Starting UAV project
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Keith Merrill
Apr 11, 2012, 6:08:31 PM4/11/12
to UAVHel...@googlegroups.com
I am starting a Helicopter UAV project. I have researched some of the hardware.
I am planning on converting my TRex600 to a flybarless system with Spektrum AR7200BX.
I understand I need an IMU or AHRS system.
Software running on my laptop with wireless or bluetooth.
GPS system.
Development board.
Some of the hardare for IMU and AGRS systems are out of stock.
Do any of the group have suggestions for vendors, white papers and hardware to consider?
Kind regards,
Keith Merrill
Robert Dickenson
Apr 12, 2012, 12:26:41 AM4/12/12
to uavhel...@googlegroups.com
G'day Keith,
I have a good friend who collect TRex's. He has a 600 (nitro), 500, and some smaller ones. Just last week he was close to purchasing a flybarless head and the AR7200 gear.
That is one issue, and should give you a very impressive looking and performing heli.
As for starting a UAV project. I to started on one a couple of years back when my friend first acquired his TRex500. It was PIC32 based with an entire suite of sensors, and included WiFi. Unfortunately such a grand undertaking, almost exclusively, led to a lot of learning, but nothing that would ever 'go to air'.
With the MatrixPilot projects release of UDB4, featuring a half decent dsPIC33 processor (as opposed to their earlier pretty archaic dsPIC30 based UDB3, which I was never interested in), I finally decided to jump ship, abandon my own design for now, and join the MatrixPilot *team*.
I am still to mount a device to a helicopter (but it's coming) however in the meantime have choosen the simpler route of using cheap foam airplanes. I would seriously suggest you consider following a similar path as in the early days of UAV development, you can expect more than a few surprises, and with TRex airframes, the cost of these surprises may become significant.
The MatrixPilot software and UDB4 hardware currently offers everything you will need to get a big headstart with a UAV heli, is available now, and should come in around $200-$300 for a complete set of 'bits'.
Best wishes, Robert.
I have a good friend who collect TRex's. He has a 600 (nitro), 500, and some smaller ones. Just last week he was close to purchasing a flybarless head and the AR7200 gear.
That is one issue, and should give you a very impressive looking and performing heli.
As for starting a UAV project. I to started on one a couple of years back when my friend first acquired his TRex500. It was PIC32 based with an entire suite of sensors, and included WiFi. Unfortunately such a grand undertaking, almost exclusively, led to a lot of learning, but nothing that would ever 'go to air'.
With the MatrixPilot projects release of UDB4, featuring a half decent dsPIC33 processor (as opposed to their earlier pretty archaic dsPIC30 based UDB3, which I was never interested in), I finally decided to jump ship, abandon my own design for now, and join the MatrixPilot *team*.
I am still to mount a device to a helicopter (but it's coming) however in the meantime have choosen the simpler route of using cheap foam airplanes. I would seriously suggest you consider following a similar path as in the early days of UAV development, you can expect more than a few surprises, and with TRex airframes, the cost of these surprises may become significant.
The MatrixPilot software and UDB4 hardware currently offers everything you will need to get a big headstart with a UAV heli, is available now, and should come in around $200-$300 for a complete set of 'bits'.
Best wishes, Robert.
KPack
Apr 17, 2012, 12:20:17 PM4/17/12
to UAVHeliBoard
Robert,
I have looked a the optional sensors. What is the list of sensors you
would recommend?
Keith
On Apr 11, 10:26 pm, Robert Dickenson <robert.dicken...@gmail.com>
wrote:
I have looked a the optional sensors. What is the list of sensors you
would recommend?
Keith
On Apr 11, 10:26 pm, Robert Dickenson <robert.dicken...@gmail.com>
wrote:
> G'day Keith,
>
> I have a good friend who collect TRex's. He has a 600 (nitro), 500, and
> some smaller ones. Just last week he was close to purchasing a flybarless
> head and the AR7200 gear.
>
> That is one issue, and should give you a very impressive looking and
> performing heli.
>
> As for starting a UAV project. I to started on one a couple of years back
> when my friend first acquired his TRex500. It was PIC32 based with an
> entire suite of sensors, and included WiFi. Unfortunately such a grand
> undertaking, almost exclusively, led to a lot of learning, but nothing that
> would ever 'go to air'.
