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Happy Killmore
http://ardupilot-mega.googlecode.com/svn/ArduPilotMegaImages/chasecam.gif
This GCS, which is Windows-only, includes the following features:
- Moving 3D map display, with Overhead, Chase Cam or First Person views of your UAV in flight.
- Can save and replay missions (KML output to Google Maps coming soon)
- Integrates live video feed from onboard camera (if used)
- Provides Command Line interface to APM for setup
What you need:
The installation utility should download and install all the files you need, but if anything doesn't automatically work, here's what else it uses
- The dot.NET 2.0 framework (this is pre-installed on Vista and Windows 7, so you don't need to download it if you are using those operating systems)
- DirectX End-User Runtimes if you don't already have them running on your machine
- Google Earth and plugin, if you don't already have them
http://ardupilot-mega.googlecode.com/svn/ArduPilotMegaImages/HKGCS_serial.PNG
First, choose the right Com port (you can check your Windows Device Manager to see which one has been assigned to which device) and set the correct baud rate. If you're using it on the ground via USB, choose the Com port assigned to your APM board and pick 115,200 baud. If you're using it via Xbee, choose the Com port assigned to your Xbee adapter and select the baud rate of 57,600. Click on "Connect".
Note: In versions prior to 1.2.76 there's a bug that requires you to go the "Serial Data" tab and in "Serial Settings" select a setting before the MAVLink data will start to flow. The default Max Altitude is 5Hz, and Max GPS and Max Waypoint are 2Hz. Just reselect one of them and the data should start coming.
If your APM board in CLI Mode (slider switch towards the RC connectors), you will only be able to communicate with it via the Command Line tab.
If your APM board is in Flight Mode (slider switch towards the GPS connector), you should be able to see full telemetry data on the GCS dials (as shown above) after the APM board goes through its startup routine (gyro calibration and flashing LEDs).
If you switch the the Serial Data tab, you should see data that looks like this:
http://ardupilot-mega.googlecode.com/svn/ArduPilotMegaImages/gcs_serial.png
The full instruction manual for the HK GCS is here.
http://ardupilot-mega.googlecode.com/svn/ArduPilotMegaImages/HKGCS_record.PNG
To record your flight, Connect to the COM port, click Data File, type the name of the new file you wish to create in the blank combobox. Click the red circle (record button). To stop, click the record button again.
Now your recorded data file will exist as a selection in the combobox. Use the play button to start playback once a saved flight has been selected. The data recorded is the raw data received on the serial port along with a date/time stamp and footer character. Hyperterm saves flights are currently not compatible with this save/playback feature. KML files are also not currently supported.
APM missions can be loaded by placing the saved .txt file missions from the !ArduPilotConfigTool.exe in the missions folder (this folder was created automatically in the root path of the Ground Control Station program). Click the missions tab and use the combobox to select the saved mission file.
The minimum screen resolution (currently) is 800X480 (which is meant to will cover most of the netbooks and older laptops out there). There is a button on the left under the instruments that can be used to expand the instruments to a slightly larger size in the small screen size mode.
On the Serial Data tab, the Max Attitude, Max GPS and Max Waypoint settings can be used to increase performance depending upon your computer's speed. If things are sluggish or you're noticing lag, decrease the Max Attitude value first and then the Max GPS value. Also, on the settings tab, the Map Update Rate may cause lag and may need to be reduced as well.
There are two Live Camera tabs. Only one can be selected at a time. Different users may want to view their live video along with Google Maps. Others may want to watch the instruments along with the video feed.
Another minor note is during resizing, the software will try to find the best possible use of space (2 across X 3 down, 3 across X 2 down or essentially 3 X 3 with either the Glass Cockpit or the 3D Model double sized). In this mode, you can click on either the glass cockpit or the 3D model to select it as the double size instrument.