We want to build a surface vehicle, and we have found components from your store as an excellent choice for such a project! Since we are building a surface vehicle there is no need for a tether and we want to control our vehicle remotely using a QGroundControl and xbox/logitech controller. So basically, we want everything the same as a standard connection with BlueRov, but we want to do it wireless. How do we accomplish this? Since we are planning to use all the available electronics from your store is there a way to do a wireless control using Fathom?
Another let’s say practical issue is we are from Europe and a part of EU (Croatia). I have seen a list of your Europe distributors, has anyone done a business with them and have any tips or recommendations? Are the all parts from your USA shop available? Since we are University, have you got any special offers for a student projects?
QGroundControl and ArduPilot should have everything that you are looking for, there is a subtopic for aquatic rovers in ArduPilot forum here.
For wireless operations, you should take a look in: wi-fi, dragonlinkrc, fpv blue, iridium and others. You should also take a look in how far do you want to be able to communicate with it.
Thank you for your reply!
Have you got an example of the project where the suggested wireless links were implemented with the ardupilot?
In our case these seem as an overkill, but if they are standard thing in this field we’ll go with them.
Hi,
I have read a few topic on this forum and it just got me even more confused, so I’ll reformulate my question and I’ll ask you just for a bit more patience :).
What we want to do:
build a surface vehicle with 2 (or 4) T200 thrusters controlled by Pixhawk. Similarly to BlueROV2 we have experience working with, we’ll add RaspberryPi to the vehicle.
To skip too much programming, we want to use QGroundControl as our main interface.
We want to use suggested logitech or xbox controller connected to the laptop, with QGroundControl installed, to steer the vehicle. Commands are sent to QGroundControl via Bluetooth or usb wire connection. We want to avoid using radio controller joystick if possible. If it will be much easier we may consider radio controller joystick. In that case can you recommend us a transmitter/receiver pair?
If using logitech/xbox controller is an option - I am interested how to send commands from the QGroundControl to Pixhawk over radio link (and receive telemetry data if possible). What kind of transmitter connected to laptop shall we use and what kind of receiver connected to Pixhawk shall we use?We want to control the vehicle mostly in the line of sight right on the scene (let’s say 500m or so). For now, we don’t require any kind of long-distance tele-operation.
I’m sure someone somewhere has done this before I just can’t find it… I’m fairly new to this field. Sorry for my ignorance and thank you for your time!
You should use ArduBoat firmware. There are many users of ArduBoat on the ardupilot forum, you should search there.
The BlueROV2 communicates with QGC over a network connection. This could be accomplished wirelessly with WiFi in the same manner as the Ethernet cable. The network connection has a high bandwidth and is necessary for a live video feed.
To get more range and line of sight operation, you can use 900MHz telemetry radio. This is like a USB connection between the autopilot and QGC, but it’s wireless. The USB connection does not have enough bandwidth for live video, you will only be able to get telemetry data and control the vehicle with a joystick. Also, there may be little to no purpose to have the Raspberry Pi on the vehicle if you choose this route.