Integrating SIYI A8 Mini with ArduPilot

ArduCopter
1

Hi,

I need some help integrating the SIYI A8 Mini 4K Gimbal Camera into my ArduPilot-based system. Here’s my setup:

  • Flight controller: Cube Orange running ArduPilot
  • Camera: SIYI A8 Mini (no SIYI remote controller)
  • Companion computer: Raspberry Pi 4 (connected to internet via SIM card only, no LAN)
  • Ground station: Mission Planner

My goal is to fly a survey mission where the aircraft takes one photo every 2 seconds automatically during flight.

My questions:

  • Which ArduPilot version is the most compatible with the SIYI A8 Mini ?

  • How should I physically connect the SIYI A8 Mini to the Cube Orange (which UART port, what wiring)?

  • Which ArduPilot parameters (e.g., SERIALx_PROTOCOL, CAM_TRIGG_TYPE, MNT_TYPE, etc.) should I configure for full functionality (gimbal + image capture)?

  • Can ArduPilot trigger this camera to capture images automatically every 2 seconds during a survey mission?

  • Also, how can I view the camera’s live video feed on the ground? Since my Raspberry Pi has no Ethernet, only SIM-based internet, can I still access the RTSP or UDP stream from the A8 Mini?

Any working setup examples, wiring diagrams, or parameter lists would be incredibly helpful. Thanks a lot in advance!"

2

Hi,

Please find the answers below:

1. Please use the latest ArduPilot firmware compatible with your flight controller.

2–4. For these answers, please refer to the SiyiA8MiniSDK/A8 mini User Manual v1.6.pdf at main · AhlawatAnup/SiyiA8MiniSDK, starting from page 73.

5. Prerequisite – Basic Networking Knowledge:
To stream RTSP video over the internet, you need to route the video stream using a VPN service like ZeroTier or any other open and free solution.
Note: Since your camera’s IP address and the VPN-assigned IPs may differ, make sure to configure the routing accordingly
(Minimum Internet speed need to be around 2Mbps)

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