Minla HDW server side made public

Due to increased price and availability pressure we had to take a decision to shut down our public Minla HDW server. To continue using Minla HDW customers are advised to run their own server.

Steps:

1. Run Linux x64 or Windows x64 virtual server instance on any cloud provider (like AWS, Google, Oracle cloud, MS Azure, Yandex, or any other cloud provider).
2. Make sure UDP port 3001 is allowed in network firewall settings for incoming connections on your local server or cloud provider firewall settings.
3. Run this executable file on the server:
   - for linux-x64: hdw-server-linux-x64
   - for windows-x64: hdw-server-win-x64.exe
4. Update server field in boot/minlahdw/config.json file on Minla HDW device micro sd card with server DNS name or public IP address. 
   
   
   
   
   
5. Update Server field in MinlaHDW App with server DNS name or public IP address. 
   
   
   
   
   

Minla HDW firmware upgrade v1.10 and new MinlaHDWapp v0.91

Bugfixes:

- Fixed bug in MinlaHDW desktop app where app stop responding when WiFi disconnects or WiFi network is changed.

Step-by-step upgrade process:

1. Switch off Minla HDW and open enclosure by unscrewing 4 screws on back cover. You will see pcb with microsd card. Carefully remove microsd card (do not bend camera flex pcb without a reason) and insert it in your PC.

2. Download microsd card image from here (archived with XZ):

http://minlarc.com/downloads/minlahdw_sd_image_v1.10_02.07.2019.img.xz

3. Flash image to microsd card by using any flashing software (for example https://etcher.io/on Windows or "disks" on Linux).

4. After flashing process is completed open this file on microsd card:
/minlahdw/config.json
and find string
"uid": "place_your_id_here"
change "place_your_id_here" to your Minla HDW UID.
Please note that UID must remain in quotes. So final string must look something like:
"uid": "ITjonwk3245221",

5. Save changes, insert card back to Minla HDW and close plastic enclosure.

6. Connect Minla HDW to flight controller.

7. Download new MinlaHDWapp here:

http://minlarc.com/downloads/MinlaHDWapp_v0.91.jar

Minla HDW firmware upgrade v1.09 and new MinlaHDWapp v0.9

What's new:

- Resolution change support

- Digital zoom support

Bugfixes:
- improved stability

- automatically resets if cpu hangs due to power lack or fluctuations


Step-by-step upgrade process:

1. Switch off Minla HDW and open enclosure by unscrewing 4 screws on back cover. You will see pcb with microsd card. Carefully remove microsd card (do not bend camera flex pcb without a reason) and insert it in your PC.

2. Download microsd card image from here (archived with XZ):

http://minlarc.com/downloads/minlahdw_sd_image_v1.09_05.03.2019.img.xz

3. Flash image to microsd card by using any flashing software (for example https://etcher.io/on Windows or "disks" on Linux).

4. After flashing process is completed open this file on microsd card:
/minlahdw/config.json
and find string
"uid": "place_your_id_here"
change "place_your_id_here" to your Minla HDW UID.
Please note that UID must remain in quotes. So final string must look something like:
"uid": "ITjonwk3245221",

5. Save changes, insert card back to Minla HDW and close plastic enclosure.

6. Connect Minla HDW to flight controller.

7. Download new MinlaHDWapp here:

http://minlarc.com/downloads/MinlaHDWapp_v0.9.jar

MinlaHDW Android app

MinlaHDW android app is made available for tests.
Please leave comments here or directly to my email if you will find any issues using it.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.minlarc.minlahdw

Minla HDW firmware upgrade v1.05

New firmware includes following bugfixes:

1. Some mavlink messages were incorrectly dropped due to wrong checksum (EKF and Vibration as example). This upgrade fixes this.
2. Improves stability of mavlink data flow.

Step-by-step upgrade process:

1. Switch off Minla HDW and open enclosure by unscrewing 4 screws on back cover. You will see pcb with microsd card. Carefully remove microsd card (do not bend camera flex pcb without a reason) and insert it in your PC.

2. Download and extract microsd card image from this archive:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1OP4tHxBrEiYqPEhyBBy4dkIX1xFlgV3c
As a result you must have minlahdw_sd_image_prod_v1.05_02.11.2018.img image file.

3. Next flash this file to microsd card by using any flashing software (for example https://etcher.io/on Windows or "disks" on Linux).

4. After flashing is completed open this file on microsd card:
/minlahdw/config.json
and find string
"uid": "place_your_id_here"
change "place_your_id_here" to your Minla HDW UID.
Please note that UID must remain in quotes. So final string shall look something like this:
"uid": "ITjonwk3245221",

5. Save changes, insert card back to Minla HDW and close plastic enclosure.

6. Connect Minla HDW to flight controller.

MinlaHDWapp update to ver 0.4

New version of MinlaHDWapp available at this link:
MinlaHDWapp_v0.4.jar

Minla HDW firmware upgrade v1.04

Some users reported stability issues with data transmission and camera on MinlaHDW.

This upgrade fixes this. 

If you experience any issues with Minla HDW it's highly recommended to upgrade.

Step-by-step upgrade process:

1. Switch off Minla HDW and open enclosure by unscrewing 4 screws on back cover. You will see pcb with microsd card. Carefully remove microsd card (do not bend camera flex pcb without a reason) and insert it in your PC.

2. Download and extract microsd card image from this archive:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1SBLJ8HUwBGQEKwGYnP19yOMl4AYxetqr

As a result you must have minlahdw_sd_image_prod_min_v1.04_26.10.2018.img image file.

3. Next flash this file to microsd card by using any flashing software (for example https://etcher.io/ on Windows or "disks" on Linux).

