janddda / companion-pi

This is a collection of Linux .img files to allow drone/automated vehicle users to hook up to a Raspberry Pi 2/3/Zero V1.2/1.3 and further their drone/automated vehicle experiences in various ways. All software is provided as-is and you assume all risks by using it.

Companion-Pi

This is a collection of Linux .img files & Software to allow drone users to hook up to a Raspberry Pi Zero V1.3 and send/receive low latency Video + Mavlink Telemetry from drone-to-goggles. All software is provided as-is and you assume all risks by using it.

The project may be utilised for many forms of automated vehicle purposes (drone/plane/rover) and is created to help further open hardware and software use in all unmanned vehicles.

Tested and working with:

• Pi Zero V1.3

Project Goals:

I hope to create different .img files as I journey along which will allow users to perform different tasks depending upon which .img file they burn to their Micro SD card, insert into pi, and boot. Simple!

• video and drone comms (V1)

Future Ideas:

• Auto Pi-Photo triggering & GPS Geotagging (V2)
• OpenCV (Object detection & Avoidance) (V3)
• Caffe (Object naming/identification) (V4)
• Lidar (Object detection & avoidance) (V5)

Bucket List (to do list):

• add UDT error correction to udp
• gps/photo geotagging python script
• power-on/shutdown hardware buttons for both units
• Auto connect script
• testing different wifi modules/dongle

Bucket List (stretch goal):

• gamepad control???

Version 1.1 (in progress, hey i'm a one man dev team :) ):

• Raspbian Jessie Lite
• Gstreamer (For video transmission using pi camera)
• MavProxy/Mavlink/DroneCode (For APM/Pixhawk communication)
• Drone Pi .img file: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1cVb3uX0f0dQTZzSmVISFdYd3M
• Goggles Pi .img file: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1cVb3uX0f0dakFpaTAyVF9HV2s
• Ground Module Pi .img file: --added here when ready--

Burning .img to SD Card:

Use Win32Diskimager software on Windows, available here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager/

• open the software and we have this menu:

• click the folder icon and select the pi .img file you have downloaded from this github repo

• select the correct sd card using the device tab

• click write, and wait for the progress bar to complete writing

• insert into your pi and boot/power on

• done!

• SD Card used by me is a no-brand 2GB card. It is working fine with Raspbian Jessie Lite.

USB wifi dongles used/tested (plug & play):

• Ralink RT5370: cheap $2 readily available dongle to get you up and testing
• RealTek RTL8188CUS: another cheap $2 dongle with external antenna
• (More added as I get through the ones I have, feel free to message me if yours working #check using 'lsusb' command in pi terminal or ssh terminal)
• List here: https://github.com/benb0jangles/Companion-Pi/tree/master/Wifi%20Dongle%20List

Equipment Costs - If you are interested in this project and want to pick it up, here is a brief list of parts and costs I use

• Pi Zero V1.3 (with camera port) £4.50 each
• USB wifi dongle £1 each
• Pi 2 £15 (on ebay)
• micro SD cards (from) £1.50
• pi camera £10
• pi camera ribbon cable £2
• Pi zero DIY USB Hub £1 (pound store)
• 3D Printed cases (free as I have a printer)
• Optional parts: U.fl antenna adapters, U.fl antennas, push-to-make switches, pin header wires, usb power, hdmi lead.

Basic Hardware Connection:

• This is how to connect all the system parts to enable .img (V1.0) to send video and send/receive data to a device (Laptop/PC/Tablet)
• range is limited to the wifi connection range, so ensure you have enough range and also backup control using a normal RC radio controller to the APM/Pixhawk board

Ground Hardware:

• Options

More will be added/edited as progress is made. Contributors needed (please review project bucket list). Please send me PM me if you have changes/updates or if you have made an .img file an blog to link to: email:[email protected] RCgroups.com:Benbojangles Diydrones.com:Benbojangles Blog:http://dalybulge.blogspot.co.uk

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.