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Archives for October 2023

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Flight Tracking (ADS-B) using the Raspberry Pi — 2023 Update

Interested in what planes are flying over your location? Want to know how high they are and how fast they are going? Want to build your own ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) ground station that can be installed anywhere and receive real-time data directly from airplanes on your computer? In 2017 we wrote a couple of articles about tracking planes using ADS-B, and it is time for an update!

The 2017 version used a 4D Systems 2.4″ touchscreen HAT for a display, USB DVB-T TV Tuner RTL2832U + R820T as our Software Defined Radio (SDR), and ran PiAware on a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (v1.2). The 2023 version uses all new and upgraded hardware. Read all about it, on our latest Medium article.

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Using the ToolkitRC WM150 Watt Meter

A Watt Meter is a useful addition to your tool kit if you are using electric motors, servos, or Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs). There are a few different types available, but for our purposes, the WM150 from ToolkitRC is an affordable option. Specifically, a Watt Meter allows you to measure the current drawn from a power source, typically a battery, and calculate the power being dissipated. This is important because too much current will cause things to start melting and release the magic smoke from components.

In addition to measuring voltage, current, and power, the WM150 can drive a servo/ESC directly. This is handy when you are not sure whether the servo or the microprocessor is causing a problem and for measuring servo power requirements. 

Read our full review of the WM150 Watt Meter on Medium.

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Arduino Memory Usage and Persistent Storage on EEPROM

There will come a point where you will want to store data which isn’t lost when your microprocessor loses power. This is particularly handy for storing calibration or configuration values, to save you having to re-calibrate some piece of hardware (e.g., IMUs, and servos) every time the power cycles. One solution for Arduino boards is using EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

EEPROM is a type of non-volatile ROM that enables individual bytes of data to be erased and reprogrammed. It is used to store small amounts of data which are written occasionally and then read multiple times.

EEPROM is often contained within the microprocessor, and different boards will have different amounts. For example, the ATMega328P used in the UNO R3 and Nano, has 1024 bytes (1KB) of EEPROM. It is organized as a separate data space, and the EEPROM data bytes are addressed linearly between 0 and 1023.

Our example application will save calibration data for six servo motors. This is well suited to saving in EEPROM as it doesn’t often change and reading the values are not time critical. You can read the full Arduino EEPROM article on Medium.

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Arduino Library for the Stewart Flight Simulator Platform

The Stewart Platform, also known as a hexapod, motion base or parallel manipulator, is a mechanical system that consists of a platform connected to a fixed base through six independently actuated legs. This arrangement allows for precise and versatile motion control in all six degrees of freedom (DOF): three translational (surge, sway, heave) and three rotational (roll, pitch, yaw).

In the context of flight simulators, the Stewart Platform is utilized to replicate the dynamic movements and sensations experienced by pilots during flight. It provides a realistic simulation of aircraft motion, enabling pilots and trainees to practice flying maneuvers, emergency procedures, and various flight scenarios in a controlled environment. By synchronizing the movement of the platform with visual and auditory cues, flight simulators enhance the training experience and help pilots develop their skills without the risks associated with actual flight.

The Stewart platform is used in car/flight/VR simulators, machine tool technology, animatronics, crane technology, underwater research, simulation of earthquakes, air-to-sea rescue, mechanical bulls, satellite dish positioning, the Hexapod-Telescope, robotics, and orthopedic surgery.

We will be using it to test our drone flight control hardware, IMUs and associated software. You can read the full Stewart Platform article on Medium.

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Reefwing AHRS Arduino Library for Drones

The Reefwing AHRS library provides an Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) class for use with Arduino compatible boards. The library has been tested with the Arduino Nano, Nano 33 BLE, Nano 33 BLE SENSE (REV 1 and REV 2), Nano 33 IoT, MKR Vidor 4000, Portenta H7 and the Seeed XIAO nRF52840 Sense boards.

An Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) takes information from the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and processes it to provide reliable roll, pitch and yaw angles.

The full AHRS article is available on Medium.