DIY Sense and Avoid for RC with Ardupilot

[makattack]

I had various projects I was thinking of relating to my current hobby interests in RC, HAM, and electronics/computing.

I was thinking of a use for my Intel Edison "Pentium class computer on a stamp" when I remembered I also wanted to look into creating a "Software Defined Radio" http://www.rtl-sdr.com/about-rtl-sdr/

Coupled with the Ardupilot linux project http://dev.ardupilot.com/wiki/building-the-code/building-for-beaglebone-black-on-linux/

I was thinking why not integrate all that into a sort of sense and avoid system? Of course, I can't be the only person to wonder about this, so a google search verified others have thought of and started implementing it:

http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/integration-of-air-traffic-data
http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/ads-b-decoding-on-an-ar-drone?id=705844:BlogPost:1193219&page=2

Well, it turns out APM MissionPlanner already implements this functionality:
http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/whoop-whoop-live-air-traffic-overlaid-on-mission-planner
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2222494

Very interesting... I'm going to have to order one of those $20 RTL-SDR dongles and see how this works with my APM equipped stuff...

Adding more links just for reference when I get motivated to start this project:

http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/rtl-sdr-ads-b-and-homebrew-collinear.html
http://www.balarad.net/
http://www.rtl-sdr.com/hak5-using-solar-powered-embedded-device-rtl-sdr-track-aircraft-remotely/

Of course, as I look into this, I realized the antenna for my ground station might get a bit unwieldy... even at 1 meter long, that's more kit than I would like...

 

[johnmw]

interesting,
i've heard about such system (sub) but never look deeper into it.
do share please since you've decided to embark on it.
thanks.

 

[Maingear]

Way cool!

I've been thinking the same thing. No idea how to track restricted use aircraft. I'm more concerned about a crop duster than other general aviation in rural areas.

Justin

 

[makattack]

Here's another cool integration of UAS technology with ATC:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...ate-with-air-traffic-like-a-normal-pilot.html

Interestingly, they are using APM/MissionPlanner in simulation mode for that video demo. This of course also raises questions about how ATC can manage the potential for so many more aircraft. Imagine having been tasked the job to put 100 quadcopters in a hover. I guess one can streamline the workflow.

Anyway, I guess this has more application in the commercial integration of UAS more than for hobbyists.

 

[Tritium]

Xjet (Bruce Simpson) is working on a system but he has not given any details that I have seen.

3DR has partnered with Intel to make an Edison Based FC!

Thurmond

 

[makattack]

Ok, I ordered the RTL-SDR USB Dongle and promptly cloned and built dump1090 on my computer. Found I had to install libusb-1.0-dev and librtlsdr-dev on my linux laptop in order for it to build, but once I did, it worked perfectly.



That's the built in http server in dump1090 rendering that... next up will be to setup the Windows Mission Planner to make use of this, and I should be able to see ADS-B traffic as I setup at the flying field. Talk about plane spotting!

 

[makattack]

Well, here's what it looks like from Mission Planner for APM (latest version to date), configured to show nearby airports and their 3.5 mile radius (circles with dashed lines) and the ADS-B information integrated with green colored airplanes that have position data.



The detailed for each of those planes plotted is shown here: