10-20-2005, 10:27 PM
R/C Auto Pilot
Have you ever wanted to simply tell your R/C vehicle where to go and simply let it do the rest.
The R/C Auto Pilot, part of the R/C Pilot Project allows you to do this. It uses a standard GPS’s waypoints to navigate a R/C vehicle to either a "Goto" waypoint or it can follow a "Route" of waypoints. It can be used inside of a plane, car, truck, boat or even a robot.
The GPS unit needs to support NMEA at 4800 baud (a standard that most GPSs do support). You connect it to the RCAP using a serial data cable. If you are looking to make your own cable, take a look at http://pfranc.com/. I highly recommend them for Garmin GPS connectors.
The RCAP uses four standard R/C leads to connect to your R/C receiver and battery. Two male leads to connect to two channels of your R/C receiver, one to activate the RCAP the other to pass through the normal signal from your R/C radio while the autopilot is not activated. A third lead (female) from the RCAP connects to a servo to steer your vehicle. The final female lead is used to connect to the battery.
Once a waypoint is activated on your GPS, it will start sending data to the RCAP. (Meaning you MUST have a Goto or Route active at all times on the GPS for the RCAP to function properly when activated). The RCAP will ignore this data and simply pass through your R/C radios instructions while it is not activated. Once activated, by using a spare switch on your R/C radio (gear switch for example) it will then read in the $GPRMB and $GPRMC sentences from your GPS to determine the heading needed to remain on course for the currently active waypoint.
There are 3 adjustments that need to be set on the RCAP.
Servo direction.
Max. servo travel
Course correction gain
<img src='http://img483.imageshack.us/img483/8383/rcap8wz.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
http://rcpilot.sourceforge.net/modules/rcap/index.php
Have you ever wanted to simply tell your R/C vehicle where to go and simply let it do the rest.
The R/C Auto Pilot, part of the R/C Pilot Project allows you to do this. It uses a standard GPS’s waypoints to navigate a R/C vehicle to either a "Goto" waypoint or it can follow a "Route" of waypoints. It can be used inside of a plane, car, truck, boat or even a robot.
The GPS unit needs to support NMEA at 4800 baud (a standard that most GPSs do support). You connect it to the RCAP using a serial data cable. If you are looking to make your own cable, take a look at http://pfranc.com/. I highly recommend them for Garmin GPS connectors.
The RCAP uses four standard R/C leads to connect to your R/C receiver and battery. Two male leads to connect to two channels of your R/C receiver, one to activate the RCAP the other to pass through the normal signal from your R/C radio while the autopilot is not activated. A third lead (female) from the RCAP connects to a servo to steer your vehicle. The final female lead is used to connect to the battery.
Once a waypoint is activated on your GPS, it will start sending data to the RCAP. (Meaning you MUST have a Goto or Route active at all times on the GPS for the RCAP to function properly when activated). The RCAP will ignore this data and simply pass through your R/C radios instructions while it is not activated. Once activated, by using a spare switch on your R/C radio (gear switch for example) it will then read in the $GPRMB and $GPRMC sentences from your GPS to determine the heading needed to remain on course for the currently active waypoint.
There are 3 adjustments that need to be set on the RCAP.
Servo direction.
Max. servo travel
Course correction gain
<img src='http://img483.imageshack.us/img483/8383/rcap8wz.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
http://rcpilot.sourceforge.net/modules/rcap/index.php