Autonomous Flying Platform: Difference between revisions

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=[http://yjucofi.co.cc Under Construction! Please Visit Reserve Page. Page Will Be Available Shortly]=
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=[http://yjucofi.co.cc CLICK HERE]=
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==Overview==
==Overview==


A long desire of mine has been to create an autonomous flying solution.  I was initially inspired when I saw a competition with the following specifications:
A long desire of mine has been to create an autonomous flying solution.  I was initially inspired when I saw a competition with the following specifications:


&lt;ol&gt;
<ol>
   &lt;li&gt;Solution cannot touch the ground&lt;/li&gt;
   <li>Solution cannot touch the ground</li>
   &lt;li&gt;Retrieve a metal ring on the other side of a barrier&lt;/li&gt;
   <li>Retrieve a metal ring on the other side of a barrier</li>
   &lt;li&gt;Bring it back to its origin and drop it off&lt;/li&gt;
   <li>Bring it back to its origin and drop it off</li>
&lt;/ol&gt;
</ol>


The autonomous rc helicopter from Stanford won the competition.  Blimps were tried but they flew away etc... in the outdoor winds.
The autonomous rc helicopter from Stanford won the competition.  Blimps were tried but they flew away etc... in the outdoor winds.
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==Team Members==
==Team Members==


&lt;table border=&quot;1&quot;&gt;
<table border="1">
   &lt;tr&gt;
   <tr>
     &lt;th&gt;Name&lt;/th&gt;
     <th>Name</th>
     &lt;th&gt;Expertise&lt;/th&gt;
     <th>Expertise</th>
     &lt;th&gt;Role&lt;/th&gt;
     <th>Role</th>
   &lt;tr&gt;
   <tr>
   &lt;tr&gt;
   <tr>
     &lt;td&gt;Tim Heath&lt;/td&gt;
     <td>Tim Heath</td>
     &lt;td&gt;Software Developer, Project Management&lt;/td&gt;
     <td>Software Developer, Project Management</td>
     &lt;td&gt;Project Leader/Developer&lt;/td&gt;
     <td>Project Leader/Developer</td>
   &lt;/tr&gt;
   </tr>
&lt;/table&gt;
</table>


==Requirements==
==Requirements==


&lt;ol&gt;
<ol>
&lt;li&gt;Use a solution that is modular and used as many off the shelf components for rapid prototyping/solutions&lt;/li&gt;
<li>Use a solution that is modular and used as many off the shelf components for rapid prototyping/solutions</li>
&lt;li&gt;Easy to reprogram and loosely coupled&lt;/li&gt;
<li>Easy to reprogram and loosely coupled</li>
&lt;li&gt;Easy to interface with external control devices&lt;/li&gt;
<li>Easy to interface with external control devices</li>
&lt;li&gt;Navigates in 3d space in an efficient easy way&lt;/li&gt;
<li>Navigates in 3d space in an efficient easy way</li>
&lt;/ol&gt;
</ol>


==Design==
==Design==
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'''G1 Info'''
'''G1 Info'''


&lt;table border=&quot;1&quot;&gt;
<table border="1">
   &lt;tr&gt;
   <tr>
     &lt;th&gt;Property&lt;/th&gt;
     <th>Property</th>
     &lt;th&gt;Value&lt;/th&gt;
     <th>Value</th>
   &lt;/tr&gt;
   </tr>
   &lt;tr&gt;
   <tr>
     &lt;td&gt;Weight&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;5.6 ounces&lt;/td&gt;
     <td>Weight</td><td>5.6 ounces</td>
   &lt;/tr&gt;
   </tr>
   &lt;tr&gt;
   <tr>
     &lt;td&gt;Size&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;4.6 by 2.2 by 0.6 inches&lt;/td&gt;
     <td>Size</td><td>4.6 by 2.2 by 0.6 inches</td>
   &lt;/tr&gt;
   </tr>
   &lt;tr&gt;
   <tr>
     &lt;td&gt;Memory&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;1GB (memory card of up to 8 GB possible)&lt;/td&gt;
     <td>Memory</td><td>1GB (memory card of up to 8 GB possible)</td>
   &lt;/tr&gt;
   </tr>
   &lt;tr&gt;
   <tr>
     &lt;td&gt;Wifi&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;Yes&lt;/td&gt;
     <td>Wifi</td><td>Yes</td>
   &lt;/tr&gt;
   </tr>
   &lt;tr&gt;
   <tr>
     &lt;td&gt;Bluetooth&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;Yes&lt;/td&gt;
     <td>Bluetooth</td><td>Yes</td>
   &lt;/tr&gt;
   </tr>
   &lt;tr&gt;
   <tr>
     &lt;td&gt;USB&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;Non host mode but yes&lt;/td&gt;
     <td>USB</td><td>Non host mode but yes</td>
   &lt;/tr&gt;
   </tr>
   &lt;tr&gt;
   <tr>
     &lt;td&gt;Serial&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;Yes&lt;/td&gt;
     <td>Serial</td><td>Yes</td>
   &lt;/tr&gt;
   </tr>
   &lt;tr&gt;
   <tr>
     &lt;td&gt;Camera&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;3 megapixels&lt;/td&gt;
     <td>Camera</td><td>3 megapixels</td>
   &lt;/tr&gt;
   </tr>
&lt;/table&gt;
</table>


