Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bill Bonney on January 16, 2013 at 5:43pm

To gain a wifi link you could use this https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10822 reading the data-sheet it does not support OLSR.

I pretty sure the APM is not capable of running a routing protocol as well as the ArduPilot code. If you where to support t you would need an off-board device that can do the processing fro you and translate that to serial to the APM

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Shyam Balasubramanian on January 16, 2013 at 6:01pm

Hi Bill,

Thanks for that answer. From your answer, this is my interpretation:

I send data from APM on its serial port and the Wi-Fi module receives it. Wi-Fi modules transmits it wirelessly. And the process goes vice-versa.

# I am new to routing protocols. Why can't I use it with APM? Are they heavy? In my project:

1. I need specifically supporting OSLR and I use an ArduCopter.

2. Which port of ArduCopter to use. USB Serial or Serial port for Xbee?

3. Are there other external modules I can use to achieve my goals, say on Windows.

4. Also, forgot to mention, I need to send VIDEO data from camera on ArduCopter on the downlink too;)

Too many restrictions, but hope that it could be possible and a cheap solution too. Thanks.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bill Bonney on January 16, 2013 at 11:22pm

You are right. I was thinking that OSLR would need lower layer access. It's not much overhead if its not communicating often. That said the reason I would suggest a solution where the OSLR is not on the APM is it minimizes impact to the Flight controller. That said, I cannot find a WIFi module you can run your own code on that you can connect to the APM.

The Synapse Modules http://www.synapse-wireless.com/modules allow you to run python code on them but they are not WiFi devices.

If you need to send video the synapse supports 2MBps but that not for very far. And you will need some digital encoder. It's munch easier to use analog video and send it on a separate frequency..

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by walthero on January 16, 2013 at 8:38pm

Bill Bonney, where do you connect this (RN-XV WiFly Module) on APM2.5 board?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bill Bonney on January 16, 2013 at 8:57pm

To the telemetry port using this type of adapter http://store.diydrones.com/product_p/br-0015-01.htm

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by walthero on January 16, 2013 at 9:12pm

Thanks a lot Bill! :)

Do you have any idea of how long the above wifi link is able to transmit wifi in open air ?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bill Bonney on January 16, 2013 at 11:43pm

It a depends on the data rate. I couldn't find range specifications. The Synapse RF200 with external antenna specifies about 3miles at 2.4GHz @ 250Kbps. But wifi 802.11b outdoor range is considered to be 140m at 1Mbps.

What distance do you need?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Shyam Balasubramanian on January 17, 2013 at 4:59am

Hi Bill,

I am a bit confused. I do not mind having an external interface with the Wi-Fi module (i.e. external to APM). Do you mean you are not sure if you could find the module to run OSLR. My project requires esp. OSLR to run as that is the routing protocol they use throughout. I want the ArduCopter to run as one of the nodes.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bill Bonney on January 17, 2013 at 9:09am

I was thinking that if you have a module, like the synapse which can run python scripts on that device, you could run your OSLR algorithms on that device and not have to mess with the APM FW. I couldn't find a WiFi module that supported that. (doesn't mean they don't exist)
All I am saying is that I persoanlly would look for a solution that doesn't effect the APM FW, so as to avoid other complications. FOr example if your rotuing protocol code crashes, if it's on the APM FW, your copter crashes! if it's running on the WiFI module or some, for example, Arduino Pro in line to the WiFi unit, a crash in software doesn't take down the copter.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by walthero on January 17, 2013 at 6:35am

No actually needs, just wonder.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by OG on January 17, 2013 at 5:00am

look at http://www.openipcam.com the wins cam is able to run open wart as well running a web server porting video 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Shyam Balasubramanian on January 17, 2013 at 9:59am

Thank you for the nice explanation. This means my hunt must be for a Wi-Fi module that could run OSLR? I tried to search, not getting such a module. Seems, not many people have worked on this.

Any experts who can help find one?

Thanks!

• ▶ Reply