Modular based Ground Station

[Coyote]

This is my next evolution of my ground station.

Instead of having one that does some things really well, other things not so good and a few things not at all I wanted to have my cake and eat it :)

To do this in one design is basically impossible. So it made sense to make a modular swappable design with interconnecting parts so I can plug / unplug each part to change it to what ever configuration I want at the time. Basically multiple ground stations that can connect to each other :)

The objectives :

1) Tripod design for easy portability for turning up at a field and flying. This will have antenna tracking.
2) A case based ground station that can display two pilots feeds simultaneously even if they are on separate bands. Antenna tracking can be plugged in for one of the pilots to use.
3) A roof mounted antenna tracker based ground station for a chase car / winter flying.
4) All can be capable of live FPV flight transmission to the internet for meets.

So I will start with the first one, it was already built :)



Not much point in going into much details, they are all here >> Tripod thread

Basic details are :

Myflydream antenna tracker
Immersion DUO 5800 receiver
8 way video splitter
Pocket DVR
Bluetooth tracker connection
Local GPS for tracker
2x 5000mah 3S Lipos providing 6 hours continuous use.

All I have changed is added an alloy arm on which the Bluetooth module and UBlox GPS sensor. The Myflydream antenna tracker driver unit is now velcro`d to the tripod for quick release. The trackers slip ring is now tapped out with a thicker 8mm internal thread.



You can see the GPS and Bluetooth module clearer there. They are on an arm so they are mounted below the moving tracker, but out away from the moving parts so the GPS reception is not blocked as the tracker rotates.

The case part of the project is not started yet, the Pelicase kindly donated by Tim ( Gundummy ) is on its way then that part can begin.

The roof mounted part has already started. That was part of the new thicker thread being put in the trackers slip ring. The tracker now unscrews from the tripod to fix to something else.

This is the something else :) :



Am-Tech heavy duty glass / window suction cup :)

A few little cuts, filed down flat, an alloy plate glued in for strength and a piece of velcro added and its nearly done.



Easy :)

Unscrew the tracker from the tripod, screw it onto the handle and you have a roof mounted antenna tracker :)



So that`s part 1 and 3 mostly done. The car has had 1 screen already fitted, cables are already run from front to back.

Still to do :

Add a Vtx to the roof mounted version and a battery tray so its wireless.
Finish car, add more screens to it including 14" roof mounted screen for the pilot.

Peli-Case ground station to start / mock up, get it how I want the get carbon cut.

[Dizzy]

LOL i like it coyote a brill idea  :D

dizzy :)

[Anarchy83]

Glass suction cup - excellent idea!

Head In The Clouds Since 1983

[bignose13]

Bloody hell mate, you don't do things by half do you
Looks good though,

[Coyote]

I`m bored with the weather being bad :)

Should be a cool setup once its finished

[Gundummy]

Bluetooth AND GPS? Do they both fit into the AAT Driver 6 pin socket?

Nice idea with the suction cup - I wondered what would fall out from the magnetic issue!

[Coyote]

They do fit if you make them :) But yeah you can run both together at the same time

Yes the first version, a mag mount was an epic fail, it would hold onto the car no problem, but the tracker looked at the magnet as being the North Pole so sent it loopy :)

[Coyote]

Just pulled into the street to see the postie pulling out :(

Luckily we have met on many occasion so he stopped and passed me the Peli-Case from Gundummy .......... Result ! :)



Its a lot bigger than I figured, so much stronger than I would have thought as well. The lip with drilled holes for mounting plates in the base of it is a god send !

What` going into it ?

