One comment on that. I have an OpenPilot board sitting here and know the onboard and offboard codebase at least ok, if not well. Its a great project and I'm happily using it.
However: OpenPilot has a kind of "shared memory" architecture between GCS and autopilot.
If you change an onboard data object in only one variable -> Complete re-build of the GCS
This approach works nicely for OpenPilot. It is however about the worst-case for a multi-project use of the GCS, since it effectively forces you to use the very same data containers. And since the data containers are even used on the UI level, changing the protocol forces you to update the UI code.
The difference between QGroundControl/MAVLink and OpenPilot is that MAVLink and QGC have one abstraction layer on each the autopilot and the GCS side. So the user interface can be changed without effects and the onboard code can be changed without side-effects. OpenPilot misses these layers in the onboard code and in the GCS.
So it is very elegant for a single project. But its the opposite of standardized communication - I've even added MAVLink support for the OP board I'm using for this reason.
So don't take me wrong, nothing against OpenPilot, I'm happily running a board with OP on it and I'm partly using the GCS. But for a multi-project use, this is a dead end.
Please also note that the OP GCS has a weak mission support (I haven't seen a waypoint list at all so far), so I'm not sure how this will work out for the very advanced concepts the PPZ community is used to. Other GCS like APM Planner, HK GCS or QGC are also not on the PPZ versatility level, but they at least support takeoff / landing / loiter waypoints and actions like relay firing, with more MAV_CMDs to come:
MAV_CMD reference: http://pixhawk.ethz.ch/wiki/mavlink/
And on a personal note: I really think there is a need for a standardized, open and not project-owned protocol out there. APM and Pixhawk are already sharing MAVLink and with QGroundcontrol, APM Planner and HK GCS there are several options available (QGC runs on all three OS, APM Planner on Win and Linux if I remember correctly).
And there is even Android support: http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/copter-gcs-with-mission-support-and-more.
After Paparazzi strived for openness so long it would be sad to see this opportunity pass to really have joint protocol in the community.
Cheers,
Lorenz
On Oct 6, 2011, at 5:48 PM, Rui Costa wrote:
I would like to have your feedback about the ideia of modifying the openpilot GCS software to work with paparazzi boards.
We have the authorization from openpilot people to do it.
It's an highly customizing platform and appears to be easy to work. Almost everything is in C++ language.
It can work on linux, windows or MAC OS and permits to create installation files. So, it's very userfriendly for some end users.
What you think?
http://wiki.openpilot.org/display/Doc/Ground+Control+Station+User+Manual
Cheers
Rui Costa
www.openpilot.org<http://www.openpilot.org/>
Cheers
Rui Costa
On Mon, Sep 19, 2011 at 3:23 PM, Rui Costa <
address@hidden<mailto:
address@hidden>> wrote:
Hello Bernard,
How is the paparazzi center for Windows?
Did you saw the CGS of openpilot.com<http://openpilot.com/> project?
www.openpilot.com<http://www.openpilot.com/>
I tried and it's so user friendly and it's great for the end users. It would be very nice to do something like that.
I can help. What you think? Have something working on windows right now?
The openpilot CGS is C++ language.
Best regards
Rui Costa
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bernard Davison <
address@hidden<mailto:
address@hidden>>
Date: Wed, Jul 27, 2011 at 7:42 AM
Subject: Re: [Paparazzi-devel] Paparazzi center ans CGS for Windows
To:
address@hidden<mailto:
address@hidden>
The development process has started and the documentation also started but I haven't got as far as Eric yet.
I've been stuck on some other tasks but should be back onto it in a week or two tops.
Keep an eye on
http://paparazzi.enac.fr/wiki/Installation/Windows
Note that I would not recommend anyone follow the instructions unless they want to help out Eric and I in making the system work.
Cheers,
Bernie.
Bernard Davison
Mobile: 0412 039 128
Skype: rbdavison
Sponsor my Oxfam Trailwalker<http://trailwalker.oxfam.org.au/sydney/teams/team/?team_id=9819> team.
On 26/07/2011, at 11:11 PM, Rui Costa wrote:
Hello,
Any news about the development of the Paparazzi center and CGS software for Windows?
Best regards
Rui Costa
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------------------------------------------------------
Lorenz Meier
PhD Student
Computer Vision and Geometry Lab
ETH Zurich /
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
http://www.inf.ethz.ch/personal/lomeier/