Welcome, Pirates of the Air!

[Norbert Machinek]

2010 was a very successful year for the multirotor scene - and 2011 is
promising to even become better!

Now that our Google discussion and news group has hit 60 members, we can
start exchanging ideas and latest news.

*NEWS*

1. Hein finished the Pirates' NG code and I'm just waiting for results from
our test pilots to release it as a zipped Download. I'll inform everyone as
soon as the files are up.
http://code.google.com/p/ardupirates/downloads/list

2. We'll have our own sensor board soon. Thanks to the effort of a very
active group around Jussi (420RcPilot) we already have a working prototype
of a 9DOF IMU with pressure sensor:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1358869

3. The Seeeduino Mega 1.22 turned out to be a cheap and good flight
controller. Jussi is already working on a shield for it.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1369169
We're looking for the integration of other sensors like GPS and Ultrasonic
Rangefinders. If everything works out fine, we'll have full featured
electronics for less than 200$ in a not so distant future.

4. Dani made some great efforts for a Universal Online Configurator that
caters the need for several projects like the ArduPirates' code and
Alexfromparis' project:
http://www.danisaez.com/ardupirates/config/oluapc.php

5. I received several betas of different frames which could make a great
base for a video platform.
As soon as I have everything sorted out (prices, manufacturer etc.) I wiil
announce the "official" Pirates' ships in a few days.

Norf's Hexa: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1361129
He'll be designing a new quad frame also.

Alex (Kaotic Presence) has designed a robust frame for Quads - he'll also be
coming up with a Hexa version:
http://img408.imageshack.us/slideshow/webplayer.php?id=picture20b.png

6. I've set up a platform for guys who want to sell their stuff. Since I
don't have commercial interests I can offer a place where producers and
customers can meet:
http://www.ardupirates.com
I also reserved some TLDs for further activities (*.org, *.net, *.de)

Your ideas and suggestions are always welcome!

Norbert aka kinderkram

[Norf]

Nice one finally you get it worked i see ;)

Regards Norbert aka Norf

[Ken McEwan]

Alles Klar mein Freund

On Mon, Jan 17, 2011 at 8:48 AM, Norf <norbert....@googlemail.com> wrote:

Nice one finally you get it worked i see ;)

Regards Norbert aka Norf

--
Ken McEwan

704-906-7889

[Bastien Carrillo]

Hi Norbert,

 

As the ArduPiratesNG is now in the download section, I think it's time to write a wiki manual, like ArduCopter one, for every noob who want to know how to setup and fly an ArduPirate Ship, and it would also be helpful for all of us.

 

I can work on such a wiki and make propositions, as my PirateShip has broken in a crash (!) and as I'm waiting on a new frame, but I have some questions:

 

- It would be easier to "hack" informations on the ArduCopter wiki, do you think it's possible? Will Chris and others be angry?

- In the future, ArduPiratesNG will be ported to the ArduPilot Mega, if I did understand right. Do you know if the ArduPilot Mega code is slightly similar to our actual code, or the wiki will be completely rewrited?

 

Let me know what do you think about this idea.

 

Regards,

 

Bastien

[Daniel Saez]

Hi Bastien,

on my side I'll be working on the ArdupirateNG OnLione configuration tool, so yiou can add it to the wiki ;-)

Dani

2011/1/18 Bastien Carrillo <bati...@yahoo.fr>

[Norbert Machinek]

Hi Bastien,
thx for your offer! Everyone is welcome to join the documentation team.
We really need more people to chime in on the wiki/documentation to lower
the pressure on the ones who are loaded with work atm.

I don't think anyone from the original Arducopter team will be angry if we
adapt their info.
Problem is: you can't just copy&paste the info. For this you'd need access
on the Arducopter wiki.

But why not just link on the appropriate docus from the Pirates' wiki? This
way we could save a lot of work, especially when the infos change.

The Mega code will be different from the NG - we can leave it up to the
Arducopter team to write a docu - since nobody from the Pirates' team is
involved.

If you send me your Google mail address I can add you to the contributors.

Norbert

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Bastien Carrillo" <bati...@yahoo.fr>
Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2011 3:13 PM
To: <ardup...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: ArduPirates Wiki

[Bastien Carrillo]

Thanks for your answer.

 

I will follow your proposition and just link to the docu on ArduCopter wiki when possible, but I think that some infos are differents between the two codes.

 

I'm already in the contributor list so I can already begin to work on the wiki.

 

I will let you know how it's goin' on .

 

Bastien

---

De : Norbert Machinek <kinde...@googlemail.com>
À : ardup...@googlegroups.com
Envoyé le : Mar 18 janvier 2011, 15h 39min 27s
Objet : Re: ArduPirates Wiki

[Marc Stähli]

Hi Bastien,

I support the idea that you maintain the wiki within code.google.com/p/ardupirates and from the ArduCopter pages they will establish a link. As I have understood Chris' ideas, it is ment to have the NG code here at ArduPirates and the new Mega code at ArduCopter side.

Thank you for helping!!!

Marc aka PhilippMaloney

2011/1/18 Bastien Carrillo <bati...@yahoo.fr>

[Ken McEwan]

This is one part of the documentation that has been missing for a number of these platforms. I've worked with others on documentation for other platforms and it always seems that same information is missing.

