Basic UAV Question

[hamza_b]

Hi everyone,

I couldnt stop myself from posting this new thread..as there is no sticky in this forum about basic UAV stuff.

I am so far an RC Aircraft guy with some experience on the main stuff. Regarding UAVs here are some of the common questions:

1) When u talk about UAV...you say long range as compared to the usual RC TX/RX..how do you enhance the range?

2) How do you figure out the position(Height,Horizon) of the aircraft when you cant even see it?

3) Everyone seems to be talking about GPS module..what exactly is it..and why the need for source code and stuff for it?

Hope this gets answered soon. Thanks in advance.

Cheers!

[rjet]

Yes, someone should write a tutorial on getting started in building or flying UAV's, but I think it is a relatively small group of people who are doing it right now.

1) Longer range radios do exist, but if you cannot see the plane then you have to rely on a radio (video/telemetry) to tell you where your plane is, and then you may want something like an autopilot to take over the controls, since you cannot see the plane.

2) gps devices connected to a radio (video/telemetry) will send the information about where your plane is back to you.

3) a gps module is smaller, lighter, and sometimes higher performance than a handheld gps that you can buy at your local department store. The reason people talk about source code and specifications on these is they are little more than a computer chip on a board and someone may have to reprogram a computer chip before it will provide an autopilot or telemetry system with the position of the plane.

[hamza_b]

Sorry but need more basic info :)...ive heard you can use the same Futaba JR Hitec TX/RX for a UAV too :) if not then tell me some products?

[rjet]

Yes, JR, Futaba, Hitec can all be used on a UAV, the only thing you need to turn a normal plane into a UAV is add on an autopilot like pico-pilot from u-nav.com which is used in conjunction with an ordinary RC TX/RX. Of course, there are many other features that you may want to add to a UAV like telemetry.

[sesat]

Hamza, UAV to me means the aircraft is autonomous. The aircraft navigates itself based on some user instruction. So we don't worry how far the radio range is; the aircraft is set up to deal with no radio control link with the user.


Ram.

[hamza_b]

KOOL! man..so ur saying just pass instructions to the aircraft and it would bring about changes accordingly KOOL!.....
Can anyone now give me a product list for a basic UAV configuration?.
how about if i have to change a basic aircraft such as
www.hobby-lobby.com/monsun.htm to an autonomous UAV :p this be FUN! man.
Looking fwd.

[Arp]

If I were just beginning to learn about autonomous flight...

...I would *strongly* prefer a high-wing airframe -- with generous wing dihedral, so it would be inherently stable on the roll axis.

With sport planes like Graupner Monsun... one would *definitely* need to include an IR horizon detector (or some other technology to control the roll/aileron channel). Otherwise it could prove very touchy (and possibly prone to failure).

I personally use a slow (but very stable) 1.8 meter foam glider, with a pylon-mounted motor. It has no ailerons, and only needs controlling the motor, rudder and elevator.

Only after I manage to adjust *everything else* to behave reliably... will I consider a faster airframe.

[sesat]

Hamza, the Monsun is a one-and-a-half-pound plane. If you overladen it by 10% that gives you a ~2oz payload budget. Not much for microcontrollers + gps + data transeiver, and little things like voltage regulators and voltage-level-shifters add weight real quick.


Ram.

edit: Are you from outside the US? Look out for the Multiplex EasyGlider, talk about a suitable airframe!!!

[hamza_b]

okiee then tell me the stuff you got on board to convert a simple
"1.8 meter foam glider, with a pylon-mounted motor" ?? that needs controlling only
"motor, rudder and elevator"

Id be TRULY! obliged if someone gives a complete configuration product list..

[starcad]

Hamaz, I think you really need to do a little more reading on the subject as most of the questions you are asking are all over the net. Just do a little research and you will find the answers. Most of the people that are configureing a UAV really don't want to tell you what they are doing. Shooo! Can you keep a secret?

[hamza_b]

Ah come on..dont tell me ur secrets..tell me the most common ones already known so that a person can get started! this is pretty rediculous otherwise. OR id assume you guys dont know much urself...hence a minority..to keep things quiet.Definition of a "cult" lol...anyhow..iam counting...some nice complete BASIC configuration be nice...

[Arp]

OR id assume you guys dont know much urself...hence a minority..to keep things quiet.Definition of a "cult"
Calling others "a cult" is *not* an effective way of furthering cooperation. In fact, it turns me personally... plain off the "cooperative" channel. Thank you -- and good bye.

I hope that... should we accidentaly happen to meet in another modeling-related forum... discussion gets a *much* more constructive start.

[starcad]

Ah come on..dont tell me ur secrets..tell me the most common ones already known so that a person can get started! this is pretty rediculous otherwise. OR id assume you guys dont know much urself...hence a minority..to keep things quiet.Definition of a "cult" lol...anyhow..iam counting...some nice complete BASIC configuration be nice...


Look at this thread and It will help explain most of your questions just by following the links provided. This should get you a basic start the rest is mostly trial and error as most of those here will attest.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=376283

It's not as hard as your makeing it out to be just do a little digging here and there and you can discover the "secrets".

[UAVPilot]

Hi
There are very few secrets in the biz about the airplanes and how they work only what they are used for. We use a futaba radio for testing (backup) runing A 15 watt amp to get up to 25 miles and thats only to pull the chute if needed. There are C band ,S band UHF and others . Distance depends on power onboard as far as live feed goes . Ther are UAV mags that u can subscibe to and find were to buy all that stuff including the autopilots. It is all very expensive.

[muc]

UAVPilot,

Could you list some of these mags with #s or websites for them? I'm interested...

Thanks

[sesat]

A quick hint Hamza: Think of how your receiver signals your servos in order to move the control surfaces the way you want them to. Then think of how you want your control surfaces to move in reaction to the state of the plane. Get a microcontroller and automate that.


Ram.

[ElectroLawndart]

muc,

Just Google terms like "UAV", "Unmaned Air Vehicle", "Micro Air Vehicle", and "Aerial Robotics". You'll get so many hits that you can spend a solid year just reading. I like the college websites where I can download the papers describing the aircraft and systems.

Hope this helps
Dart

[UAVPilot]

http://www.auvsi.org