Getting started
Run the Ground Control installer (Requires Windows Vista or higher)
Run Ground Control.
Obtain a ".utd" flight data file from your plane, or [download this sample file] (a two hour electric glider flight with many thermals!)
To open the .utd file, drag its icon from your desktop into the Ground Control window, or select File:Review past flight and locate it.
Graphs of flight data
Select menu "View: Variables"
Browse through variables, find one of interest, right-click and select "add to strip chart"
Experiment with various functions listed when you right-click on the strip chart window.
Other views
The other windows accessed through the View menu should be fairly self explanatory.
Note: many of these displays are under development or experimental, and some simply don't work. See list below.
Playback
Click on "Play" at bottom right to bring data to life in realtime
Position map
View: Position Map
To superimpose a satellite or other map on this window, you currently need to manually enter "registration" data which correlates the pixels in the map image file to latitude and longitude. Add the screenshot of google earth or other map as a graphics file (.jpg, .tiff) to <your user directory>/Documents/Uthere/Ground Control/Maps/ and add an XML entry to <your user directory>/Documents/Uthere/Ground Control/Configuration/map_catalog.xml.
Also note that you can export flight data to a Google Earth .kml file using File: Export: Google Earth.
Configuration
**** CONTACT jim@uthere.com before attempting this.
Currently, no nice user interface for editing configuration files. You must edit files in <your user directory>/Documents/Uthere/Ground Control/Configuration/ manually.
These files are loaded in a "cascading" manner, starting with <your user directory>/Documents/Uthere/Ground Control/Configuration/master_selected.xml which specifieds a file in the /Master subdirectory, which in turn <includes> files from other directories, and so on.
To generate a ".utcfg" file that Ruby can load, select menu Developer: Create Configuration Download UTCFG.
Error Reporting
The software will generate log files including detailed error reporting if you have created the following directory:
C:\Users\<your name>\Documents\Uthere\Ground Control\Logs
.A new file is created every time you start Ground Control.
If you encounter an error, please retrieve the most recenly genenerated file from the above directory and send to support@uthere.com.
In general:
Note that many functions only appear when you right-click on a window.
Here's a video showing various screens opened and resized, variables plotted, etc... [video] |
