Passing MavLink telemetry via network

This tutorial is about connecting MavLink based flight controller to GroundStation software via network for long-range vehicles

Parts and materials

The required parts for this project:

• MavLink-based FC. I'd used Matek Wing F405 with Ardupilot software
• Raspberry PI
• 5v to 3.3v voltage divider
• Wires etc.

Flight controller set up

• Choose free UART on FC. It would be UART5 for this tutorial.
• Configure it as MavLink2, 57600 bps

Wiring

• Connect Raspberry GPIO uart (pins 8, 10) via voltage divider to FC uart (T5, R5)
• Connect grounds

Raspberry PI configuration

• Enable GPIO uart and disable using UART by console (Interfacing Options -> P6 -> First: No, second: Yes)
• Set up socat to Raspberry PI with sudo apt-get install socat
• Create script listed below:

#!/bin/bash

socat TCP-LISTEN:4161,fork,reuseaddr FILE:/dev/ttyAMA0,b57600,raw

This scripts maps UART ttyAMA0 to port 4161

Ground Control Station setup

Create connection in your GSC software:

• Type: TCP
• Port: 4161

Connect it!

What to do next

• Connect 4G dongle to Raspberry Pi and have (almost) unlimited range
• Forward video stream via 4G
• Configure SD card as read-only