Operation¶
Types of operations¶
For the different types of operations, the user may need to make different connections, configurations and/or integrations with external devices with Veronte Autopilot 1x. Therefore:
Examples of how to make connections to Autopilot 1x such as wiring connection via CAN or with a Serial to Ethernet Converter are detailed in the Integration examples section of this manual.
Examples of how to integrate Autopilot 1x with external devices such as datalinks are detailed in the Datalinks - Integration examples section of the present manual.
Please take a look at these sections for further explanations.
Flight Control Setups¶
Veronte Autopilot 1x allows for a wide variety of communication and control solutions to adapt to each mission and platform specifications. This section summarizes a list of recommended options to operate an Autopilot 1x in different situations.
Tip
Most of the following diagrams can be used independently or combinated, to create redundant systems or backup solutions.
Onboard Control Setup¶
1x allows to control aircrafts (such as eVTOLs) by pilots on board in a flight deck. Pilots can use as controller joysticks, computers, tablets or any device able to communicate through PPM, CAN Bus, RS232 or RS485.
Remote Control Setup¶
The following image shows the standard Veronte System Layout for remote operation.
In the standard remote layout, an Operator (Internal Pilot) controls the UAV from the Ground Station using Veronte Ops.
Additionally, a Safety Pilot (External Pilot) is connected to the Ground Station using a radio controller. The stick commands are read by the Ground Unit and re-routed to the Air Unit. The Safety Pilot is able to take control of the flight at any point using an automation.
While this is the most common setup, there is a wide variety of options, including:
BLOS communications
Onboard RC receivers
Point to Multipoint configurations
Ground to Air Communications¶
Communication solutions between air and ground devices.
Line of Sight¶
Internal LOS module¶
External Radiolink¶
For increased range, bandwidth or channels are needed.
Tethered¶
Beyond Line of Sight¶
Internal BLOS module + Veronte Cloud¶
External Internet Access + Veronte Cloud¶
For alternative internet access.
External Satellite Communication¶
It can be implemented with two satellite modules.
Internet connection can be used instead of a ground satellite module.
Control Station Communications¶
Communication solutions between the different GS devices.
Serial Interface¶
External Radiolink¶
For modular ground stations.
Wifi¶
For operation with laptops or tablets.
Remote GCS¶
For remote solutions with LOS backup operator.
Manual Control Layouts¶
Veronte allows for a wide variety of pilot interface solutions in order to interact with manual flight modes, assisted flight modes (arcade) or payloads. A wide variety of controllers can be used to pilot manually aircrafts, such as RC transmitters, pedals, sticks or buttons. In addition, they can communicate via PPM, CAN Bus, USB, RS232 or RS485.
Connection to Ground Unit¶
The internal LOS module allows the usage of a single radio channel both for stick, control commands and telemetry, minimizing any potential interferences.
Connection to Air Unit Via Radio¶
Allows for a backup manual channel when there is a main channel loss and an emergency manual landing is needed. Recommended for initial developement stages where automatic landing phases are not defined yet.
Connection to PC¶
Veronte software allows the use of any device that is detected as a remote controller by the operative system. USB connection can be used to communicate with joysticks.
Stick¶
The Veronte Stick allows for the integration of commercial flight station devices and remote controllers. In addition, Stick enables the use of USB sticks within the Veronte ecosystem.
Virtual Stick¶
The Virtual stick feature allows to integrate as a stick controller any device that can interface with Autopilot 1x (RS232, RS485, ADC, CAN…) and can provide control reference values.
While the configuration is slightly more complex, this feauture allows using a wide variety of devices as flight control interfaces.
Point to Multipoint Layouts¶
Due to Veronte’s modular configuration, it is possible to integrate several air and ground units within the same network.
Point to Point¶
Standard multiplatorm setup.
Point to Multipoint with Single Ground Station¶
Managing several platforms with a single radiolink.
Multipoint to Point with Multiple Ground Stations¶
For long range operations with several LOS stations.
To correctly establish communication between the different PCs via Ethernet the following steps should be carried out:
Make the physical connection with ethernet cables, the two different types of ethernet cables can be used:
Straight-Throught
Connect each PC to an ethernet switch with its Straight-Through ethernet cable (i.e. users will need 2 cables).
Crossover
Connect the PCs directly to each other with a crossover ethernet cable.
Straight-Through vs Crossover cables¶
On each PC, change the ethernet adapter settings to a static IP so that both are on the same subnet. To do this:
In the Control Panel, go to Network and Internet.
Open Network and Sharing Centre menu and click Change adapter settings.
Ethernet connection 1¶
Select Local Area Connection, right click, and select Properties.
Ethernet connection 2¶
Select IPv4 and click Properties.
Ethernet connection 3¶
Set IP address to a static IP (e.g. 192.168.0.100) and Subnet mask to 255.255.255.0. Click OK.
Important
If on this PC the IP address is set to 192.168.0.100, on the other PCs, the IP address must be set to 192.168.0.XXX (e.g. 192.168.8.234), so that they are on the same subnet.
Ethernet connection 4¶
Allow VeronteLink to go through the Firewall on the PC that will run it, hereafter PC primary. To do so:
On the PC secondary, in Veronte Ops change the Veronte Link Host option setting to the IP of the PC primary. To do this:
Open Veronte Ops.
In the Status bar, click the arrow on the right of the bar to display a drop-down menu.
Veronte Ops - Status bar¶
In it, open the Setup menu.
Veronte Ops - Setup menu¶
Next, go to the Veronte Link Host settings.
Change the IP localhost to the IP of the PC primary.
Veronte Ops - Veronte Link Host settings¶
For more information on this settings, refer to the Setup - Veronte Ops configuration section of the Veronte Ops user manual
Finally, Autopilot 1x connected to the PC primary should be seen in the Veronte Ops open on this PC, as well as on the PC secondary.
If users have any problems when trying to connect Veronte Ops to Veronte Link, refer to the Connecting to Veronte Link - Troubleshooting section of the Veronte Ops user manual.
If after following the steps described above users are not able to operate in this way, please contact support team by opening a Ticket in your Joint Collaboration Framework.
Preparation for operation¶
Here the user will find different checklists that the Embention team considers useful to follow as a guideline before performing an operation.
Important
This is only an example, it may vary depending on the operation to be performed and the user’s platform.