Starter Set NIA-SmallDrone is designed for tracking mini- and micro-drones (under 100g) indoor. It is suitable for larger and autonomous drones as well.
However, if you want to use with PixHawk, we recommend to use Starter Set Super-MP. Super-Beacons are much easier to connect with PixHawk – there are ready to connect pins available. Whereas, with Mini-TX you need either fine soldering or an external USB to UART converter, which makes it easier to use Super-Beacon in the first hand.
Content:
The set is suitable for different use cases, but, most of all, it is designed for precise (±2cm) indoor tracking of small and light drones (under 100g) in area of up to 400-500 m2. Of course, it would work with heavier drones as well.
Demos:
Further expansion:
Marvelmind Indoor Navigation System is an off-the-shelf indoor navigation system designed to provide precise (±2cm) location data to autonomous robots, vehicles (AGV), drones and forklifts. It can also be used to track other objects that the mobile beacon is installed upon, for example, virtual reality (VR) systems, helmets for construction workers or miners, jackets, etc.
The navigation system is based on stationary ultrasonic beacons that are united by radio interface in a license-free band (915MHz). The location of the mobile beacon is calculated based on the propagation delay of an ultrasonic signal (Time-Of-Flight or TOF) to a set of stationary ultrasonic beacons using trilateration.
Key requirements for the system to function properly:
Description
Starter Set NIA-SmallDrone is designed for tracking mini- and micro-drones (under 100g) indoor. It is suitable for larger and autonomous drones as well.
However, if you want to use with PixHawk, we recommend to use Starter Set Super-MP. Super-Beacons are much easier to connect with PixHawk – there are ready to connect pins available. Whereas, with Mini-TX you need either fine soldering or an external USB to UART converter, which makes it easier to use Super-Beacon in the first hand.
Content:
The set is suitable for different use cases, but, most of all, it is designed for precise (±2cm) indoor tracking of small and light drones (under 100g) in area of up to 400-500 m2. Of course, it would work with heavier drones as well.
Demos:
Further expansion:
Marvelmind Indoor Navigation System is an off-the-shelf indoor navigation system designed to provide precise (±2cm) location data to autonomous robots, vehicles (AGV), drones and forklifts. It can also be used to track other objects that the mobile beacon is installed upon, for example, virtual reality (VR) systems, helmets for construction workers or miners, jackets, etc.
The navigation system is based on stationary ultrasonic beacons that are united by radio interface in a license-free band (915MHz). The location of the mobile beacon is calculated based on the propagation delay of an ultrasonic signal (Time-Of-Flight or TOF) to a set of stationary ultrasonic beacons using trilateration.
Key requirements for the system to function properly:
Additional information
915 MHz (US), 915/868MHz (US/EU)
Questions and Answers
Hello,
Is it possible to use the Mini-Beacons in Paired Beacons configuration for autonomous drone-flight like the Super Beacons. Or is there any other disadvantage beside the shorter range, that should be considered for autonomous flight (only one drone)?
Hello,
Yes, it is possible to use Mini-RX in the paired mode configuration. Here is the demo: https://youtu.be/E8i_ZE8JXnc – Mini-RX with two external microphones, i.e. multi-head configuration: https://youtu.be/FwH-ScrTnm8.
It would be possible to just have two Mini-RXs instead of Multi-Head.
However, the configuration is well-suitable for VR/AR and wouldn’t be suitable for drones, since Mini-RX is receiving ultrasound and the drone is producing wideband white noise that could significantly reduce the range of the Mini-RX. It is not a shorter range, it is significantly shorter range to 2-5m instead of 30m – depending on the type of the drone, relative position of the stationary beacons and mobile beacons, etc.
Thus, for the drones as mobile beacons you shall use ultrasound transmitting beacons – Super-Beacons (recommended) or Mini-TX.
BTW, since you are asking in the page related to SmallDrone set, then, I guess, you are already referring to the Mini-TX instead of Mini-RX. Yes, it is possible to pair Mini-TXs like Super-Beacons and it is a good and recommended solution for light and small drones.
Hello,
I was wondering can it be used as a precise landing module for drone by placing mobile beacon on drone and stationary beacon on ground.
Yes, it could be used for this purpose.
– Starter Set Super-MP + one additional Super-Beacon is the best for Location + Direction
– https://marvelmind.com/pics/Marvelmind_Robotics_ENG_placement_manual.pdf => Stable “Z” for drone –settings and recommendations
1. what the compatible pack to upload firmware on this series ?
2. and what the name “pack name” to upload firmware on beacon mini ?
– beacon_mini_rx_ia
– beacon_mini_rx_nia
– beacon_mini_tx_nia
which one ?
Mini-TX NIA shall be your choice, because the mobile beacon in this set is Mini-TX