AIRPIXEL ENTIRE SET INSTALLATION FOR CUBE PILOT/PIXHAWK
Last updated
Last updated
Table of Contents
Installation basics
Mount Sony ILX-LR1 to Pixy-LR gimbal
Installation of the ENTIRE with Pixy-LR wiring set
USB configuration for EXIF geotagging
WiFi configuration for control
Here is a list of cables you will need for connection of Sony ILX-LR1 mounted on Pixy-LR gimbal together with the Pixhawk / Ardupilot / Cube flight controller for geotagging and control of the camera.
COM4-MavLink cable
Pixy-LR connection harness:
uBEC with power cables:
STEP 1 Mount the camera per Gremsy manual.
Process is very easy:
Use included screws to mount the camera body
Attach box with USB & HDMI connector and mount by srew
Aach cable to Molex 6 pin connector
STEP 1 Use Pixy-LR connection harness cable and connect 7pin connector to CTRL port on gimbal quickrelease.
STEP 2 Connect the USB-C end of the harness to USB-C port of the gimbal.
Connector is bent in 90 deg and should be oriented to the top.
STEP 3 Connect other end of the harness to the ENTIRE
9 pin connector to the ENTIRE USBMULTI connector
3 pin connector to the ENTIRE EXT port
STEP 4 Use COM4-MavLink cable (photo on the top) and connect to the gimbal Quick Release
STEP 5 Other end of COM4-MavLink cable connect to the ENITRE UNI-C port
STEP 6 Use pre-connected uBEC set and connect JST SH 2pin end of the set and connect to the ENTIRE PWR port
STEP 7 At this point we have almost all important connections between the Pixy-LR and the ENTIRE ready
STEP 8 Connect MavLink end of Pixy-LR connection harness to PixHawk flight controller.
STEP 9 Connect power to the ENTIRE and Pixy-LR gimbal. Check polarity!
ENTIRE and the gimbal needs separate power connections. ENTIRE’s uBEC accepts 7 – 23V and needs at least 1 Amp of current available. More information here.
For Pixy-LR power requirements please follow gimbal manual.
STEP 10
You have two options how to use our system in cooperation with Gremsy:
You will use ENTIRE & MavCam only control tilt / yaw of the gimbal via HereLink hw wheel / on-screen joystick.
In this case is setting simple:
SERIAL1_PROTOCOL: “Mavlink2”
SERIAL1_BAUD: “921600“
MNT1_TYPE: “0”
MNT2_TYPE: “0
Use new Ardupilot gimbal control fatures (like point gimbal automatically)
In this case, gimbal will be controlled by the Cube and ENTIRE & MavCam will command Cube directly to control attitude of the gimbal. For this case you have to set:
SERIAL1_PROTOCOL: “Mavlink2”
SERIAL1_BAUD: “921600“
MNT1_DEFLT_MODE: “3”
MNT1_TYPE: “6”
RC6_OPTION: “214”
RC7_OPTION: “212”
RC8_OPTION: “213”
MNT1_RC_RATE: “90”
For newest Ardupilot firmwares you need to set:
CAM1_TYPE: “5”
If you do not have this option in your Ardupilot firmware parameters, ENTIRE will work by default.
(IF YOU USED TELEM2, USE SERIAL2 | MNT2)
Baudrate!Use SERIALx_BAUD 921600 in all cases, even if Gremsy manual suggest lower value, use 921600bps. It is because ENTIRE transfers lots of additional information via communication line so bandwidth is important.Other configuration!Configuration may change over time, please check Gremsy manuals for more information.
STEP 11
Connect your gimbal to gTune app in your phone or PC
Navigate to SETTINGS->CONTROLS->MAVLINK
Configure COM2 baudrate to 921600bps (used for connection to Cube)
Configure COM4 baudrate to 230400bps (used for ENTIRE connection)
STEP 12
Navigate to SETTINGS->CONTROLS->MAVLINK
Configure COM4 baudrate to 230400bps (used for ENTIRE connection)
Make sure you clicked REBOOT after each change
STEP 13
Open Entire’s configuration page (how to)
Open ENTIRE’s MENU web page and set UNI-C port to
MavLink mode
230400 bps
STEP 14
If all configuration was done properly, you will get UNI-C “online” and see
GPS information update speed
ATTI information update speed
Gimbal angle readings (P-pitch / Y-yaw)
(YAW information is absolute heading)
If port C is not “online”, do not use other baudrates or other port modes. Re-check baudrate settings in the gimbal and the ENTIRE, reboot all systems.
