3 ms·

I'd be interested in information like this for drones that are fully programmable (wasn't there one that could run NodeJS?)

zachrose 12y ago
The Parrot AR runs a web server, and is easily controlled with the HTTP client of your choice.
bri3d 12y ago
The Parrot AR.Drone runs Linux off the shelf, and its downward-facing camera and optical flow algorithms make it a great (very stable) platform. The main drawback is a lack of payload capacity and non-open flight control firmware. It's probably what you heard of with respect to Node.JS, because https://github.com/felixge/node-ar-drone https://github.com/felixge/node-ar-drone is very popular. However, that project doesn't run Node.JS on the copter itself but rather on a control node, transmitting commands to the copter over WiFi. To build "fully programmable," self-contained drones in a more open manner, I've started with an off-the-shelf flight control system (in my case, an ArduPilot knockoff) and then attached an Android phone as payload, wired in to provide some control input via UART. This way the off-the-shelf flight control system can handle the hard real-time PID loops without worry, and the Linux side can run a conventional kernel and userspace with whatever algorithms I need to run, providing me with softer timing requirements. So far I've had good luck using ArduCopter, an older Nexus phone, and OpenCV via the NDK to implement a basic "follow a shape" quadcopter. My goal is to build a simple "follow me" functionality for recording cool car and sports videos.
- dharma1 12y ago
  You could install Ubuntu on that Nexus and run a full linux. Hit me up if you want to talk - I work on Ubuntu Mobile at Canonical and drones in my spare time (http://londonhelicam.co.uk http://londonhelicam.co.uk)
- mdda 12y ago
  For the control input via UART are you connecting a USB->UART interface to the phone, and then talking MAVlink to the ArduPilot (essentially like [1])? Or are you going lower level and talking multichannel RC control signals, which would then interface to even dumber PID loop-only kind of controllers (eg: KK)? [1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31ULjsqjiYs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31ULjsqjiYs
  - bri3d 12y ago
    The former. I thought about something like the latter, but I had my ArduCopter setup working really well before I started the project.

zachrose 12y ago

The Parrot AR runs a web server, and is easily controlled with the HTTP client of your choice.

bri3d 12y ago

The Parrot AR.Drone runs Linux off the shelf, and its downward-facing camera and optical flow algorithms make it a great (very stable) platform. The main drawback is a lack of payload capacity and non-open flight control firmware. It's probably what you heard of with respect to Node.JS, because https://github.com/felixge/node-ar-drone https://github.com/felixge/node-ar-drone is very popular. However, that project doesn't run Node.JS on the copter itself but rather on a control node, transmitting commands to the copter over WiFi. To build "fully programmable," self-contained drones in a more open manner, I've started with an off-the-shelf flight control system (in my case, an ArduPilot knockoff) and then attached an Android phone as payload, wired in to provide some control input via UART. This way the off-the-shelf flight control system can handle the hard real-time PID loops without worry, and the Linux side can run a conventional kernel and userspace with whatever algorithms I need to run, providing me with softer timing requirements. So far I've had good luck using ArduCopter, an older Nexus phone, and OpenCV via the NDK to implement a basic "follow a shape" quadcopter. My goal is to build a simple "follow me" functionality for recording cool car and sports videos.

dharma1 12y ago
You could install Ubuntu on that Nexus and run a full linux. Hit me up if you want to talk - I work on Ubuntu Mobile at Canonical and drones in my spare time (http://londonhelicam.co.uk http://londonhelicam.co.uk)
mdda 12y ago
For the control input via UART are you connecting a USB->UART interface to the phone, and then talking MAVlink to the ArduPilot (essentially like [1])? Or are you going lower level and talking multichannel RC control signals, which would then interface to even dumber PID loop-only kind of controllers (eg: KK)? [1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31ULjsqjiYs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31ULjsqjiYs
- bri3d 12y ago
  The former. I thought about something like the latter, but I had my ArduCopter setup working really well before I started the project.