7. Connecting a Drone
To ensure smooth flight operations, your drone must correctly interpret and respond to remote control (RC) commands. That requires a reliable wireless link between the drone, the Ground Control Station (GCS), and the RC. You need to provide the correct connection details so the drone and the app can communicate reliably.
AeroGCS GREEN supports several methods to connect your drone to the app. Choose the method that matches your hardware and network setup.
Supported link types
Set the communication link to one of the following options:
- Serial
- TCP
- UDP
- Bluetooth
- H12
To open connection options, tap the ⋮ (three dots) icon on the Home screen.
Then tap Connect to open the connection screen.
Below are step-by-step instructions for each link type. Follow the steps that match your selected link.
7.1. Using Serial Port
Follow these steps to connect your drone to AeroGCS GREEN using the Serial Port option.
Step 1: From the dropdown list, select Serial and configure the parameters as shown below.
You can now configure or select the appropriate values as described in the following settings.
Serial Port Settings
In the Serial Port settings, you can connect your device through serial communication. Before initiating the connection, adjust the baud rate and other parameters according to your hardware requirements.
1.1 Serial Port Selection:
Select the correct serial port from the dropdown list. Choosing the right port is essential to establish a stable communication link between your drone and AeroGCS GREEN.
1.2 Baud Rate:
In serial communication, data is transmitted in bits over a communication channel. The baud rate represents how fast data is sent and received, measured in signal changes (bits per second).
A higher baud rate means faster data transmission.
For example, a baud rate of 9600 means that up to 9600 bits of data can be transmitted per second.
Formula:
Baud rate = Number of signal elements ÷ Total time (in seconds)
1.3 Data Bits Overview:
Data bits represent the actual information sent between devices, such as commands, readings, or messages.
Most serial ports use 7 or 8 data bits:
- 7 bits are typically used for text data (ASCII).
- 8 bits are used for binary data or extended ASCII formats.
1.4 Parity:
Parity is an error-checking technique that ensures data integrity. It maintains either an even or odd count of binary “1s” within each data group.
Before communication begins, both the sending and receiving devices must have matching parity settings for successful transmission.
1.5 Data Flow Control:
- RTS/CTS Protocol:
The Request to Send (RTS) and Clear to Send (CTS) signals manage data flow between devices.
- RTS indicates that your device is ready to send data.
- CTS confirms that the other device is ready to receive data.
This handshaking process helps prevent data loss and ensures smooth communication.
- XON/XOFF Flow Control:
XON/XOFF (Software Flow Control) uses control characters to manage data transmission.
- XOFF pauses transmission when the receiving device’s buffer is full.
- XON resumes transmission once the device is ready to receive more data.
Step 2: Once all parameters are set, tap Connect to establish the connection with your drone.
After a successful connection, AeroGCS GREEN will announce “Drone Connected” through a voice notification, and the top bar of the screen will turn green to indicate an active connection.
7.2. Using TCP
In the TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) configuration, you can define the Host Address, Listening Port, Target Address, and Target Port. You can enter or modify these values based on your network setup, as shown in the following screen.
1.1 Host Address:
This is the address of the host computer used for controlling and monitoring the drone.
You can modify the address if required, or leave it unchanged.
For a local connection, the default Host Address is 127.0.0.1.
1.2 Listening Port:
This is the port used by the connected device within your system.
You can modify this value if necessary or use the default setting.
For example, the Mission Planner typically uses port numbers 5762 or 5763.
To establish a connection with the drone:
- Enter the Host Address and Port Number.
- Tap Connect.
After a successful connection, you will hear a voice notification saying “Drone Connected,” and the top bar of the screen will turn green to confirm an active connection.
7.3. Using UDP
The User Datagram Protocol (UDP) operates within the Transport Layer and is part of the Internet Protocol suite (UDP/IP). Unlike TCP, UDP is connectionless and does not guarantee delivery, making it faster but less reliable. This means a connection does not need to be established before sending data.
Similar to the TCP connection setup, connecting your drone using UDP requires you to enter the IP Address and Port Number, as shown in the following screen.
After entering the details, tap Connect.
A progress screen will appear, similar to the one displayed when connecting the drone via TCP.
Once the connection is established successfully, you will hear a voice notification saying “Drone Connected.” The top bar of the screen will turn green to indicate an active connection.
7.4. Using Bluetooth
To connect your drone using Bluetooth, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Tap Scan to search for available Bluetooth devices.
Step 2: From the list of detected devices, select your drone’s Bluetooth name.
If prompted, grant permission to access your mobile device’s location to complete the pairing process.
Step 3: Once the device is selected, tap Connect to establish the connection with your drone.
After a successful connection, you will hear a voice notification saying “Drone Connected,” and the top bar of the screen will turn green, indicating an active Bluetooth link.
7.5 Using H12
To connect your H12 device (with AeroGCS GREEN installed) to the drone, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the Connect Aircraft Screen
- Go to the Connect Aircraft screen in AeroGCS GREEN.
Step 2: Select the Communication Link Type
- From the list of available link types, choose H12, as shown below.
Step 3: Connect to the Drone
- Tap the Connect button to establish a connection between your H12 device and the drone.
Step 4: Connection Confirmation
- Once the connection is successful, a confirmation message appears indicating that the drone is connected.
Choose the Right Communication Protocol Select Protocol Based on Application and Range
Note: Selecting the correct protocol ensures a stable connection and reliable drone performance during flight operations. |
7.6 Drone Registration
When you connect your drone to AeroGCS GREEN for the first time, the application will prompt you to register your drone. Follow the steps below to complete the registration process.
- Drone ID: This field displays the unique identifier assigned to your drone.
- Drone Name: Enter a name for your drone in the provided field.
- FC Serial No.: The Flight Controller Serial Number is automatically filled in. Verify that the number is correct.
- Firmware Version: This field displays your drone’s current firmware version. Make sure it matches your drone’s installed firmware.
- UIN: Enter your Unique Identification Number (UIN) if applicable.
- RC Serial No.: The Remote Controller Serial Number is automatically filled in. Verify its accuracy.
- Serial No.: The Drone Serial Number will appear here automatically.
- Model: Enter the model name of your drone.
Once all required fields are filled in and verified, choose one of the following options:
- Do Not Register: Select this option if you prefer not to register the drone at this time.
- Register: Tap Register to complete the registration process.
By completing these steps, your drone will be successfully registered and ready for operation in AeroGCS GREEN.