Re: [Gumstix-users] Flight Computer

[Dan T. <Log...@gm...>]

My final project for my undergraduate degree was to build an
"autonomous hovering robot".  It was a massive project which was
probably far too complicated for a couple of Computer
Science/Cybernetics students, but maybe you'll have more luck with
your aerospace knowledge.  We chose a model helicopter as the platform
for our experiments.

We set up a system which involved a windows PC with various flight
controls and sensor feedback, talking via ethernet to an "onboard"
linux machine.  Since it was some time ago (2000) and we had no cash
(we were students!) we actually left the onboard computer on the
ground, attached to the 'copter via an umbilical.

Anyway, we managed to get he controls and the feedback working this
way.  Had we had access to something like the gumstix at the time we
did the project we'd have been able to do *much* more.

I've put the web site associated with the project back up
(http://logicalgenetics.com/hp) so you can have a look at what we did.
 There are code listings in the project report documents.  Please
remember that we were young and inexperienced, so the quality of the
code and website is low!

Keep us informed...

VB

Dan


On Wed, 20 Oct 2004 13:39:45 -0700 (PDT), Craig R Hughes
<cr...@hu...> wrote:
> Jake,
>=20
> should be really easy to do what you want.  There's no difference between=
 serial
> comms on a gumstix vs a linux x86-based PC.  You just fopen and fprintf/f=
scanf
> on /dev/ttyS[0-3].
>=20
> C
>=20
> Jake wrote:
>=20
> J> Hello all,
> J>
> J> I have submitted a proposal to construct a heli-based UAV as a researc=
h project here at the U of Mn.  My project involves a microcontroller excha=
nging strings through a serial port with a host computer, right now my lapt=
op.  When this goes airborne I proposed using a gumstix for the high level =
flight computing.  I've been reading all the emails and it seems the gumsti=
x may be beyond my capabilities.  I hope I'm wrong but it seems a little ro=
ugh for the casual user.  I'm studying aerospace eng. so I don't have much =
OS-type programming knowledge.  Is it at least 'relatively' simple to downl=
oad code to the gumstix and take control of the serial port for sending and=
 receiving strings using printf and scanf in C?  Is serial port control dif=
ferent for the gumstix than the 'standard' pc?  I haven't written the full =
code on my computer but I have played with the serial port and know it's pr=
etty simple on my XP/Mandrake Linux machine.  Perhaps what I need to do is =
well within ease; I understand the topics you folks discuss are pretty in d=
epth (and possible just intimidating me ;).  Any input would be greatly app=
reciated!
> J>
> J> Thanks, Jake
> J>
> J> Simply put: if a simple, generic serial port code runs on a Linux mach=
ine, can it be run on the gumstix?
>=20


--=20
Dan Taylor

Software Development Engineer, JTL Systems Ltd
PhD Student, Reading University, UK

http://www.logicalgenetics.com