Last update: 26. June 2008
                              

 GPSL
GPS aided landing system for RC model aircrafts
 

  by  Andreas Gawron and Robert Tyrakowski          
gpslemail

GPSL-klein

The GPSL system supports RC  pilots during landing of  model aircrafts. The model aircraft carries a GPS receiver and a RF transmitter for the LPD band. A micro controller manages transmission of an audio signal which informs the pilot about  the distance and moving direction of the current model position regarding  a hypothetical perfect horizontal approach corridor. The system offers information, how the approach corridor can be reached very early during landing procedure and how to keep the model in that corridor. The model must be landed by the pilot manually anyway.  GPSL is just a landing assistant, but not an autopilot ! 

An optional speech  system is able to provide information about the direct altitude and
distance between the current model position and the air field. Further features like a variometer  and an information channel   deliver information about the current altitude, supply voltage and about the distance of the plain and its loaction in case the plain has escaped. Also there is a "Homing" function which helps to guide the plain back home if it's not visibile anymore.
An article  called "GPSL - Die GPS unterstützte Landung" (GPSL - GPS assited landing) has been published in the German model sport magazine 



Issue 3 / 2008

The article in German language can be found  here link .  ( pdf  3.6 Mbyte)
(with permission by Aufwind)


An additional articel has been published in the RC-Network Magzin in July 2008.

rcnlink

The article in German language can be found  here link .


If one would like to get more information about it in English language , please contact the authors by e-mail.
 

Features
   
  PCB  
 
 Micro controller size  100 mm  x  45 mm  x  13 mm
 GPS receiver  size    32 mm  x  34 mm  x    9 mm
 Weight    60 Gram
     
  RF   
 LPD channels    1...69           433 MHz Band
 TX power    10 mW       (CEPT conform)
   
 DC power  
 Supply voltage   3,5 – 7,6 Volt  
 Supply current  
 GPSL Mode:

 Sleep   :   approx.   15 mA        (GPS in FixNow Mode, Main CPU Powerdown)
 Up        :   
approx. 140 mA        (GPS on, CPU on, 433MHz Tx on)

 Variometer Mode: 
 Up        :    approx..  80 mA        (GPS in FixNow Mode, CPU on, 433MHz Tx on)  
 
Info Channel Mode: 
 Up        :    approx.    80 mA        (GPS in FixNow Mode, CPU on, 433MHz Tx on)  
 Up        :    approx.  140 mA        (GPSon, CPU on, 433MHz Tx on) (emergency mode)  
     
 Special features   
   If the variometer and Info-Channel features of GPSL are not needed, the GPSL system can be used together with an external variometer or a similar unit  on the same RF channel and with the same shared RC Servo channel . 
 



 Click to the pictures  .                 Some impressions almost  without words
Illustraction where sound and speech  are offered during  landing procedure.                         funcprinz
Illustration how landing information are calculated                         bild1
Example of the (optional) display for test purposes. (cell phone display is used)                    
                       
Display unit                                             pictures/nokia.jpg
Power consumption in different opperation phasescurrent_s
New hardware , version 3                           pictures/gpsl_v3_s.gif
View to GPSL in a 4 m glider         GPSL Einbau in die SHK     SHK Aeronaut   


Please look also at the German language pages.

You may not understand the description, but there there are a lot of further stuff which gives you a more detailed  information about the GPSL system.


Copyright

We would like to point out, that any commercial use of this idea and the manner of   the
realization,  completely  or  as  parts,  is not permitted.  It  is  just allowed, if one got the
written permission of the authors !


Disclaimer
   
The GPSL HW and SW was designed in the best of one's knowledge. Nevertheless, possible errors may happen during operation . The user of GPSL use it on his own risk. We are not responsible for damage of goods or harm of persons.  We categorically exclude any liability !


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