==Blimp Size Calculations==
==Blimp Size Calculations==


&lt;pre&gt;
<pre>
air is about 1.2 kg/m^3
air is about 1.2 kg/m^3
helium is about 1/6th of that
helium is about 1/6th of that
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((6.3566 * 3) / (4 * pi))^(1 / 3) = 1.14915539
((6.3566 * 3) / (4 * pi))^(1 / 3) = 1.14915539
  a balloon with a diameter of 2.3 ft
  a balloon with a diameter of 2.3 ft
&lt;/pre&gt;
</pre>


==Blimps for Purchase We could Use==
==Blimps for Purchase We could Use==
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==Servo Interface Design==
==Servo Interface Design==


&lt;pre&gt;
<pre>
macpod suggested:  probably cheapest would be to use a arduino based unit to talk to the g1, and have it use a multiplexer or i2c servo controller.  Look how diydrones does it.
macpod suggested:  probably cheapest would be to use a arduino based unit to talk to the g1, and have it use a multiplexer or i2c servo controller.  Look how diydrones does it.
&lt;/pre&gt;
</pre>


==Serial Connection Information==
==Serial Connection Information==


&lt;pre&gt;
<pre>
I am by no means a G1 god or guru. There are better people to ask and I
I am by no means a G1 god or guru. There are better people to ask and I
do hope they'll chime in. I am however linked to that nickname that you
do hope they'll chime in. I am however linked to that nickname that you
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You can boot the phone with the camera button held down to access a
You can boot the phone with the camera button held down to access a
serial boot prompt that looks like this:
serial boot prompt that looks like this:
UART0:Cmd&gt;
UART0:Cmd>


So far I've only seen a single command 'set'. I didn't find very much
So far I've only seen a single command 'set'. I didn't find very much
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Best,
Best,
Jake
Jake
&lt;/pre&gt;
</pre>


==Serial Hardware to Interface with G1==
==Serial Hardware to Interface with G1==
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* http://groups.google.com/group/android-platform/browse_thread/thread/f03730e25cc3fe55
* http://groups.google.com/group/android-platform/browse_thread/thread/f03730e25cc3fe55


&lt;pre&gt;
<pre>
     For the USB pinout, check http://pinouts.ru/Slots/USB_pinout.shtml.
     For the USB pinout, check http://pinouts.ru/Slots/USB_pinout.shtml.
Now, converting to serial is (or should be due to the USB specs) more
Now, converting to serial is (or should be due to the USB specs) more
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chips used to do the conversion and they are pretty cheap (like $1/
chips used to do the conversion and they are pretty cheap (like $1/
each or less). You could be lazy and then get a usb-to-serial cable
each or less). You could be lazy and then get a usb-to-serial cable
like this one, http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=800A-RS232&amp;cpc=SCH,
like this one, http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=800A-RS232&cpc=SCH,
and put the mini-usb connector on it.
and put the mini-usb connector on it.
&lt;/pre&gt;
</pre>


=== Open hardware/source DIY drones ===
=== Open hardware/source DIY drones ===
Line 199: Line 191:


=== HTC 11pin breakout board (save your sanity) ===
=== HTC 11pin breakout board (save your sanity) ===
* http://www.podgizmo.com/index.php?act=viewProd&amp;productId=30
* http://www.podgizmo.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=30

Revision as of 19:32, 23 November 2010

Overview

A long desire of mine has been to create an autonomous flying solution. I was initially inspired when I saw a competition with the following specifications:

  1. Solution cannot touch the ground
  2. Retrieve a metal ring on the other side of a barrier
  3. Bring it back to its origin and drop it off

The autonomous rc helicopter from Stanford won the competition. Blimps were tried but they flew away etc... in the outdoor winds.

