DIY Antenna tracker

skyscraper · March 13, 2013, 09:50:34 AM

Quote from: Coyote on March 12, 2013, 05:08:00 PM
Really coming together now Andy :)

Yep. I'm looking forward to trying this out for real. Been wanting a tracker for a long time. Just got to fit a Vrx on and I can go flying. Looks like an OK day for it too. Probably wont get it done today though.

Hoping to get the source code up today. I realise that there should be other options to this such as connecting direct to a GPS receiver in the plane and sending data from that rather than using Ardupilot, and also using the video/audio signal rathen than FrSky as the Downlink. First things first though. But I hope to investigate all these options sooner or later. Also will have to put up some info about how to build it on my website..

Thanks again for the encouragement!

regards
Andy

tdmodels · March 13, 2013, 10:48:15 AM

Awesome work Andy!

skyscraper · March 13, 2013, 01:09:22 PM

Quote from: tdmodels on March 13, 2013, 10:48:15 AM
Awesome work Andy!

Thanks :)

regards
Andy

skyscraper · March 13, 2013, 01:13:18 PM

I'm happy to announce that the source code is available.

The Antenna tracker
https://github.com/kwikius/quantracker

The PC sim
https://github.com/kwikius/quantracker_sim

Currently its Linux only. I hope to do a Windows version at some stage.

I've also added the image files. I will have to get down to writing some HOWTO's and construction details for this project!

regards
Andy

skyscraper · March 19, 2013, 03:01:49 PM

Finally! Tracker Following my plane about the sky

(If you wondering where the plane is , skip to 2:36, 5:45, 7:04) Meanwhile will have to get a decent camera so I can see whats in the frame!

DIY Antenna tracker First real world testing

Next up is putting on the goggles I guess!

regrads
Andy

Brucey · March 19, 2013, 07:00:38 PM

Looking good Andy, you must be chuffed!

mrwilljackson · March 19, 2013, 07:34:09 PM

Awesome project :) do you think a raspberry pi would drive the tracker?

Coyote · March 19, 2013, 07:59:35 PM

Very nice Andy :)

skyscraper · March 19, 2013, 08:54:53 PM

Thanks Guys. Yes I'm pretty chuffed. It seems to work ok. I havent actually tried flying using it yet though, so that is the next milestone.

As far as doing it on Raspberry Pi. I guess so. The nice thing about the STM32 is that it has a module that turns the pulses from the encoder on the motor into a count. Usually you would have to have a separate ic to deal with that.

Anyway there are loads of things I want to do. Next is probably making an airborne unit that reads a gps direct so you dont have to have an Ardupilot. I want to make a mini plane to take on holiday so want it for that. Shouldnt be too difficult.

Also want to get the FrSky Tx mounted on the tracker with a directional antenna , as no doubt that will now limit my range.

Apart from that there is an awful lot I want to do, but what is there already ticks all the basic boxes.

Yep. I'm pretty chuffed..
Thanks for the support and comments. It really helps keep you going :)

Will also now have to get to work and write up the construction in much more detail.

regards
Andy

skyscraper · March 26, 2013, 05:36:22 PM

I'e been working on the construction details of the tracker on my website. I hope there will be lost more to come but meanwhile.... This is I hope is at least infinitely better that what was there before!

www.softpainter.org/fpv/antenna_tracker/index.html

I hope to do more soon! Also looking into using the FrSky Telemetry Hub for onboard telemetry as opposed to rolling my own. According to Bruce on RCModelReviews however the GPS update rate is 5 Hz, which is a no-go.

http://www.frsky-rc.com/showproducts.asp?id=92

Anyone had any experience of the FrSky Telemetry Hub? Is it worth bothering to get or not?

regards
Andy

skyscraper · March 30, 2013, 06:25:57 PM

Hi All,

Having started to document the tracker, I realised that using the heavyweight STM32F4 for the airborne side task of translating from the Ardupilot Mavlink protocol to a lightweight protocol suitable for the FrSky telemetry system, was a classic case of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Therefore I decided to redo the code for the airborne side using the Arduino.

I havent tested the Arduino version in flight yet, but its working well on the bench and I dont foresee any problems.

(EDIT: The Arduino version is now flight tested with the goggles on and works just as well as the original.)

For those interested, the Arduino code is available at https://github.com/kwikius/mavlink_to_frsky/tree/master/arduino. Its currently written for the Arduino Micro, but I have an Arduino Nano and an Arduino Pro Mini on order and I am pretty confident the code will work with them. Its also a doddle to wire it all up, so I'm quite pleased at the change.

Using the Arduino removes another hurdle to building this project. Now you shouldnt need anything much more complicated than a soldering iron and a screwdriver, and a hacksaw. All parts are pretty much off the shelf items.

For completeness here is the vid of the keychain cam mounted on the tracker, (which I already posted in the Diy Antenna Tracker thread in the OSD and Antenna trackers section)

DIY Antenna tracker - Tracker Cam using keychain #11 camera mounted ion tracker

Now back to writing up the project!

regards
Andy

skyscraper · May 18, 2013, 03:00:55 PM

Info on bits required for the tracker and sources to get them...

http://www.softpainter.org/fpv/antenna_tracker/bill_of_materials.html

regards
Andy

skyscraper · May 23, 2013, 08:55:27 AM

Designing V2 of the tracker with FreeCAD http://www.freecadweb.org/

Designing V2 of the DIY Antenna Tracker using FreeCad

regards
Andy

Kawobei · August 29, 2013, 02:04:20 PM

Good work Andy, any luck in adding the option for pan to be a servo?

(My attempts to go through the code on the STM32 only showed my lack of skills :)

skyscraper · August 29, 2013, 03:59:42 PM

Quote from: Kawobei on August 29, 2013, 02:04:20 PM
Good work Andy, any luck in adding the option for pan to be a servo?

(My attempts to go through the code on the STM32 only showed my lack of skills :)

I will try to get down to that in the next week . I got a bit sidetracked with my latest plane:
http://www.fpvhub.com/index.php/topic,14568.0.html

However the tracker is to go back on top of the list.

I'll put that request first. :)

Meanwhile
I've got the basics of sending telem down the audio signal sorted, which I'm quite excited about.

Another thing I would like to try is using RSSI to track
http://www.fpvhub.com/index.php/topic,14933.0.html

I think it would be cool to add an infra red strobe too!
http://www.fpvhub.com/index.php/topic,15296.0.html

Anyway the tracker project is alive and well.
Be warned also that my website softpainter.org is going to die in a couple of weeks. I will get another site up and running but I just got fed up with the name softpainter and decided not to renew that domain.

I will contact you when the code is sorted.

regards
Andy