Керуємо дронами через 4G мережу. Дешева цифра?

How to Control a Drone via 4G/IP Networks (Low Tech Solution) In recent years, more and more drones are controlled via IP networks. This technology is actively used by both Ukraine (for example, 4G modems in Operation "Web") and Russia (mesh networks on Gerbers and Shaheds, or 4G modems for telemetry on strike drones). The ability to adjust the route or change the target requires a control channel, and the Internet and IP networks allow drones to be controlled almost all over the world, which makes the issue of security and protection from drones global. In this review, I decided to look at the Quadrofleet project, which uses cheap IP cameras and 4G modems to control drones. I was interested in understanding how they built it - what they used from the ready-made ones, and what they developed themselves. What you will see in the video: We will look at how the Quadrofleet solution works, and you will understand that it is low tech based on OpenIPC, and not some complex technological development. The solution consists of an IP camera, a 4G modem and a drone on Betaflight or Inav. Key technologies and components: 1. Low Tech Approach: Off-the-shelf hardware (modems, cameras) and ready-made components such as gstreamer, OpenIPC, CRSF, WireGuard, UDP are used. 2. Security and Network: The drone connects to a VPN server on a public IP, and the ground station also connects to the same VPN server using WireGuard. 3. Ground Station (GCS): The developers wrote their own software based on Java and gstreamer libraries, which allows you to control the drone on Android or using a joystick. 4. Control: The ground station program reads data from the joystick and generates its own CRSF commands. These 26-byte CRSF packets are packed into UDP without changes and flown to the drone. But the program does not work properly with TX12. 5. Onboard Software: The drone has a self-written analogue of Ser2net called masina. It is also able to transmit telemetry from the camera (modem status, connection quality) in the form of strings via UDP. 6. Own developments: I noticed common features with the project of the Russian drone "Vandal". I also had to write my own UDP proxy so that telemetry from CRSF would be correctly displayed on the screen. The team of two professional developers Quadrofleet proves in practice that thanks to open software and developments made available in the open access, you can create a cheap solution from a bunch of inexpensive components.