Task: telemtry on PDA device

I have pair of XBee, and would like to see/record UAV flight, but I don't like the idea of taking notebook always with me. So I'm checking possibilities with using PDA for telemetry.

A Windows Mobile PDA can run simplified Google Earth, or other GPS tracking software, or even hand-written logging/graphics tool. So this would be ideal choice to take this mini computer to pocket and go to a meadow to fly with UAV as well as to see and save results.

My biggest concern is about connecting XBee to PDA. I don't see any spare wire going out of the device which would be usable as serial UART.
So I checked possibilities to connect over USB, that would be just nice to plug in mini-usb connector to PDA and transfer serial data from XBee. But this would require to write USB host controller on an AVR, which looks like not realistic task. AVR-USB library is out there, but I doubt it would work for accessing the device at least in mass-storage more (suitable for writing some file there).

So my last idea is using simple Bluetooth device, connect it with XBee (maybe as simple as pin-to-pin), and use Bluetooth in PDA to read from serial port.
But I don't have experience with BT chips and which one to choose. So if anyone has idea about such possible connection, please post here and maybe we may come to a solution.

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ModeratorPermalink Reply by Howard Gordon on February 18, 2009 at 4:08pm
You will have difficulty getting enough range from Bluetooth.

Take a look at http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/yarb-robotic-blimp-controlled

You can install a Wifi module such as the Lantronix Matchport on your UAV and communicate directly via a Wifi enabled phone. We're using the Google Android G1 - it's an open source platform with a lot of nice features. Our console proejct is open source as well - http://code.google.com/p/srv1console/

At some point, I'll be installing this setup on a fixed wing airplane.
Permalink Reply by Michal B on February 19, 2009 at 1:39am
Howard: I don't want using BT for long range. All I need is connecting somehow XBee with PDA, wire or BT, they'll sit both close to each other.
XBee provides long-range radio communication with UAV.
Permalink Reply by Kyle Sanders on February 20, 2009 at 11:54am
Could you do something like this also?
http://www.iogear.com/product/GBS301/
Permalink Reply by Michal B on February 20, 2009 at 12:58pm
I ordered this, so I'll see soon if it does the task.
Permalink Reply by Michal B on April 20, 2009 at 12:34pm
The thing is getting shape. I have built this:


And I have reliable way to connect to this from Symbian phone, receiving any serial data coming from other Xbee. Or even sending data back to plane.
So now it's just matter of making nice packing of this thing, and write telemetry code on plane side, and in mobile phone.
Then I'll have to carry this thing in a bag while flying, switching on mobile phone and see some info sent from the plane.
Permalink Reply by Ios on April 20, 2009 at 1:30pm
This is really cool - great work.

I have a Motorola A1000 Symbian PDA, and it would be great to get live telemetry on it while flying and have it attached to my transmitter. Will you be releasing the symbian source code for doing this? Also, did you make you own breakout board for the bluetooth smd module from sparkfun?
Permalink Reply by Michal B on April 20, 2009 at 1:59pm
BT module is this. It's breakout from Sparkfun. The Xbee board is from Adafruit, providing 3.3V power for BT. Simple wiring does the trick, and it really works.

About source code - if it runs, I can provide the code. But it would probably run only on new Symbian S60 phones, you know UIQ is dead.
Permalink Reply by Ios on June 1, 2009 at 2:30pm
I'm slowly having to face reallity,... yes, UIQ is,..."dying",... but I don't think I'm ready to embace the world without my Motorola A1000 yet !! :~(

Very nice project,... please let us know when you have code for a specific platform,.... I suppose I could be in the market for a new PDA shortly !

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