Team Members

Name Expertise Role
Tim Heath Software Developer, Project Management Project Leader/Developer

Requirements

  1. Use a solution that is modular and used as many off the shelf components for rapid prototyping/solutions
  2. Easy to reprogram and loosely coupled
  3. Easy to interface with external control devices
  4. Navigates in 3d space in an efficient easy way

Design

I am going to use the G1 cell phone as it is the most modular.

G1 Info

Property Value
Weight5.6 ounces
Size4.6 by 2.2 by 0.6 inches
Memory1GB (memory card of up to 8 GB possible)
WifiYes
BluetoothYes
USBNon host mode but yes
SerialYes
Camera3 megapixels

Blimp Size Calculations

air is about 1.2 kg/m^3
helium is about 1/6th of that
 6.2 ounces = 175.767043 grams
 then you'd need about 175 liters
180 liters = 6.35664001 cubic feet
((6.3566 * 3) / (4 * pi))^(1 / 3) = 1.14915539
 a balloon with a diameter of 2.3 ft

Blimps for Purchase We could Use

http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/52-Mylar-Silver-Blimp-Balloon-Mach-RC-Airship-Blimp_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ130276783354

I also found out they make latex 3 foot balloons we could use for only 7 dollars that I can pick up locally!

How to create a Propeller

http://eds.dyndns.org/~ircjunk/tutorials/mech/prop/prop.html

Servo Interface Design

macpod suggested:  probably cheapest would be to use a arduino based unit to talk to the g1, and have it use a multiplexer or i2c servo controller.  Look how diydrones does it.

Serial Connection Information

I am by no means a G1 god or guru. There are better people to ask and I
do hope they'll chime in. I am however linked to that nickname that you
dropped and so I feel compelled to answer. ( And no, I'm not nor have I
ever been, a woman. )

The serial interface you're discussing does indeed exist on the HTC
Dream (G1). I hear it's possible to build a cable that is a mini-usb on
one end and a normal sized usb on the other. Between the two is a usb to
serial device. It's just a nice way to have a set of pin outs and power;
it's otherwise not a special cable.

If you have or build such a cable, you'll then be able to access a few
low level debuggers or boot prompts on the serial port. If you have the
right setup, you should be able to connect the cable, attach to the usb
serial device and set minicom to operate at 115200 8N1 (and with no
software/hardware flow control).

A photo of the mythical cable attached to my G1 is available here:
https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Image:G1-two-usb-to-serial-cable.jpg

This is the code for that interface (see the Android source):
/kernel/drivers/serial/msm_serial_debugger.c

From the source you'll see the following commands available when the
phone is booted:
pc
regs
reboot
irqs
kmsg
version
sysrq

If you have the developer or engineering boot loader, you can do more...

You can boot the phone with the camera button held down to access a
serial boot prompt that looks like this:
UART0:Cmd>

So far I've only seen a single command 'set'. I didn't find very much
useful information beyond that for the serial interface to the (first?)
boot loader. Perhaps someone knows more about this? It may prove to be
useful...

Another interesting but unrelated (GSM) test function is available in
the dialer program when the phone is booted by calling this number:
*#*#INFO#*#*

Best,
Jake

Serial Hardware to Interface with G1

https://noisebridge.net/wiki/Noisedroid/FAQ#USB_to_Serial_interface_with_the_G1

Helpful Links

Android hacking

HTC Pinout/discussions

    For the USB pinout, check http://pinouts.ru/Slots/USB_pinout.shtml.
Now, converting to serial is (or should be due to the USB specs) more
than just running wires from one connector to the other. There are
chips used to do the conversion and they are pretty cheap (like $1/
each or less). You could be lazy and then get a usb-to-serial cable
like this one, http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=800A-RS232&cpc=SCH,
and put the mini-usb connector on it.

Open hardware/source DIY drones

Awsome People

HTC 11pin breakout board (save your sanity)