Autopilots

Cloud Cap Technology offers two types of ground stations.
  • The Desktop Ground Station

     is optimized for use in an indoor, lab type environment.

  • The Portable Ground Station (PGS)

     is transportable and well suited for typical flight operation in field environments.

Both Ground Station Kits include a ground station unit and all of the cables and antennas needed to support both laboratory and flight operations of the Piccolo system.

Piccolo UAV Desktop and Portable Groundstations
Piccolo Ground Station for Unmanned Systems

Piccolo Groundstation Overview

Piccolo Ground Stations are based upon the same hardware that makes up the airborne component of the system. The ground station is responsible for managing the wireless link to one or more Piccolo avionics, sampling the manual pilot console, supplying differential GPS corrections to the avionics, and serving as a bridge to the operator interface.

The Portable Ground Station Kit includes the following items:

Piccolo Portable UAV Ground Station Kit
Portable Ground Station Kit with 900 MHZ radio option shown. More radio options available.
AC Power Cord Piccolo GPS Antenna Sermos to Alligator Clip Cable 9-Pin Serial Cable PGS External Pilot Console Harness Portable GS Accessories Bag Portable Ground Station 900 MHz Ground Station Antenna Piccolo Interface Power Adapter Cable PGS Aux DC Cable Sermos to Cigarette Lighter Cable

For a complete list of Cloud Cap Technology Products and part numbers see the Cloud Cap Technology Product List.

The Desktop Ground Station Kit includes the following items:

Piccolo Desktop UAV Ground Station Kit Desktop Ground Station Desktop Power Supply AC Power Cord Ground Station GPS Antenna Pilot Console Cable 9-Pin Serial Cable 900 MHz Ground Station Antenna Desktop Ground Station Kit with 900 MHZ radio option shown. More radio options available.

For a complete list of Cloud Cap Technology Products and part numbers see the Cloud Cap Technology Product List.

Piccolo II / SL

Desktop Kit Portable Kit
900 MHz
Unlicensed ISM
900-90002-00 900-90015-00
900 MHz
Australian ISM
900-90002-03 900-90015-03
2.4 GHz
Unlicensed ISM
900-90002-02 900-90015-01
310-390 MHz
Discrete
N/A 900-90015-02
1350-1390 MHz Discrete N/A 900-90015-05


Download the DD1494 forms for Cloud Cap Technology’s radio spectrum-dependent equipment.

  • User and Integration Guides coincide with the latest Piccolo Software release. Previous versions are available from the User and Integration Guides page.

  • Complete Product List – A complete list of integration, peripherals, and accessory items designed to optimize CCT products and systems.
  • Product Export Fact Sheet – A brief description of the regulatory processes required for Cloud Cap Technology to export its products.

  • Piccolo System History - A short developmental history of the Piccolo Autopilot.
  • Steps to Autonomous Flight – Outlines the steps involved in configuring, installing and operating the Piccolo autopilot system. It is very important to read this document first because it provides a guide through other system documentation required to properly set up and integrate the Piccolo system.
  • Piccolo Setup Guide – An overview of the Piccolo autopilot system components. Provides initial setup information for the hardware and software simulation environments to guide users to a functioning laboratory environment.
  • Piccolo Software-in-Loop Setup Guide – A comprehensive step by step guide to set up the Software-in-Loop (SIL) simulation environment.
  • SIL and HIL Checklists – A quick reference checklist for the Software-in-the-Loop and Hardware-in-the-Loop simulations.
  • Piccolo User’s Guide (v2.1.2) – Provides a basic description, interface guidelines, and setup information for the Piccolo autopilot system using version 2.1.2 software.
  • Piccolo User’s Guide Helicopter Supplement – Provides controller information and swashplate configurations for the Piccolo autopilot system used in helicopter and other rotary wing unmanned vehicle applications.
  • Moving Net Recovery – Information for setting up the Avionics and ground station for Moving Net Recovery.
  • Piccolo Simulator – A detailed user’s guide to the Simulator environment and software. Includes guidance on modeling and simulating customer aircraft which is a key element in the steps to autonomous flight.
  • Piccolo External Interface – Interface definitions and pin-outs for the Piccolo Plus, Piccolo II, Piccolo SL and Piccolo LT.
  • Piccolo Dev Interface – A quick introduction guide to the Piccolo Dev Interface application that provides tools useful for system data analysis.
  • Radio Communications Troubleshooting – Covers basic testing procedures, information, and tools to help diagnose Piccolo radio communication problems.
  • CCT Systems Software Update Guide – Covers how to update Cloud Cap Technology products with the latest software and firmware.
  • Creating Custom Map Overlays – Details the process of locating an image on the map for use as an overlay in PCC or ViewPoint.
  • Antenna Plugin User’s Guide – Covers how to setup and use the Antenna Plugin feature for either Piccolo Command Center (PCC) and or ViewPoint for control of a third party positioner.

  • Piccolo Vehicle Integration Guide - Provides technical information for installing the Piccolo autopilot into an airframe.
  • Piccolo Servo Gimbal Integration Guide – How to setup and configure a non-stabilized, servo based gimbal–other than a Cloud Cap Technology gimbal–to the Piccolo autopilot using the pan and tilt servo connections available on the Piccolo autopilot.




  • Latest Piccolo Release – Includes all the Piccolo software applications, installers and related support documentation.
  • Aircraft Modeling Tools – Helps to model aircraft dynamics in the Piccolo System. Useful for developing a simulation model of your aircraft.
  • Flight Gear – A highly accurate software flight simulator that helps to provide visualization of the aircraft altitude.
  • Maps – A collection of various maps layers to use for visualization reference in the Piccolo Command Center and ViewPoint Ground Based Control Software Application.

  • Piccolo Autopilot System - Comparison of specifications for the Piccolo family of autopilots. Includes a list of software feature sets that are available for each autopilot, as well as Piccolo Command Center performance features.
  • Piccolo System - Component Weights – Useful for aircraft integrators, lists Piccolo System components and weights.

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View the product update history