function sendCommands(commands) {
    var atSock = sockets['at'];
    var commandBuffer = DRONE.Util.stringToArrayBuffer(commands.join(""));

    // output the commands
    log(commands.join("")+"   "+JSON.stringify(status));

    // send all the commands
    if (!SIMULATE) {
      try {
        chrome.sockets.udp.send(
          atSock.socket,
          commandBuffer,
          DRONE_IP,
          atSock.port,
          function(sendInfo) {
            if (sendInfo.resultCode < 0) {
              shutdown();
            }
          });
      } catch(err) {
        shutdown();
      }
    }
  }
Converts an array of commands to a string and then
an ArrayBuffer to send over the socket to the drone