Ground Telemetry Station

A system for connecting to MAVLink drones and checking their status. More information can be found in each of the projects displayed above as git submodules.

• Frontend - Web UI for creating datalinks and viewing telemetry (Alpine.js)
• Backend - REST API + WebSocket server (Python/FastAPI)
• Driver - MAVLink/gRPC bridge (C++)

Architecture

┌─────────────────┐      HTTP/WS       ┌─────────────────┐
│    Frontend     │◄──────────────────►│     Backend     │
│   (Port 8085)   │                    │   (Port 8000)   │
└─────────────────┘                    └────────┬────────┘
                                                │ gRPC
                                                ▼
                                       ┌─────────────────┐
                                       │     Driver      │
                                       │  (Port 50051)   │
                                       └────────┬────────┘
                                                │ MAVLink
                                                ▼
                                       ┌─────────────────┐
                                       │   Simulator /   │
                                       │   Real Drone    │
                                       │   (Port 5760)   │
                                       └─────────────────┘

Project deployment with Docker

The easiest way to run the system is with Docker Compose, which includes an ArduPilot SITL simulator:

docker-compose up

This starts all services:

• Frontend: http://localhost:8085
• Backend API: http://localhost:8000
• Driver gRPC: localhost:50051
• ArduPilot SITL simulator: localhost:5760

Connecting to the Simulator

1. Open http://localhost:8085
2. Enter simulator as the URI (not 127.0.0.1) to connect to the right Docker instance.
3. Enter 5760 as the port
4. Click "Create Datalink"
5. Click "Create Datastream" to start receiving telemetry. Drone updates sent by the backend will be displayed in the log box and the Drone data will start to be updated.

Local Development

For local development without Docker, run each service separately:

1. Start the ArduPilot Simulator

sim_vehicle.py -v ArduCopter --no-mavproxy

2. Start the Driver

cd mavlink-driver
./build.sh
./build/mavlink_driver

3. Start the Backend

cd ground-telemetry-station-backend
./launch_server.sh

4. Start the Frontend

cd ground-telemetry-station-frontend
python3 -m http.server 8085

Then open http://localhost:8085 and connect to 127.0.0.1:5760.