APDC 2024 in KAGA Report: Day 1

Day1 Schedule

8:00 Conference room open, check-in and get your name tag

8:30 Welcome

9:00 Presentations (presenters should join zoom, mute and deafen their PCs)

  • 9:00 Andrew Tridgell System Update
  • 10:00 Alexander Sandström Remote Aero Search-and-Rescue operations
  • 10:30 Peter Hall WebTools Update
  • 11:00 Bill Geyer Heli Updates (30 min)
  • 11:30 Asif Khan Visual Follow-me
  • 12:00 Willian Galvani BlueOS: User and Developer Friendly Companion Software

11:30 Bento lunch available (eat as you listen to presentations)

12:00 Kaga Athletics Field open (early access for those giving demos)

14:00 Copter Demonstrations : Kaga Athletics Field

16:00 Dinner + UGV, Boat Demonstrations : Shibagatayama Park

Andrew Tridgell System Update

Due to the suspension of BLHeli, an open source ESC firmware called AM32 is being developed, and the number of vendors is increasing. The connectivity of Ethernet (12.5Mbps) that can be connected via IPv4 has been improved, FCs that do not have Ethernet ports can be connected to Ethernet via serial ports, DroneCAN can be sent to Ethernet, and SITL’s CAN can be connected to a physical CAN port. In addition, the remote support system has been improved, making it possible to debug CAN bus data remotely, and there have been more than 8,000 sessions. It is expected that the CAN backbone will become an Ethernet backbone in the future.

Alexander Sandström Remote Aero Search-and-Rescue operations

Sweden’s maritime rescue is an ongoing effort that dates back 100 years, and this time they used ArduPilot to develop a system for rapid rescue. A small VTOL drone can be stored in a launcher box that can change direction and pitch angle according to the wind direction, and flight control can be performed remotely. They also developed a GCS with a web UI that can be connected via a mobile network, and it has a mechanism for linking with not only operators but also support staff.

Peter Hall WebTools Update

Web tool updates: LogFinder classifies log files in a directory, allows you to easily preview flight routes, changes parameters, and displays a warning icon if Arming is not checked. MAGFit is now available for aircraft with difficult compass calibration, and it generates geofences from maps, has a tool to visualize the FC tilt, and has a filter tool. It has been updated to be even easier to use.

Bill Geyer Heli Updates

Added blade pitch log message for single rotors. Copter 4.5 also supports DDFP, and the range of applications has been expanded. Autotune for helicopters has also been improved. A notch filter is effective for stabilizing control, but there is phase loss. For position controller math model verification, SystemID and RTK are recommended.

Asif Khan Visual Follow-me

The image is processed by Raspberry Pi, and the messages CAMERA_TRACK_POINT, CAMERA_TRACK_RECTANGLE, MAV_CMD_DO_GIMBAL_MANAGER_PITCHYAW, MAV_CMD_START_TRACKING, and MAV_CMD_STOP_TRACKING are used to achieve following. You can track by selecting the target area with QGC. It has been tested with Gazebo and can be processed at 25 FPS.

Willian Galvani BlueOS: User and Developer Friendly Companion Software

It runs on a Raspberry Pi, and both the server and UI are implemented in Docker containers, connected via VPN for IP-based communication. It provides a convenient UI for setup, motor testing, and peripheral device settings. BlueOS itself can be updated with a button, and any firmware can be uploaded via waf. In the future, they plan to strengthen onboard recording, cloud integration, and setup. They would like to receive feedback on using it on frames other than submarines and boats.


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