Real-Time Precision Guidance - Polaris Alpha User Manual

4-3 Real-Time Precision Guidance

When using Alpha RTK receiver in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) applications as shown in figure 4-5,
one Alpha is configured as RTK base connecting via micro-USB cable to a computer running Mission
Planner, the computer is also connected with a telemetry radio to communicate with another
telemetry radio installed on the UAV. A second Alpha is configured as RTK rover, connecting to the
autopilot of the UAV via a 6-pin 6 wire cable provided along with the Alpha RTK Kit. In this application
scenario data from RTK base is encapsulated in MAVLink injection protocol sent to autopilot of the
UAV, and autopilot then relays the data to RTK rover, the NMEA message output from RTK rover is sent
to autopilot of the UAV for precision guidance.
RTK Setup for UAV
antenna
Rover
Alpha
RTK
6-pin wire for
UAV-to-Rover
TTL mode / switch on B
RTK
antenna
Base
Micro-USB
Alpha
cable
RTK
Mission Planner
USB mode / switch on A
Figure 4-5
13
Telemetry
Radio
433MHz/915MHz/2.4GHz
Telemetry
Radio