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@ -10,16 +10,16 @@ high-gain antenna to track a mavlink equipped air or ground vehicle in real |
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time, providing higher quality radio links over longer distances than a |
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time, providing higher quality radio links over longer distances than a |
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stationary or omnidirectional antenna. |
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stationary or omnidirectional antenna. |
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AntennaTracker can be a stationary installation on the ground, or can be |
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AntennaTracker can be a stationary installation on the ground or can be |
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mobile, mounted on a vehicle, and moving at the same time as the vehicle it is |
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mobile, mounted on a vehicle, and moving at the same time as the vehicle it is |
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tracking, such as on a pursuit vehicle etc. |
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tracking, such as on a pursuit vehicle, etc. |
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Antenna Tracker Hardware |
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Antenna Tracker Hardware |
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The software works with: |
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The software works with: |
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- Alt-Azimuth mounted antenna tracker, equipped with 2 servos: one for Azimuth |
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- Alt-Azimuth mounted antenna tracker, equipped with 2 servos: one for Azimuth |
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(also called bearing or yaw) -180 to 180 degreees and one for Altitude (also |
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(also called bearing or yaw) -180 to 180 degrees and one for Altitude (also |
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called elevation, or pitch) -90 degrees (straight down) to 90 degrees |
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called elevation, or pitch) -90 degrees (straight down) to 90 degrees |
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(straight up). I used an Eagle Tree Antenna Pan-Tilt. |
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(straight up). I used an Eagle Tree Antenna Pan-Tilt. |
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@ -39,19 +39,19 @@ Theory of Operation |
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AntennaTracker receives real-time GPS position reports from the vehicle being |
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AntennaTracker receives real-time GPS position reports from the vehicle being |
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tracked (in the form of GLOBAL_POSITION_INT messages sent by mavlink radio |
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tracked (in the form of GLOBAL_POSITION_INT messages sent by mavlink radio |
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connection or possibly by hardwired serial connection). AntennaTracker also |
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connection or possibly by hardwired serial connection). AntennaTracker also |
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knows it own current position. Based on these 2 sets of coordinates, it |
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knows its own current position. Based on these 2 sets of coordinates, it |
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calculates the magnetic bearing and elevation to the vehicle. It then moves |
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calculates the magnetic bearing and elevation to the vehicle. It then moves |
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the tracker servos until the antenna (and the AntennaTracker processor) are |
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the tracker servos until the antenna (and the AntennaTracker processor) are |
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aligned with the desired bearing and elevation. At this stage the antenna is |
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aligned with the desired bearing and elevation. At this stage, the antenna is |
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pointed straight at the tracked vehicle. As the vehicle (and possibly the |
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pointed straight at the tracked vehicle. As the vehicle (and possibly the |
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antenna mount itself) move around, the servos are continually move to track |
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antenna mount itself) move around, the servos are continually moved to track |
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the vehicle. |
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the vehicle. |
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AntennaTracker currently only supports closed loop feedback to position the |
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AntennaTracker currently only supports closed loop feedback to position the |
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antenna. This requires that AntennaTracker processor (including |
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antenna. This requires that the AntennaTracker processor (including |
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accelerometers and compass) be mounted on the moving part of the antenna |
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accelerometers and compass) be mounted on the moving part of the antenna |
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tracker hardware. The servos are moved until the yaw and pitch of the processor |
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tracker hardware. The servos are moved until the yaw and pitch of the processor |
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(and therfore of the antenna itself) matches the bearing and elevation to the |
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(and therefore of the antenna itself) matches the bearing and elevation to the |
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tracked vehicle. |
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tracked vehicle. |
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How does AntennaTracker know where it is on the earth? |
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How does AntennaTracker know where it is on the earth? |
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@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ recent good GPS fix is used. |
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recent good GPS fix is used. |
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recent good GPS fix is used. |
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- If there is no good GPS fix since startup (either because there is no GPS |
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- If there is no good GPS fix since startup (either because there is no GPS |
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equipped or because the GPS has not yet got a fix), the most resently set HOME |
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equipped or because the GPS has not yet got a fix), the most recently set HOME |
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location is used. |
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location is used. |
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- If no HOME location has ever been set in the tracker, 0.0 Latitude, 0.0 |
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- If no HOME location has ever been set in the tracker, 0.0 Latitude, 0.0 |
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@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ available. DON'T just move the yaw and pitch motors around. You will probably ha |
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pick the whole thing up. |
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pick the whole thing up. |
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- At the end of the minute, Mission Planner will update AntennaTrackers compass offsets. |
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- At the end of the minute, Mission Planner will update AntennaTrackers compass offsets. |
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Levelling |
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Leveling |
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Since AntennaTracker uses its internal accelerometers (amongst other things) |
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Since AntennaTracker uses its internal accelerometers (amongst other things) |
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to determine the current elevation/pitch of the antenna, it is also important |
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to determine the current elevation/pitch of the antenna, it is also important |
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@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ Operation |
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<more here> |
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<more here> |
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After powering up AntennaTracker, it may take up to 1 minute while it |
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After powering up AntennaTracker, it may take up to 1 minute while it |
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automatially calibrates the compass before it points in the expected |
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automatically calibrates the compass before it points in the expected |
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direction. Moving the tracker around will speed up this process. |
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direction. Moving the tracker around will speed up this process. |
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How to set the HOME location |
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How to set the HOME location |
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