Develop standard, re-usable inexpensive solutions for IP-enabled always-on UAVs over cellular IP networks such as GPRS, 3G, 4G etc.
Primary goal: Telemetry over low cost cellular [achieved in testing]
Secondary goal: Bi-directional GCS/Telemetry over cellular IP [achieved in testing]
Tertiary goal: High speed IP for streaming IP video over cellular 3G/4G
STATUS: Bi-directional telemetry over cellular IP (UDP or TCP) is now working. It has been flown successfully while logging live telemetry to a GCS at home, several miles away [distance is really unlimited]. Currently working on improving code, more testing and broader hardware support.
Comments
How did you get to 10,000ft? What battery do you use?
I tested my 3G telemetry link to 10,000 ft AGL today. Still had plenty of signal. I think this debugs the myth that cellular signals do not go high.
I flew a 7km flight today with 3G telemetry using one of these..
http://www.amplified.com.au/HSUPA_Router_Ethernet.aspx
It plugs straight into the APM and it also supports Dynamic DNS so you can connect to it from the ground without needing to know the IP address of your drone.
It also has two ethernet ports and I have tested a pan tilt zoom ethernet camera over the link and it works fine (it muxes setial and video over the same link).
It has a HSUPA modem which supports 7.2Mbps down and 2Mbps uplink.
Its got an ARM CPU and runs linux, configured via an easy to use web interface.
This is the way to go, no code and not mess.
Ellis, your system sounds impressive at only 200g! Do you plan on releasing an open source based systm in July?
An interesting solution to the lack of cellular bandwith is broadband bonding where they combine the signals from a number of cellular modems. Still a bit heavy though at 1.3 lbs.
https://www.mushroomnetworks.com/products.aspx?product_id=1017
That thought cossed my mind as well :)
Skype is an alternative yes. I haven't tried the GoPro over 3g yet. I'm waiting for my Cotton Candy :)
I tried compiling the v0.5 code onto an APM1 2560, but keep getting the error in Arducopter.cpp on line 1072 could not convert 'navigate()' to 'bool'. There are also a bunch of errors related to led's. Has anyone else experienced the same problems or have any suggestions, please?
I've flown a Wi-fi cam connected to a small 3G wifi router before. This could be viewed from anywhere, but the refresh rate and resolution was terrible. My next plan will be to use a smartphone that can be sacrificed with the Bambuser app installed. On ground it streams video quite OK to PC. If you have PC on board you could also consider just using Teamviewer or why not even Skype?
Hi Geir
I havent got mu Cotton Candy yet, but i got an email says during this month. So it should be close :)
Hi all
I am collecting hardware now for my IP based system. The plan is as follows:
I use a 3g WLAN-router Huawei E586 and connect the APM2 to this via a RS232 to WIFI (SerialIO device ) device for telemetry. At my GCS i use com0com/hub4com to get the serial data from IP to a virtual serial port. I will also have an onboard Linux computer. I will use my GoPro Hero2 camera and connect this to the linux via a USB video capture device, downgrade the video bitrate and resolution with VLC for Linux and stream this video to my GCS. This will make the video stream less bandwitdh and cost demanding, but still have the full resolution video inside my cam. The video window in APM planner is small enough to view the low resolution video from VLC. The videostream from Linux/VLC is input to APM planner via vCam.
With this system i will have both telemetry and video(no sound) via 3g and "unlimited" range. I will get back to you when everything is in house and connected :)
-
8
-
9
-
10
-
11
-
12
of 12 Next