4. After flashing is completed open this file on microsd card:

/minlahdw/config.json

and find string

"uid": "place_your_id_here"

change "place_your_id_here" to your Minla HDW UID.

Please note that UID must remain in quotes. So final string shall look something like this:

"uid": "ITjonwk3245221",

5. Save changes, insert card back to Minla HDW and close plastic enclosure.

6. Connect Minla HDW to flight controller.

MinlaHDWapp update

New version of MinlaHDWapp v0.3 has just been released.
Download link:
MinlaHDWapp_v0.3.jar

v0.24 firmware

Minla firmware v0.24: minla_v0.24_firmware.bin
Minla bootloader v0.03: minlaBootloader_v0.03.dfu

Notes:
- some bugfixes related to flash write issues on some boards

Minla HDW

We are happy to announce that Minla HDW is released and available for purchase on project web site: minlarc.com

NEW PRODUCT. Minla HDW.

For those of you who interested in controlling Pixhawk (or another Ardupilot based flight controller) via mobile internet (2G/3G/4G). New Minla HDW bridges mavlink data stream between ground control station apps (like Mission Planner or QGroundControl) and flight controller. Additionally Minla HDW transmits live video (720x480, color, 25fps) directly to ground control station HUD.
Video describing features of new Minla HDW will be released soon. Check project web site www.minlarc.com for more details.

v0.22 firmware

Minla firmware v0.22: minla_v0.22_firmware.bin

Notes:
- more time is given for cellular modem to initialize and find mobile network
- stability improvements
- minor bug fixes

P.S. Documentation section was updated with new Huawei E3372h modem configuration guide:
Huawei E3372h configuration v0.3.pdf

Minla google group

Minla project has Google group now for posting questions and getting answers.

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/minla

v0.21 firmware

Minla bootloader v0.02: minlaBootloader_v0.02.dfu
Minla firmware v0.21: minla_v0.21_firmware.bin
Minla GUI v0.01: minlaGUI_v0.01.jar

Notes:
- stability improvements

v0.20 firmware

Minla bootloader v0.02: minlaBootloader_v0.02.dfu
Minla firmware v0.20: minla_v0.20_firmware.bin
Minla GUI v0.01: minlaGUI_v0.01.jar

Notes:
- added 640x480 video resolution support
- bug fixes and minor improvements

Android App

"Minla Control" application is now available in Google Play Store.
Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.minlarc.minlacp



1. When first opened - press "ADD NEW" menu item.
2. Fill in "Name" field - it can be any text you want.
3. Fill in "Minla unique ID" - is your Minla receiver id - same as you use when you access web interface.
4. "Web interface URL" can be left default if you didn't modify original Minla web interface html file.
5. Press "Save". You will see your new connection item on next screen. Press it and you will get to Minla web interface in full-screen mode and landscape orientation.

v0.19 firmware

Minla bootloader v0.02: minlaBootloader_v0.02.dfu
Minla firmware v0.19: minla_v0.19_firmware.bin
Minla GUI v0.01: minlaGUI_v0.01.jar

Notes:
v0.19 includes all features of v0.18-experimental plus:
- 4S lipo battery voltage sensing on pin 11
- various bug-fixes and minor improvements

v0.18 firmware (experimental)

Minla bootloader v0.02: minlaBootloader_v0.02.dfu
Minla firmware v0.18: minla_v0.18_firmware.bin
Minla GUI v0.01: minlaGUI_v0.01.jar

This is the major firmware update with a lot of new features introduced.
Notes:
1. Starting from version 0.18 firmware is released in form of ".bin" file.
2. New Minla modules are shipped with bootloader pre-programmed into device flash memory. For old ones - bootloader has to be programmed to flash memory in order to be able to receive new firmware upgrades.
3. Bootloader can be programmed using DfuSe firmware upgrade utility just as regular firmware file prior to v0.18. Once bootloader is programmed - firmware v0.18 and later can be uploaded to device internal memory using Minla GUI app on Windows or Linux PC.
4. Minla GUI was introduced to configure device and firmware upgrade (java version 8 is required to run Minla GUI on Windows and Linux. You can download latest Java here http://www.java.com/en/download/)
5. Minla GUI can be used to configure camera initial state, resolution, image quality, gps source, mobile network settings, server settings and upgrade device firmware.
6. Various minor changes.

Step-by-step procedure to upgrade to v0.18:
1. Disconnect all wires from Minla and disconnect USB modem.
2. Proceed with minla_firmware_upgrade_v0.1_EN.pdf to upload minlaBootloader_v0.02.dfu (link above) to device internal memory.
3. Download and start MinlaGUI_v0.01.jar (link above).
4. Connect Minla to your Windows or Linux pc with mini-usb cable. You may need to install ST drivers for Windows pc if device is not recognized by system. Drivers can be downloaded by this link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3220677/drone/fw_bl/stm32_vcp_v1.3.1.zip
5. Select Minla from drop-down list and press "Connect".
6. In upgrade tab select firmware ".bin" file and press "Upgrade".
7. Once upgrade process is finished Minla can be configured via Minla GUI app.

v0.17 firmware (stable)

Minla firmware v0.17 (stable): minla_v0.17_firmware.dfu

Notes:

• fixed bug in Naza GPS communication code (sometimes Naza GPS data could not be read for a substantial period of time and sometimes it could lead to minla reset to restore GPS communication). 

v0.16 firmware (stable)

Minla firmware v0.16 (stable): minla_v0.16_firmware.dfu

Notes:

• include tested improvements from minla firmware 0.15
• minor bugfixes