SDR and Quadcopters

[jgonzal84]

So I have been searching around the internet on information regarding using SDR for radio receiver and transmitters for the control of one's quadcopter or multirotor device. Any thoughts or if anyone has done something with this? Just a thought as my two next hobbies are SDR and multicopters.

 

[PACNWDude]

I have yet to see this done....but my only software designed transceiver is a Harris Unity radio.

SDR would receive only, and there needs to be two way communication (for telemetry) or at least transmit from the radio to the quadcopter to control it.

 

[toastycookies]

why would you confine the SDR to receive only?

 

[toastycookies]

youtube video of SDR controlled quadcopter.

HackRF Controlling a Quadcopter - rtl-sdr.com

 

[Token]

So I have been searching around the internet on information regarding using SDR for radio receiver and transmitters for the control of one's quadcopter or multirotor device. Any thoughts or if anyone has done something with this? Just a thought as my two next hobbies are SDR and multicopters.

I don’t see any real reason to combine SDR, either TX or RX, and control of the mutlicopter, commercial OTS TX and RX is fairly inexpensive and capable, as well as compact and optimized.

However, that does not mean that SDR and RC cannot be used together in other ways than flight control. A buddy of mine has a Raspberry Pi based SDR wireless streaming rig, just the Pi, a hub, and the RTL SDR. We put this on my quad rotor and got some interesting results. We essentially were able to place the antenna (and SDR) several hundred feet up with no coax loss It could be very interesting to play with a Doppler based DF system and link the results back down to a ground station. Might make Fox hunting interesting.

T!

 

[eorange]

We put this on my quad rotor and got some interesting results. Might make Fox hunting interesting.

Now that's cool! I flew RC back in the 80's.

It could also turn Fox hunting into target acquisition and destruction.

 

[jgonzal84]

This idea it seems is not practical in general, but just a genuine curiosity i have on two subjects i am now getting into.Ill probably looking into this in the next set of months once i start investing more money. Ill report any findings i come across. I know for certain a few obstacles for the project will be First Person View video TX, flight control, and telemetry. Big emphasis on FPV.