjet kit). What kind of course would work best for this? For starters, how about this: a square, 400m on a side. Must complete three full circuits in fully autonomous mode. Carry an onboard GPS datalogger or datalog from your telemetry stream and upload the file (so people can see timestamps). How does that sound? (pic stolen from Gary's comment below)
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Ardupilot roll functional flow diagram

Posted by Fred Forbes on July 29, 2009 at 1:59pm
I'm installing Ardupilot in the 6 foot wingspan electric Telemaster. As this is a significantly different airplane than the Easy Star I want to proceed slowly and carefully. If I can I am going to adjust and confirm PID settings, etc, one function (roll, climb and speed) at a time, starting with roll. I decided I needed to have a good idea how the roll software is implemented in Jordi's and Chris' marvellous software. So I embarked on developing the functional flow diagram shown here. It is based on V2.2.3roll_flow_chart.pdfI'm a noobie at this so I don't claim it is 100% accurate although I think it is close. Doing this has been a good education for me but I wonder if it is useful to others. I would be interested in Ardupilot enthusiasts' comments, including suggestions for corrections and/or improvements.By the way, the term "heading" is used incorrectly in the software. In navigation parlance, heading is the direction of the airplane's fore and aft axis in relation to a fixed reference. The reference could be magnetic north if the airplane has a compass or true north if it has some kind of gyro-based measurement device (AHARS or IMU). Ardupilot as it is presently configured has no heading measurement device so it does not know what it's heading is. Where heading is referred to, it is really course over the ground that is being talked about. No big isssue now, but will become so when Ardupilot adds a heading reference in the future, which I think is inevitable.
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UBWuav

Posted by UAVman on July 29, 2009 at 5:30am

Hello everybody! I would like to introduce EasyStar (with a few mods) UAV which uses PIC32 based autopilot that I've been working on for a few months (started a few weeks before Brian Wolfe showed his work on DIYDrones ;-)Right now it's build upon UBW32 board but in the future I plan to desing my own PCB and decrease the size of the autopilot. For attitude estimation I use FMA thermopiles. Xbee is used for telemetry (interestingly 2.4Ghz Pro module which is rated for 1.6km worked easily for me allowing for 4km distance between two transceivers). More details will follow soon.Below short autonomous flight (looping through four waypoints, windy day, gusts up to 20-25kph)
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3D Robotics

Quick and dirty program to test your XY and Z sensors

Posted by Chris Anderson on July 28, 2009 at 11:31pm
This is just a repost for those who are new to ArduPilot: Here's a very simple Arduino program that will test your XY and Z sensors. Just load it on ArduPilot (make sure the board is powered and the GPS is not connected). With the FTDI cable connected, click on the serial monitor icon in Arduino and make sure the speed is set for 9600. The program will prompt you to tilt the sensor in certain directions and then strike any key and hit return when you're ready to take the X and Y sensor readings. Remember that sensor readings inside and near heat sources (like your hand) are nothing like the real thing outside. But it's still a good way to confirm that your sensor is working right. Once you're finished, reload the ArduPilot code.
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$40 IMU now available at your local walmart...with a little help from radioshack

Posted by Knuckles904 on July 28, 2009 at 10:09am
I posted on here a while ago that the wii motion plus gyro sensor had been cracked but didnt really get much buzz about it. Well one problem with using the M+ in addition to the nunchuck to supply the accelerometer is that both are on the same I2C address. I found a real easy way to get around that problem and now the possibility opens up for a $40 6 sensor system. Now, I love that diydrones is offering an IMU system now to play with, but being a poor college student I cant shell out over $100 bucks for a new toy. I believe using the nintendo parts serves a completely different crowd of people that want to experiment, on the cheap, and with something that they could easily use in a wii (if they have one) or sell for at least a 50% return. Check out my blog for details and code.Also, Im taking the plunge and making a kalman filtered 2d IMU in a little bit. It should be done soon. Many thanks to Jordi and the Kalman code he posted near the inception of this site. Its been helping me see a little more practically what a Kalman filter means.
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