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  • Author Author: jkutzsch
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MONITORING DRONE FPV FREQUENCY USAGE WITH A USRP SOFTWARE DEFINED RADIO

jkutzsch

http://www.rtl-sdr.com/monitoring-drone-fpv-frequency-usage-with-a-usrp-software-defined-radio/

http://www.rtl-sdr.com/using-an-usrp-e310-for-digital-video-downlink-and-scanning-on-a-drone/

 

Over on YouTube balint256 (Balint), a researcher at Ettus (creators of the USRP line of software defined radios) has uploaded a video showing how he is using his USRP to help with frequency management at FPV time trial racing events. FPV a.k.a First Person View is a term used to describe the act of flying a remote controlled aircraft such as a quadcopter with an onboard camera that transmits live video down to the pilot. FPV racing is a new sport where pilots race FPV controlled drones around a track.

One important technical challenge at these events is frequency management. FPV drones use many frequencies at around 2.4 GHz for control and 5.8/2.4/1.3 GHz for video. With many drones in the air it is important that frequencies are managed appropriately so as to not jam each others signals.

To try and solve this problem Balint has been using GNU Radio coupled with a USRP X310 software defined radio to get very wide band RF spectrum waterfall views of the 2.4 and 5.8 GHz bands. In the waterfalls he is able to see when control signals and video signals are transmitted and at what frequency, and is able to tell if any are overlapping and jamming each other.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9wlKYDEOUU

SDR Wideband Spectrum Monitoring for Drone FPV Frequency Management

 

 

In addition to this, Balint has also been working on his custom software defined radio based digital video downlink. Back in March we posted about his earlier work on this concept. In the video Balint demonstrates his drone with an on board USRP E310 which is used to send a custom 4.2 Mbps video downlink.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdGID77O59g

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  • in reply to clem57

    Man, so much negative with no actual positive options.

     

    In Fact I did a search for the most appropriate location to post information on Drones.  And you know what the Element 14 Search engine provide, an overwhelming amount of information on Drones is posted under this area.  Please do a search and see what I saw then explain what the more appropriate area would be.  I believe some people (like the ones posting all of the Drone information) may consider Drones as falling under Robotics and Automation as they further develop.  But that is just me.

  • in reply to jkutzsch

    I agree that there is no easy place, but there is interest like SDR . I suggest you blog ( I am ok with that), in a better place like your own blog area (everyone has one automatically) where you may do any topic you choose. The reason is some other places are not "seen" or have rules/interests special to them, I welcome your posts since I play with SDR in my projects. Thanks for your enthusiasm.

    Clem