I my opinion what's needed is a complete instruction manual that covers everything having to do with loading and configuring the software.

While it would be impossible to create a manual for every configuration, I believe it would be possible to create documentation that would guide new users through the entire setup and testing.

Basically all the instructions start by saying, down load this, then download that, then run this and run that. What's missing is what happens when you download "this & that" Where to download? What should the directory structure look like? When you run "this & That" what should you expect? What happens if you get an error? Trouble shooting guide?

This has been a pet peeve of mine for a long time. I asked for this when I was part of the original development team but unfortunately the tech heads were responsible for writing the docs.

Norbert has come very close with his configurator  which is a big help, but could be improved by adding supporting documentation.

Regards,

Ken

--
Ken McEwan

704-906-7889

[Eric Jean]

What about just a FAQ document ?
If you read the forum, we see all the time the same questions from different people. 
It will be definitively a first step and a big help for all.

Eric Jean
H:+334 7559 7539
M:+336 0890 0143

2011/1/18 Ken McEwan <km2...@gmail.com>

[lim hp]

In addition, I think feature-how to use is important as well. Shall be compile in a chart for easy reference.

I am currently compiling, but..... will see....

Lim

[Norbert Machinek]

Thank you, guys!

I'm really thankful for every helping hand on the documentation since I
can't keep up myself. ;)

Descriptions from a user's point of view are most helpful because once
you're done with a build, you'll forget about all the bits&pieces you
stumbled upon on your way to a working aircraft.
And the more sensors are involved the more complicated it gets even for the
coders to cover everyone's needs.

My build log is looking like a mess and a lot of stuff is "yesterday's snow"
(German say).
Most basics are covered (wikis from ArduCopter, APM+IMU, ArduPirates) but
many parts need to be documented and illustrated more detailed for noobs.

For most basics we could use the Arducopter wiki. A short description of the
matter, a small illustration and a link on the appropriate page will do as a
first step for the Pirates' wiki. No need to re-invent the wheel...

Norbert

--------------------------------------------------
From: "lim hp" <hunphe...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 1:44 AM
To: <ardup...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Re : ArduPirates Wiki

>>>> ------------------------------
>>>> *De :* Norbert Machinek <kinde...@googlemail.com>
>>>> *� :* ardup...@googlegroups.com
>>>> *Envoy� le :* Mar 18 janvier 2011, 15h 39min 27s
>>>> *Objet :* Re: ArduPirates Wiki

>>> *Ken McEwan*
>>> *704-906-7889*
>>> *
>>> *
>>>
>>>
>>
>

[Helicoblast]

Hi guys,

 

Thanks for all your inputs!

 

I'll take Norbert's idea to begin the work, but my first idea was to make a "most-possible-complete" step-by-step manual, as some of you were talking about.

 

I'll let you know when I can show you something, as in the next few days I'll not be able to work.

 

Bastien

2011/1/19 Norbert Machinek <kinde...@googlemail.com>

*À :* ardup...@googlegroups.com
*Envoyé le :* Mar 18 janvier 2011, 15h 39min 27s

--
*Ken McEwan*

*704-906-7889*
*
*

[Helicoblast]

Hi all,

The Kinderkram's Installer and the ArduCopter Quad Updater, which are
both very useful for noobs I think, are actually pointing to
ArduCopter's code.
Would not be better to point to our code?
Let me know what you think about, before I integrate it in the wiki.
Thanks

Bastien

[kinderkram]

Sure we should use the Pirates' code base.
And I promise to work it over. But I'm heavily packed with other work
atm., so it'll take some time.

Norbert

[Helicoblast]

Hi Pirates,

The Wiki is on the way, but still needs some work... ;-)

Could some of you have a look and give feedbacks?
It would be really hepful!

Thanks,

Bastien

> > Bastien- Masquer le texte des messages précédents -
>
> - Afficher le texte des messages précédents -

[Norbert Machinek]

Hi Bastien,

you're doing a great job there! Everyone's doing a great job.

I already leafed through the pages and I liked what I saw there.

I'll have a closer look tomorrow.

Thanks for your work.

Norbert

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Helicoblast" <bati...@yahoo.fr>
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 12:24 AM
To: "ArduPirates" <ardup...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: ArduPirates Wiki

>> > Bastien- Masquer le texte des messages pr�c�dents -
>>
>> - Afficher le texte des messages pr�c�dents -

[lim hp]

Hi Bastien,

In the PID section, I thought there is no Acrobatic Mode in the latest code. Just checking.

Thanks

Lim

[Daniel Saez]

Lim,

Acro mode IS in the NG trunk version, using DIP3 switch....

Dani

2011/1/27 lim hp <hunphe...@gmail.com>

[Daniel Saez]

See system.pde:

  flightOrientation = SW_DIP1;    // DIP1 up (OFF)  = X-mode,         DIP1 down (ON) = + mode

  flightMode = SW_DIP3;           // DIP3 down (ON) = Acrobatic Mode, DIP3 up (OFF)  = Stable Mode.

Dani

2011/1/27 Daniel Saez <gdani...@gmail.com>

[lim hp]

Thanks Dani, I saw in earlier forum that it was removed. No problem then.