STEP 15
Open MENU -> (geotagging) Settings
From the list select “GPS data preview”
In the popup you should get similar data if the GPS / RTK has enough signal.
Data preview popup is real-time and should change as drone / gimbal moves.
STEP 1
ENTIRE needs to be set to “USB Control” mode and updated to the latest firmware to have this procedure working.
Navigate to MENU->Capture detection and set to “Hotshoe sync” – important for high acurracy and reliability!
STEP 2 Enable GeoTagging via ENTIRE MENU->Logging mode-> Direct EXIF
STEP 3 Select camera mount mode to fixed mount depending on your mount of the camer in the drone
FIXED TOP
Camera top is aiming top and lens is looking in direction of the flight
FIXED FORWARD
Camera top is aiming in direction of the flight and lens is looking straight down
FIXED LEFT/RIGHT
Camera top is aiming left or right and the lens is looking straight down
STEP 4 Select camera Pitch / Yaw offset if camera is not fixed in 90degree offset steps
This step is optional and usually can be skipped
STEP 5pen the MENU -> (Geotagging) Settings
Scroll down to Other features
And insert X, Y, Z offsets.
When GPS is used, offset is counted from body center (if correct offset is configured in the FC). If your flight controller does not have configured antennas offsets, configure offset from the camera to the antenna.
When RTK is used, offset is counted from body center (if correct offset is configured in the FC). If your flight controller does not have configured antennas offsets, configure offset from the camera to the antenna A.
Offsets are in millimeters!
STEP 6 Open camera MENU and navigate to: SETUP->USB->USB Connection Mode->MassStorage
STEP 7
Open camera MENU and navigate to: NETWORK->Cnct./PC Remote->PC Remote Function->OFF
STEP 8 – GEOTAGGING TEST
Your setup is ready to be used for geotsagging at this point
ENTIRE has Self-Test routines for GeoTagging to easily check if all wiring is working well
Make sure that all equipment is turned ON and camera is set to MASS STORAGE MODE
Click to MENU->Configuration test and let the Entire to do a self-test
At the beginning of the test, one photo will be triggered
Entire will check if HotShoe sensor has properly recognized trigger
Entire will check all necessary input data connections
In case of any problems, result will provide hints to solve the issue
Test photo will not be geotagged in the test method!
STEP 1
Open camera MENU and navigate to NETWORK->Network Option->Access Authen. Settings Open this item and in submenu DISABLE authentication Confirm all warnings OK Access Authen. Settings should be OFF
STEP 2
Navigate to: NETWORK->Wi-Fi->Access Point Set And enter item Wait for scan of available accesspoints
STEP 3
From the list of networks, select Accesspoint of the ENTIRE Entire_xxxx Confirm OK
STEP 4
Camera will connect the ENTIRE via WiFi now Once done, confirm OK for return to the list
STEP 5
Click right (MANUAL SETTINGS) on the ENTIRE’s WiFi item to enter manual IP settings Scroll to IP Address settings “Auto” and change to “Manual”
STEP 6
Fill IP addresses and masks:
192.168.122.1 255.255.0.0 192.168.10.1
Confirm OK
Camera will now re-connect the ENTIRE
STEP 7
Once connection is done, scroll up to “Wi-Fi Connect” and turn it ON
STEP 8
Navigate to: NETWORK->Cnct./PC Remote->PC Remote Function->ON
STEP 9
Now scroll to PAIRING and enter item
Wait for initialization
Once pairing confirmation for the ENTIRE shows, confirm OK
*** YOU HAVE TO REPEAT THIS STEP AFTER EACH UPDATE OF THE ENTIRE FIRMWARE ***
STEP 10 – EXPOSURE CONTROL TEST
WiFi control should be now available together with the geotagging via USB. You can control exposure values via MavCam / ENTIRE’s web page, AIR Commander Link or MissionPlanner plugin.
