Aerobotics - UAV Tracking Antenna

[arod997]

was the UAV transmitting altitude and Position back to the base station using something like Xbee communication?

[jbx907]

like the tracking antenna

[nyehnyi]

in my thought. they track gps signal from plane then computer push the antenna to move to its position. quite simple but tricky.

[SirDonRoyale]

@nyehnyi Or radar location, using multi-frequency "echo" location technology.

[MsSaraCrewe]

@henhen7890 : Polarization. The whole point of the dish part behind the feed is to reflect the signals to the feed at the focal point (or the focal cloud, more realistically), but you don't necessarily want every signal that you pick up. If you know what kind of waves you are looking for (in this case probably horizontal) you can filter out the ones you don't want (vertical) and only bounce back the ones you do want (horizontal). Similar to polarized sunglasses, basically, it's a wave filter.

[smoln1]

Do you have Eagle tree trackin system or something else?

Thanks for your aswer.

[hamishprogeria]

how does it find it?

GPS?

[TheLogicTroll]

@hamishprogeria You don't even know how GPS works.

[DigiTan000]

@hamishprogeria - I'd wager the antenna's location was surveyed off-camera. After that, the craft would transmit its own GPS position, allowing the base station to calculate the azimuth, elevation, and range. From there, your computer could use a formula or a look-up table to translate those vectors into servo signals. It's a very practical application!

[henhen7890]

Why does that antenna look like on of those metal wire shelf things?

[jokam85]

Place visible laser on antenna, so you can see how precise is it, and it would look nice :)

[SirDonRoyale]

@jokam85 Until you burn out someone's retina. Better to use a Class 1 then Class 2 in this case. I am pretty sure they use radar location. Much safer and easier option.

[lucky540er]

Great stuff guys! im so interested in doing something like this in my final years

[markdem]

should mount a gun on that thing

[qrrak]

How does it work???

[djlolypop]

wow nice work 500 star

[ryanperry90]

wow!!!!

[Delta10666]

Thats really cool!

[drpatso]

a lot of people do this with the ezosd, rvosd and probably a few otherss the gps unit, ezosd, rvosd can send telemetry (coordinates and elevation) down to your base station via your video transmitters audio channel. you cant track with signal strength at all theres no way that would ever work with those video transmitters and planet earth.. what happens when interference brings the signal down does the antenna tracker just spin wildly in circles trying ot locate best link?

[rodstartube]

lol, nice

[cmatt92]

Ladies and gentlemen, I am in no way associated with the team the built this, but I have been doing a lot of research and have seen the documentation that I believe goes to this antenna. It actually is NOT based off of GPS coordinates. It uses the strength of the video down link from sever positions to tell where the bird is at. It is basically a diversity receiver driving a directional antenna.

[maynardr6]

Not suggesting it isn't, but how does it know which way to turn based on signal strength. Wouldn't the signal depreciate in just about any direction? I ask because I'm going to build something similar and I want it to work as well as this.

[cmatt92]

There are actually 4 or 5 different antennas within the dist that are very directional. You compare the strength of one over the others to find out what direction the plane is going.

[Sniperson2002]

Where by chance did you run across the info on this project?

[cmatt92]

I wish I could remember. I know that the one I was looking at was a masters program from a foreign company, I believe Australia but not sure.

[liquidgooroo]

wow its a small ground data terminal next General Atomics workers?

[n5275q]

Nice work! I would guess it utilizes an onboard GPS (on the UAV) and a data downlink which is how the antenna servos gets the positionnig info?

[share2go]

great work -can you post more details what parts you used-can you sell it all the project-?

[808SKYCAM]

how much?

i am serious?

[krbosak]

You see 4 researchers on the movie. I think the answer for 'how much' counts in several thousands, whatever the country.

[808SKYCAM]

what every rc maniac needs!

[KH198]

Why not install a mobile phone with multiple usb ports?

[dalbert02]

Awesome! I have been trying to figure out how to do that for years! Congrats on your success!

[austinpowers1977]

are u planning on selling this item if so ill buy it. also wot kind of range does this item have?

[jphdg]

Nice one.