PDA/Smartphone for autopilot use

[Felthamg]

Inspired by Matttay's work (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=843174) on using a PDA/Smartphone as the basis for an autopilot implementation I have decided to take this route as well in my development.

I've been looking around for a suitable candidate PDA/smartphone to tinker with but I'm new to this genre of electronic accessory and I could use some suggestions.

What I need:
1.running windows mobile (5 or 6, but 6 would be preferrable)
2.bluetooth
3.gps

Cost is also an issue, but I would rather spend the extra dollar for a better product.

Please give me your suggestions!

[zozie]

The HTC touch will do that. Look on Ebay. It's running CE 6.0 with a 400MHZ CPU, has GPS and bluetooth, but it relies on a data plan from the cell provider so I'd suggest going with an external attachable GPS or bluetooth. This one also has WIFI which may help, and programming it VS.NET 2008 is a breeeeeze.
my 2 cents :p

[Felthamg]

thanks Zozie,

I was looking at the HTC touch as a candidate, it seems to have everything one would need in one of the smallest designs. thanks for your affirmation.

[Tuner]

I to would recommend the touch unless you want to wait a month and spend twice the money you can buy the Sprint HTC Diamond which is the touch with a little bit more of a kick.

I have thought about this and I would recommend finding a VNC app that allows you to control the PDA/Phone remotely.
This way you can use the BLuetooth and strip off the PDA's case and display further reducing the size and weight and loosing no control only moving it to a laptop/PC or another PDA.

[Felthamg]

I to would recommend the touch unless you want to wait a month and spend twice the money you can buy the Sprint HTC Diamond which is the touch with a little bit more of a kick.

I have thought about this and I would recommend finding a VNC app that allows you to control the PDA/Phone remotely.
This way you can use the BLuetooth and strip off the PDA's case and display further reducing the size and weight and loosing no control only moving it to a laptop/PC or another PDA.


Hey Tuner,

that sounds promising. I have a few questions regarding this VNC app you are talking about (I've never used one before so its all new to me). Firstly, do you have any recommendations for a VNC app for the HTC touch? Second, do you require a contract (like a data plan) with a major communications company (rogers,sprint,bell) to use it? I'd like to stay away from contracts but alas, I fear that I may require one.

I initially was going to purchase a used HTC touch with a broken screen but it turns out that if you hard-reset the device (which you sometimes have to do) then you're stuck. The device attempts to take you through a tutorial that requires the screen, so you cant run something like "myMobiler" to move the control off onto your laptop.

[mrb0y]

Hey Tuner,

that sounds promising. I have a few questions regarding this VNC app you are talking about (I've never used one before so its all new to me). Firstly, do you have any recommendations for a VNC app for the HTC touch? Second, do you require a contract (like a data plan) with a major communications company (rogers,sprint,bell) to use it? I'd like to stay away from contracts but alas, I fear that I may require one.

I initially was going to purchase a used HTC touch with a broken screen but it turns out that if you hard-reset the device (which you sometimes have to do) then you're stuck. The device attempts to take you through a tutorial that requires the screen, so you cant run something like "myMobiler" to move the control off onto your laptop.

Well there goes my great idea of grabbing a broken HTC off of ebay!!! I wonder if there isn't a way around the hard reset initialization problem?

[Tuner]

No you dont need service and while if you know what you are doing you can get away with not having a screen at all you will need one its not worth it infact its a great added benenfit, just plug the touch screen and viola.

Honestly I dont see why more people dont go with the Paparazzi project immediately. It is really the best way to go.
http://paparazzi.enac.fr/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

If you want a simple stabilization systems try the Hilicommand I think they make a version that will work for airplanes. I just wish their was a similar version for airplanes.

[zlite]

Honestly I dont see why more people dont go with the Paparazzi project immediately. It is really the best way to go.
http://paparazzi.enac.fr/wiki/index.php/Main_Page



Have you seen this thread (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=851820)? Paparazzi is really powerful, but is a nightmare to set up if you're not an experienced Linux user (and sometimes even if you are).

Paparazzi is too complicated for regular folks, IMHO.

[matttay]

Well there goes my great idea of grabbing a broken HTC off of ebay!!! I wonder if there isn't a way around the hard reset initialization problem?

It should be doable. The calibration doesn't run at every cold boot (just checked). However, if it does run, you should be able to connect to the PC and remotely kill the process (it's called welcome.exe) AND insert whatever startup apps you might want.

So, it's a pretty good idea to seek out devices with broken screens. With the screen removed, weight is probably around 85g on some of the smaller devices.

[Tuner]

Yep the paparrzzi project is not easy simple but if it were possible to make an autopilot work and fly a wide range of airplanes then Futaba or someone would sell them. Unfortunately they may require fine tuning, but if you use an airplane that has been tested with it I am sure it will be relatively simple.

In my opinion it would be fare easier to setup a paparrazzi system than build a sucessfull autopilot from scratch. The subtle complexities can be very frustrating.

Just my opinion.