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MP2028/2128g | MP1028g | Accessories | HORIZONmp | MP2028LRC| XTENDER
Does the XTENDER allow me to change the Horizon or the MP2028/MP2128? Does the XTENDER include examples? Does the XTENDER include source code for the Horizon? What does the MP2028g XTENDER Kit include? Are there royalties for software written with the XTENDER? What other operating systems will XTENDER work with? What is an MP plug-in, and how would I use one? What is a Horizon plug-in and how would I use one? What happens to my MP plug-ins when you release a new version of the software? Is there a separate XTENDER for the MP2128 versus the MP2028? How difficult is it to port an MP plug-in written for the MP2028 to the MP2128? Do I need to purchase any extra development tools? Which autopilots can use MP plug-ins? Can I replace custom control laws with the XTENDER? Do I have access to the microcontroller's I/O pins? Wouldn’t it be better to supply source code for the autopilot and Horizon? Why is it important to have access to a product like the XTENDER?
Does the XTENDER allow me to change the Horizon or the MP2028/MP2128? The XTENDER allows you to write software that runs on your PC and talks to the autopilot at the same time as Horizon. It also allows you to write a complete ground control station or interface to an existing ground control station. Does the XTENDER include examples? Yes, the XTENDER contains source code for four example programs. Does the XTENDER include source code for the Horizon? No, the XTENDER does not include source code for Horizon. It does, however, contain source code for a simple GCS. What does the MP2028g XTENDER Kit include? The XTENDERmp includes libraries, DLLs and example programs that can be used to speed the development of a custom GCS to suit your specific application. In addition, using these DLLs, you can develop custom software that can talk to the MP2028 at the same time as the Horizon GCS (e.g. if you had a custom payload that you wished to control). In addition, the XTENDERmp will also allow you to load your own custom software onto the MP2028g. This software runs at the same time as the MP2028g and can be used to replace existing feedback loops and control unused I/O pins on the autopilot. The DLLs can be used with any Windows development environment such as Microsoft's Visual Basic and Visual C++. The XTENDERmp also includes an MP2028g simulator that allows you to test your GCS software without having to fly a plane. You receive the following items with EXTENDER:
Are there royalties for software written with the XTENDER? There are no run-time royalties for software written with the XTENDER, as long as your software uses a MicroPilot autopilot. What other operating systems will XTENDER work with? There are versions of XTENDER for both Linux and Windows CE. What is an MP plug-in, and how would I use one? An MP plug-in is software you write that runs on the autopilot. An MP plug-in allows you to modify the operation of the autopilot to better suit your needs. For example, you can add code that talks to devices on board your UAV (e.g., PTZ cameras), replace feedback loops, or replace sensors. What is a Horizon plug-in and how would I use one? A Horizon plug-in is software that runs simultaneously with Horizon, and provides you with the ability to provide functionality that is important to your application, but is not provided with the standard version of Horizon. What happens to my MP plug-ins when you release a new version of the software? The interface between the autopilot code and the MP plug-in code generally does not change between versions of the autopilot code. While it is prudent to re-test your MP plug-in as part of your upgrade process, your MP plug-in will almost certainly work unchanged with the new version of autopilot software. Is there a separate XTENDER for the MP2128 versus the MP2028? Yes. The 2028 and 2128 use separate processors, so there is a separate XTENDER for each unit. How difficult is it to port an MP plug-in written for the MP2028 to the MP2128? The answer depends on how much of the I/O you use on the autopilot's microcontroller. Since the MP2028 and MP2128 use different microcontrollers, the I/O on each processor is different, so any code that uses the I/O on the microcontroller must be rewritten. Do I need to purchase any extra development tools? No. The XTENDER includes all development tools, including the appropriate compiler, debug program, and Background Debug Mode cable. Which autopilots can use MP plug-ins? All MicroPilot autopilots, with the exception of the MP1028, can use MP plug-ins. The MP2028TLM can also run MP plug-ins. Can I replace custom control laws with the XTENDER? Yes, you can. Each feedback loop can be replaced individually. Do I have access to the microcontroller's I/O pins? Yes you do, provided the MicroPilot autopilot is not using that particular IO pin. Wouldn't it be better to supply source code for the autopilot and Horizon? The disadvantage of source code is that it can take a long time to understand how and where to make modifications. By providing predefined entry points for your code Xtender simplifies the process of modifying the autopilot code. As an added advantage, there is virtually no impact on your code when the time comes to upgrade to a newer version of the autopilot software. When you modify source code the upgrade process is labor intensive and error prone. Why is it important to have access to a product like the XTENDER? There are two reasons why you might need the XTENDER: The first reason is to make sure that it gives you the assurance that you can fulfill all of your product requirements. If there is a special payload you need, or special functionality you need in the autopilot to complete your mission, XTENDER gives you the ability to add this functionality to the standard MicroPilot autopilot. The second reason is that it allows you to differentiate your UAV from others using MicroPilot autopilots. Using the XTENDER, you can incorporate features into the autopilot that you know are going to be important to your customers, and that will help your product stand out. |