7" TFT LCD Screens x2
ImmersionRC 5.8ghz Uno Receiver x2
2.4ghz Video Receiver x2 ( cameras getting thrown in the bin )
FPV Pocket DVR x2
Video level adjustable Video Splitter x4
Panel mounted USB Socket
12v Waterproof USB Socket
RCA surface mounted sockets x4
3 Pole 4 Position Rotary Switches x 4
Switch / Potentiometer knobs


So I have started it, first I need to cut some ply plates to get the shapes and everything laid out so I know everything fits etc



The bottom perfectly matches the top so I only had to get the first plate right then I had a template for the other

[marcin]

love that idea with suction mount Ian !!

[Gundummy]

Well reminded! Screws lol - erm I think i have a rubber seal to? ........

to the batcave!!

;D

[Coyote]

The monitors have turned up, so I have cut out the holes to mount then in flush.

I will be cutting a slot for a sun visor to surround them as well but not yet 100% decide on its design





The receivers will also go behind here probably as well.

[Coyote]

Here is how its going to work.............

TV 1 :
With AV 1 You can select - 2.4ghz Immersion / 2.4ghz Boscam / 5.8ghz Immersion / 5.8ghz Boscam
With AV 2 You can select - External video input 1 / external video input 2 / DVR 1 playback / DVR 2 playback

TV 2
TV 1 :
With AV 1 You can select - 2.4ghz Immersion / 2.4ghz Boscam / 5.8ghz Immersion / 5.8ghz Boscam
With AV 2 You can select - External video input 1 / external video input 2 / DVR 1 playback / DVR 2 playback

So you can watch two pilots flying simultaneously either both being received from the Gs or from an RCA connection from another receiver.

DVR 1 : You can view and record - 2.4ghz Immersion / 2.4ghz Boscam / 5.8ghz Immersion / 5.8ghz Boscam / External video input 1 / external video input 2

DVR 2 : You can view and record - 2.4ghz Immersion / 2.4ghz Boscam / 5.8ghz Immersion / 5.8ghz Boscam / External video input 1 / external video input 2

2x 4 way video splitter with adjustable video levels so everything gets the best signal possible

The last video stage will be the USB output for broadcasting at meets.

The splitscreen DVR will take which ever of the inputs is being choose and the two external inputs to create a 4 screens split screen that the laptop can view all together or pick which input to broadcast.

[Coyote]

To get the wiring sorted in my head I do a quick and nasty drawing of one side of the GS



This only shows the TV 1 side of the video wiring, no audio, labels for the B side but gives me a drawn down picture to follow instead of trying to remember it in my head

[Coyote]

Put the SMA connector in, soldered up with RG316 cable



Wires neatly routed down the middle so the monitors can go as far back as possible, I need the plate as far back as I can for clearance on the other base plate for switches / knobs etc



I want to fit some black caps for the connectors to keep dirt out but cant find any. So if you know of a source I`m all ears :)

[Coyote]

Waterproof 12v lighter socket for plugging in chargers for lipo`s to phones ?

Aye go on then, don`t mind if I do :)



Next was to fit the supports for the lid base plate. The monitors go back 20mm behind the plate, so I had to raise the board by that much so they fit.



No problem :) The monitors now fit as far back as they can, slots cut out for further wiring.

So then that means the main base plate can be constructed. This is when I run into a little problem ..........

The case has these really cool and useful lips around the inside with inset nuts to fix a plate too ............ great eh ? :)



................ Nooooo :(

With the monitors needing the 20mm clearance that brings them quite far forward, the lip to fix the main base plate is basically flush with the top of the case. This means that the switches and potentiometers and well anything that sits proud will touch and possibly damage the monitor screens .......... Bugger !

The way around that I went with was to still use the existing lip, but make a plate that then drops around 20mm down, with an inset plate inside it sunken into the case giving me the clearances.

A bit like this :



In fact a lot like that :) Its going to be a bitch to carbon wrap, but needs must :)



A fill in on the corners for a super sharp edge for the trimming and time to start the layout for the equipment, switches, displays, potentiometers, RCA`s etc etc



Glad I masked it off, I missed a few bits off and had to re-draw most of it :)

But finally decided the parts can start going in