>
> With the MatrixPilot projects release of UDB4, featuring a half decent
> dsPIC33 processor (as opposed to their earlier pretty archaic dsPIC30 based
> UDB3, which I was never interested in), I finally decided to jump ship,
> abandon my own design for now, and join the MatrixPilot *team*.
>
> I am still to mount a device to a helicopter (but it's coming) however in
> the meantime have choosen the simpler route of using cheap foam airplanes.
> I would seriously suggest you consider following a similar path as in the
> early days of UAV development, you can expect more than a few surprises,
> and with TRex airframes, the cost of these surprises may become significant.
>
> The MatrixPilot software and UDB4 hardware currently offers everything you
> will need to get a big headstart with a UAV heli, is available now, and
> should come in around $200-$300 for a complete set of 'bits'.
>
> Best wishes, Robert.
>
>
> I have a good friend who collect TRex's. He has a 600 (nitro), 500, and
> some smaller ones. Just last week he was close to purchasing a flybarless
> head and the AR7200 gear.
>
> That is one issue, and should give you a very impressive looking and
> performing heli.
>
> As for starting a UAV project. I to started on one a couple of years back
> when my friend first acquired his TRex500. It was PIC32 based with an
> entire suite of sensors, and included WiFi. Unfortunately such a grand
> undertaking, almost exclusively, led to a lot of learning, but nothing that
> would ever 'go to air'.
>
> With the MatrixPilot projects release of UDB4, featuring a half decent
> dsPIC33 processor (as opposed to their earlier pretty archaic dsPIC30 based
> UDB3, which I was never interested in), I finally decided to jump ship,
> abandon my own design for now, and join the MatrixPilot *team*.
>
> I am still to mount a device to a helicopter (but it's coming) however in
> the meantime have choosen the simpler route of using cheap foam airplanes.
> I would seriously suggest you consider following a similar path as in the
> early days of UAV development, you can expect more than a few surprises,
> and with TRex airframes, the cost of these surprises may become significant.
>
> The MatrixPilot software and UDB4 hardware currently offers everything you
> will need to get a big headstart with a UAV heli, is available now, and
> should come in around $200-$300 for a complete set of 'bits'.
>
> Best wishes, Robert.
>
KPack
Apr 17, 2012, 12:28:12 PM4/17/12
to UAVHeliBoard
Robert,
What are your thoughts on the ArduPilot mega APM 2.0?
Keith
What are your thoughts on the ArduPilot mega APM 2.0?
Keith
Robert Dickenson
Apr 18, 2012, 7:39:50 AM4/18/12
to uavhel...@googlegroups.com
Hi Keith,
From what little I have looked at it, it looks like a great (and very successful) project.
That said, I don't have one, don't follow its development, and really don't have the time to share with it. As far as I can say, it's yet another option for anybody who's interested in amateur UAV's.
My main reason for being a part of the MatrixPilot team, is what I see as it's leading edge design philosophy. IIRC the Ardopilot project uses what I would consider a dated and hence obsolete microprocessor.
Cheers, Robert.
From what little I have looked at it, it looks like a great (and very successful) project.
That said, I don't have one, don't follow its development, and really don't have the time to share with it. As far as I can say, it's yet another option for anybody who's interested in amateur UAV's.
My main reason for being a part of the MatrixPilot team, is what I see as it's leading edge design philosophy. IIRC the Ardopilot project uses what I would consider a dated and hence obsolete microprocessor.
Cheers, Robert.
Robert Dickenson
Apr 18, 2012, 7:50:31 AM4/18/12
to uavhel...@googlegroups.com
Sensor options really depends upon what you are aiming to achieve. The current UDB4 has all the sensors required on the mainboard. The only optional supported sensor is a magnetometer (HMC5883L, I recommend the sparkfun unit). I am soon to commit support for a barometer (BMP085), for better than GPS altitude reference. Once again the breakout board from sparkfun is my recommend unit.
The way I see it, the future of the UDB/MatrixPilot-project, as far as heli's is concerned, is being able to do away with both the 'mandatory' tail gyro, and for those interested in flybarless heads, any stabilisation system that need to go with such.
