This is a collection of Linux .img files & Software to allow drone users to hook up to a Raspberry Pi 2/3/Zero V1.2/1.3 and further their drone experiences in various ways. It is designed to allow non-linux users to get up and running without having to run terminal commands etc. All software is provided as-is and you assume all risks by using it.

The project may be utilised for many forms of automated vehicle purposes and is created to help further open hardware and software use in all unmanned vehicles.

• Raspberry Pi 2
• Pi 3 (must do uart fix: https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=138223)
• Pi Zero V1.2 (no camera)
• Pi Zero V1.3 (must use APMpi_Jessie_Lite img v1.0)

I hope to create different .img files as I journey along which will allow users to perform different tasks depending upon which .img file they burn to their Micro SD card, insert into pi, and boot. Simple!

• some version goals include:
• video and drone comms (V1.0)
• Auto Pi-Photo triggering & GPS Geotagging (V2.0)
• OpenCV (Object detection & Avoidance) (V3.0)
• Caffe (Object naming/identification) (V4.0)
• Lidar (Object detection & avoidance) (V5.0)

• Complete dual streams when using Rpi2 + APM/Pixhawk + Pi camera
• add UDT error correction to udp
• emi shielding of pi camera ribbon cable
• testing different wifi modules/dongle

• Raspbian Jessie (based upon Debian v8?) operating system (others can be added when tested working)
• Gstreamer (For video transmission using pi camera)
• MavProxy/Mavlink/DroneCode (For APM/Pixhawk communication)
• Drone Pi .img file: https://github.com/benb0jangles/Companion-Pi/tree/master/APMPi%20img%20files/V1_0
• Ground Pi .img file: --added here--

We will use Win32Diskimager software on Windows, available here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager/

• open the software and we have this menu:

• click the folder icon and select the pi .img file you have downloaded from this github repo

• select the correct sd card using the device tab

• click write, and wait for the progress bar to complete writing

• insert into your pi and boot/power on

• done!

• SD Card used by me is a Transcend 'Premium 400x' Micro SD 16GB. It is working fine with Raspbian Jessie and it is quicker than other cards I have around. It costs as low as £3.88 on amazon as of 25/04/2016.

• Ralink RT5370: cheap $2 readily available dongle to get you up and testing
• RealTek RTL8188CUS: another cheap $2 dongle with external antenna
• (More added as I get through the ones I have, feel free to message me if yours working #check using 'lsusb' command in pi terminal or ssh terminal)
• List here: https://github.com/benb0jangles/Companion-Pi/tree/master/Wifi%20Dongle%20List

• This is how to connect all the system parts to enable .img (V1.0) to send video and send/receive data to a device (Laptop/PC/Tablet)
• range is limited to the wifi connection range, so ensure you have enough range and also backup control using a normal RC radio controller to the APM/Pixhawk board

• There are many ways to skin a cat, as they say. The various ways will be offered in time as I write how-to.

• Manually using SSH & commands (fiddly and annoying)

• Automatic 1-button-press connection (In development)

• • Using Mission Planner software & Video HUD on Windows Laptop
• • Using Android Tower Beta software on Android Tablet
• • Using Ubuntu & APM Planner software on Laptop (in beta)
• • Using QTgstreamerHUD on Raspbian for hdmi fpv (in discussion)

• Options

More will be added/edited as progress is made. Please send me PM me if you have changes/updates or if you have made an .img file an blog to link to: email:[email protected] RCgroups.com:Benbojangles Diydrones.com:Benbojangles Blog:http://dalybulge.blogspot.co.uk

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.