New Project Sailboat for 4G FPV

SenZBar

I enjoyed reading the many posts here and have a project that I need some advice on.
I am looking to set up a model sailboat for internet based FPV control and video streaming.

Requirements

telemetry to include compass, roll, GPS earth, speed and course tracking. Ideally HUD over video.
Running max 4 servos.
Joy stick control.
WiFi input additional for for bench testing.
I do not need autonomous fail safe control.
Plug and play configuration as much as possible is desired.
Reliable supplier.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Sinamics

Hi SenZBar

I would love to see this SailBoat in action Great Project.
I'll list the equipment that I would use if I were building a autonomous boat.

ContollerBoard

You probably need a controller board like APM 2.6, Pixhawk or Navio+. All of them would be overkill to use for a sailboat, but they will give you all information you need and allot more.. "compass, roll, GPS earth, speed and course tracking"

They all run Ardupilot software and preferably running Rover Platform in your case.
All of the above mention boards suppports 4 servos and more.
You can use any joystick you want to control the sailboat by using Joystick mapping function which is embedded in Mission Planner. Mission planner supports any Ardupilot Controller board.

image 4521045855697de94c14d3101747320.png

Companion Computer.

You need a companion computer to handle the comunication (Cellular link) between the controller board and your joystick (Ground Control Station).
You have several opportunitys.

Raspberry Pi
A common board for this type of applications. Used by myself in almost every flight with cellular communication. installation guide
4Gmetry Plug & Play board delivered by Volta Robots and our member Silvio aka @ super This companion is mainly designed for Pixhawk.

image 20219497345697e29d14730134580760.png

Sinamics

Useful link
http://ardupilot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=10558

I presently have two autonomous boats that use the APM2.6, but it would be easy to upgrade to the Pixhawk when the time comes. The Pixhawk can navigate much better than the APM because it can run an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) navigation function. The ArduRover2 firmware is a good starting point for building an autonomous navigation controller for a boat. You can employ either standard steering (rudder) and throttle or use differential steering with just two propellers.

You have probably seen those videos before, but i post them anyway.

https://youtu.be/JP372QrRvlU https://youtu.be/_hfVaWArDDc

SenZBar

Bernt,

Thank you for the information. This is all very helpful and I was moving in the direction of these products.
One question is there a GCS that can overlay the telemetry on the video feed as in a Heads Up Display?

I agree, that I will have more than enough telemetry inputs, but that is OK for me.

In terms of set-up, I am not a coder. Is the software straight forward to load?

Do you have any video you have taken with 4GmetryIII?

WiFi Dongle and 4G dongle can be interchanged?

Sinamics

You could easily transcode video feed to Mission planner HUD by using VLC.

Example.

image 116162592154c6bab3e8c8a271903648.jpeg

Or you could use gStreamer HUD application developed by Patrick Duffy.
http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/how-to-setup-a-mission-planner-hd-video-hud-using-gstreamer-and

image 76676019656c2fc745094e749982609.png

I assume you need to customize the code slightly, to get the desired response you require as ArduRover is mainly for Rover not boats, but i acutally dont know for sure.

#Super could you comment this one?
Do you have any video you have taken with 4GmetryIII?

WiFi Dongle and 4G dongle can be interchanged?

Yes.

SenZBar

Brent,

This is really helpful and I appreciate your input.

As far as suppliers go for the hardware. I am in the US, do you have preferred reliable vendors that you like that typically have the items in stock?

Sinamics

You welcome.
Many members are from USA, so they would probably help you out.
Chuckster1 , any advice?

Chuckster1

Hi SenZBar and welcome to uavmatrix. I'm a big Amazon guy. I got my Raspberry Pi, serial to ethernet module, ethernet cable, Headplay and Logitech C920 camera, all from Amazon. I think my Raspberry Pi was a clone , however (several 1 star reviews mentioned this possibility), so I head to the official Raspberry Pi website and used 1 of their certified sellers (Element14).

The clone wouldn't handle a SD card I had setup to run 720P video with gstreamer, while the 1 from Element14 works great. I spent the money and got a genuine apm 2.6 directly from 3DR, and it has been ROCK SOLID. I also got a really cheap apm clone from Amazon that I'm not sure if I trust (return to launch has full throttle on the ground when it shouldn't). I also got a cheap external compass/GPS and power module from Amazon which work fine. I also got 2 Pixhawks, 1 from Amazon and 1 from Ebay, and both seem ok but have not been flight tested, but ground tests look good for my quad build. I also like Banggood and Hobbyking, but get ready to wait for shipping half way across the world.
So tell us about this sailboat, is there any motor and how big is it? Sounds like a cool project.:-)

SenZBar

Posting the hull drawings and dimensions now. I have been offline for a bit.

image 401261945705468613689923381368.jpeg

Sinamics

Nice drawing..

Are you building this yourself? in what material? Any progress on the flightcontroller software?

SenZBar

Two hulls have been built. I want to focus on match racing so that the "skipper" is competing against another person also remotely controlling their boat.

I am far behind on the "boatcontroller" software/hardware, maybe I can engage chuckster to take on a commission to build me two systems. I will add pictures when I can.