Also, so far as heli's are concerned, my future wish list of supported sensors is an ultrasonic range finder. LV-MaxSonar-EZ0 High Performance Ultrasonic Range Finder, or whatever the 'narrow beam' version is. This would prove useful for near ground takeoff/landing coordination, but support for such seems to be quite someway off (unless you'd like to champion the cause).
Best wishes, Robert.
The way I see it, the future of the UDB/MatrixPilot-project, as far as heli's is concerned, is being able to do away with both the 'mandatory' tail gyro, and for those interested in flybarless heads, any stabilisation system that need to go with such.
Also, so far as heli's are concerned, my future wish list of supported sensors is an ultrasonic range finder. LV-MaxSonar-EZ0 High Performance Ultrasonic Range Finder, or whatever the 'narrow beam' version is. This would prove useful for near ground takeoff/landing coordination, but support for such seems to be quite someway off (unless you'd like to champion the cause).
Best wishes, Robert.
Keith Merrill
Apr 18, 2012, 10:17:31 AM4/18/12
to uavhel...@googlegroups.com
Robert,
Thanks for the reply. You have been more than helpful.
I have just ordered the UDB4.
I would be interested in working on developing for the ultrasonic range finder. I first will need to see how long it takes me to get the UDB4 up and connected to FlightGear software.
Keith
From: Robert Dickenson <robert.d...@gmail.com>
To: uavhel...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2012 5:50 AM
Subject: Re: Starting UAV project
Robert Dickenson
Apr 18, 2012, 8:47:25 PM4/18/12
to uavhel...@googlegroups.com
Hi Keith,
Well done, I believe you will very much enjoy the merits of the UDB4.
For memory, the rangefinders support multiple interface options; serial, PWM, and analog. I suspect that PWM would be the best match for interfacing with the UDB, but further investigation is for another day.
BTW, MatrixPilot already supports XPlane. Unfortunately XPlane is not open source as is FlightGear, but the free version does provide full functionality for 20 minutes per session (again, if my memory serves me). If you require more, it's not that expensive to license.
Best wishes, Robert.
Well done, I believe you will very much enjoy the merits of the UDB4.
For memory, the rangefinders support multiple interface options; serial, PWM, and analog. I suspect that PWM would be the best match for interfacing with the UDB, but further investigation is for another day.
BTW, MatrixPilot already supports XPlane. Unfortunately XPlane is not open source as is FlightGear, but the free version does provide full functionality for 20 minutes per session (again, if my memory serves me). If you require more, it's not that expensive to license.
Best wishes, Robert.
Keith Merrill
Apr 27, 2012, 10:44:52 AM4/27/12
to uavhel...@googlegroups.com
Robert,
I just received my UDB4 board. I powered the board on and all the self tests ran.
My next step will be to get the PIC Kit3 connected and working with the IDE.
I have a foam airplane I would like to try the stabilization on.
Check my steps
1. Download Matrix Pilot to UDB4 board.
2. Connect receiver Aileron, Elevator and Rudder to UDB4 Inputs (which ones I will have to study).
3. Connect the Aileron, Elevator and Rudder servos to UDB4 outputs 1,2,3
4. Receiver Aux1 to UDB4 input for switching from manual to auto stabilization mode.
5.
Throttle will always be controlled manually.
Understand Matrix Pilot settings to fly in stabilization mode?
Test Fly.
Keith
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2012 6:47 PM
Robert Dickenson
Apr 27, 2012, 11:04:10 AM4/27/12
to uavhel...@googlegroups.com
Hi Keith,
I may be going offline for a while...
It sounds like you are on the right track. You will find most of your setup needs briefly described in the MatrixPilot options.h file.
If you are not already on there, I recommend joining the uavdevboard group. Some of the members there are highly proficient at helping with airframe setup and testing. You may even find all you need in the recent group archives.
Kind regards, Robert.
I may be going offline for a while...
It sounds like you are on the right track. You will find most of your setup needs briefly described in the MatrixPilot options.h file.
If you are not already on there, I recommend joining the uavdevboard group. Some of the members there are highly proficient at helping with airframe setup and testing. You may even find all you need in the recent group archives.
Kind regards, Robert.
Keith Merrill
Apr 27, 2012, 12:09:45 PM4/27/12
to uavhel...@googlegroups.com
Robert,
Thanks for your help.
I will post future questions on the uavdevboard group.
Kind regards,
Keith
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2012 9:04
AM
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