ArduPilot 2.1 released with Ground Station and setup utility

[zlite]

All details here (http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/ardupilot-21-released-setup) (this is the setup that won the Sparkfun Autonomous Vehicle competition)

The main improvements to the ArduPilot autopilot code are:

--The addition of an airspeed sensor and throttle control
--Supports XY sensor in the diagonal position, along with standard Z sensor
--Supports desktop setup utility

We've also released the first version of that utility, and our ground station. Screenshots below.

[chancesAU]

Sweet, thanks Chris!

[Mick Molloy]

Nice work, does it support the Locosys 5Hz GPS Module [LS20033] ?

[brakar]

Congratulations with the good work Chris!

Have you tried the setup on a 4 channel airframe like the Hobbico SuperStar yet?

brakar

[rbeall]

does anyone know jordi's email? thanks

-Ryan

[zlite]

Nice work, does it support the Locosys 5Hz GPS Module [LS20033] ?

No, but the next version, 2.2, which add the option of a standard NMEA parser, will. Look for that in a few weeks. This one still uses the default EM406 in binary mode, and is the last version of our code designed for the original ATmega168-based board.

Version 2.2 will require the new ATMega328 board, with twice the memory, which is what we'll need to give a range of GPS parsers.

[zlite]

does anyone know jordi's email? thanks

-Ryan

Best to PM him (http://diydrones.com/profiles/message/newFromProfile?screenName=jordii&target=http%3A%2F%2Fdiydrones.com%2Fprofiles%2Fpro file%2Fshow%3Fid%3Djordii%26) at DIYDrones.

[zlite]

Congratulations with the good work Chris!

Have you tried the setup on a 4 channel airframe like the Hobbico SuperStar yet?

brakar
No, we're still optimizing it for the EasyStar and FunJet, but others have tweaked its gains to work on 4-channel planes like the EasyGliderPro. I'll probably take it out with the SuperStar this weekend and will be able to report back on the right settings. It should work fine.

[fly_boy99]

Chris

Major Kudos!!!, as I was going to build a front end like this if you guys didn't get to it first.

This should bring more folks into the fold who don't have as much technical experience as others.

thumbs up,
B

[Mick Molloy]

No, but the next version, 2.2, which add the option of a standard NMEA parser, will. Look for that in a few weeks. This one still uses the default EM406 in binary mode, and is the last version of our code designed for the original ATmega168-based board.

Version 2.2 will require the new ATMega328 board, with twice the memory, which is what we'll need to give a range of GPS parsers.
Thanks Chris..... I guess i will sell my old board and update to the new one... anyone in Oz want a 2.1 board :D

[bmw330i]

just before I get excited...does it require MatLab to run?

[Mick Molloy]

Requires free Labview runtime engine

[bmw330i]

Requires free Labview runtime engine
Can someone provide a link to it? I'd love to see if it runs under Wine on Linux. Probably will.
-BMW

[gwh]

http://digital.ni.com/softlib.nsf/webcategories/85256410006C055586256BBB002C130D?opendocument&node=132070_US

[zlite]

Can someone provide a link to it? I'd love to see if it runs under Wine on Linux. Probably will.
-BMW

Again, all details (including that link) are at the project's page (http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/ardupilot-21-released-setup) linked in the original post. I know we all love RC Groups, but sometimes answers are just a click away ;-)

[markeydoo]

Chris
Are there any plans to add/combine and OSD feature on the board so that you can share the GPS?
Thanks
Mark

[zlite]

Chris
Are there any plans to add/combine and OSD feature on the board so that you can share the GPS?
Thanks
Mark

Yes, but we don't have anything to announce yet.

[markeydoo]

Will it be an add on module to the existing board or a new board?
GREAT work

Thanks
Mark

[zlite]

Will it be an add on module to the existing board or a new board?
GREAT work

Thanks
Mark
Really, we don't have anything to announce yet. Please just be patient and we'll give details as soon as we can.

[Peter Seddon]

Based on these comments http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=921467&page=24#post12084534 sounds like it will be the Rembizi OSD that is being worked on to interface with the Ardupilot.

Having recently built this OSD (and it is available ready built as well) I have to say it is good. There is an excellent Config Prog that enables you to define the layout and data that is displayed making it very flexible.

regards Peter

[bmw330i]

Again, all details (including that link) are at the project's page (http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/ardupilot-21-released-setup) linked in the original post. I know we all love RC Groups, but sometimes answers are just a click away ;-)
Actually not, I went there, downloaded it, got all excited LabView has a runtime for Mac OSX...installed that...even found the "source" on the google URL.
Then came to the realization that runtime means you run the .exe which depends on the runtime.
I take it this is a Windows only Autopilot then? Seems without the ability to run that .exe you can't have that ground station.
I am still a little encouraged by being able to open Arduino 13 on my Mac natively (it's quite fast). Maybe I can just look around in the code for now.

[zlite]

Actually not, I went there, downloaded it, got all excited LabView has a runtime for Mac OSX...installed that...even found the "source" on the google URL.
Then came to the realization that runtime means you run the .exe which depends on the runtime.
I take it this is a Windows only Autopilot then? Seems without the ability to run that .exe you can't have that ground station.
I am still a little encouraged by being able to open Arduino 13 on my Mac natively (it's quite fast). Maybe I can just look around in the code for now.

If you can find anybody with a Mac and LabView they can make you an executable from that source code--LabView is cross-platform, as is Arduino, which is why we chose both of them. We just don't have Macs ourselves so we can't do it for you. Short of buying Macs to support you, I don't know what more we can do ;-)

[bmw330i]

If you can find anybody with a Mac and LabView they can make you an executable from that source code--LabView is cross-platform, as is Arduino, which is why we chose both of them. We just don't have Macs ourselves so we can't do it for you. Short of buying Macs to support you, I don't know what more we can do ;-)
I appreciate it. No worries, I was just on the fence if I start trying to use the two ArduPilots I have but refuse to get Windows or buy LabView to do it. It's cheaper to buy a Mac for you than buy LabView.
Not trying to be a problem I was just excited I might have a use for the two I have but see it's going to be some time.
Thanks for the quick answers and help.

[zlite]

I appreciate it. No worries, I was just on the fence if I start trying to use the two ArduPilots I have but refuse to get Windows or buy LabView to do it. It's cheaper to buy a Mac for you than buy LabView.
Not trying to be a problem I was just excited I might have a use for the two I have but see it's going to be some time.
Thanks for the quick answers and help.

Well, needless to say ArduPilot works great without the Ground Station, and you can use any version before 2.1 without the setup utility--Arduino is totally cross platform. Alternatively, you can just run BootCamp or Parallels on your Mac.

Again, if someone out there with LabView on a Mac would just compile the source code, we'll happily post it on the Google repository and everyone will be happy!