ArduPilot / ArduPilot/ardupilot

Airborne home tracker for directional antennas (extending range/saving power/minimize RF impact)

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Dominant language
C++
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Description

Antenna tracker already exists for the GroundControlStation.
Having two servos pointing directional(s) antenna(s) from plane towards GCS/HomeWP would further extend the range (or optimize the airborne Tx power )

This could be done by adding 2 functions to the channels ouput functions:
1- PAN_TRACK_HOME
2- TILT_TRACK_HOME

Users will then use a 360deg servo controlled by the PAN_TRACK_HOME output
and a 180deg servo controlled by the TILT_TRACK_HOME output
in order to point the aircraft's antennas to Home or GCS (these antennas can then be directional, which will save transmission power and/or extend the range and generate less RF interferences)

PS : in most cases, Home is a fixed waypoint defined when arming. For specific applications, the GCS could be mobile and a telemetry link could be used to use a dynamic home waypoint.

Platforms : Plane, Copter and Rover

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start by locating the existing GroundControlStation antenna tracker and the channel output functions for Plane, Copter, and Rover. Determine how PAN_TRACK_HOME and TILT_TRACK_HOME should use home or a dynamic GCS waypoint, then verify that both servo outputs point the aircraft antennas correctly across the supported platforms.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
cpp
Domain
embedded-iot, robotics
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
30/100

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