Release Notes
ATOM UAV MANUAL
Date:
2022
-
01
-
04
Version: 1.3
Page: 10 of 39
FLARM Technology
Ltd
Hinterbergstrasse 15
CH-6330 Cham
Document Number:
FTD-088
Note: Communication between FLARM devices employs an encrypted, patent-
protected protocol. Any unlicensed use, copying, distribution, conversion,
replication, access, interception, de-compiling, reverse engineering, or
further transmission of knowledge so acquired relating to the system
components or software/firmware, in whole or in part, is thus illegal.
3.3.1 RF Connectors
Atom UAV uses MCX connectors for all RF interfaces. The corresponding connector
can be identified as GNSS, ADS-B and FLARM on the device housing (Atom UAV
standalone variant) or on the PCB next to the connectors (Atom UAV OEM variant).
The Atom UAV OEM variant additionally has a U.FL connector for a Wi-Fi antenna.
3.3.2 Placement
For good performance of the FLARM system, the FLARM antenna must be placed
at least 20 mm from larger pieces of conductive materials such as a metal surface.
The FLARM antenna must be installed vertically (perpendicular to the horizontal
plane).
If the aircraft body contains large amounts of conductive materials such as carbon
fiber, the antenna must be placed outside the vehicle body. If the selected antenna
location does not give clear line of sight in all horizontal directions, two Atom UAV
devices can be mounted to increase the coverage, using the radio diversity
functionality described later in this document.
For good performance of the GNSS receiver, the GNSS antenna must be placed
such that signals from the sky are not obstructed. The antenna should be mounted
on a sufficiently large ground plane, either as part of the host PCB or on a separate
metal plane that adds more than 20 mm of ground around the antenna.
Due to the larger transmit power of the ADS-B system, the placement is less
crucial. However, the antenna should also be installed vertically and be placed at
a sufficient distance from conductors.
Note: Atom UAV also receives and decodes Mode-S signals, which do not contain
position information. Instead, the distance is estimated from the received
signal strength. The radiation pattern of the ADS-B antenna installed on
the aircraft should be omnidirectional to give accurate range information.
Due to limitations in the MAVLink protocol, Mode-S targets are not
available on this interface.