which autopilot do you use?

[jochen]

Hello guys,

I´m wondering which autopilot system are you using?
I think the good ones are:

UNAV 3300
Kestrel 2.2
INU

They have all almost the same features.
BUT they are all VERY expensive. About 5000$.
Now my question. Did realy one of you bought this systems?
I don´t think, that the usual hobby pilot can afford it???
Are there any cheaper systems on the market, which are comparable?

Thanks for you help
Jochen

[JettPilot]

Yes, use the FMA copilot for stabilization, and the picopilot for the navigation etc.


This setup works very well and is MUCH cheaper than the stuff you were looking at :p

http://www.u-nav.com/picopilot.htm

[kd7ost]

The Pico Pilot isn't in the same class of device as the other units though. The others are more feature rich and include the ability to comminicate both ways as well as have altitude changes taking place in flight via programming. You can fly over hills, mountain's ridgelines etc and maintain nap of the earth terrain following or just have it fly to a high altitude and loiter while carrying a comm repeater or whatever. The Pico Pilot uses an Altitude lock to keep the platform at a fixed altitude and can't be re-programmed in flight.

For what it's worth Jochen, price is always relative. Mostly it's based on supply and demand but also in design, build, engineering, programming etc.

Guys flying turbine powered planes that are just RC models spend that much. Many other scale planes are that much. Most hobbiests don't spend that much. (At least not in one sitting ;) )

The units you list have different features as well. For example, the UNAV 3300 is touted to be the easiest one to set up of all. You don't have to get in to a bunch of software tweeking. There are setup programs included that allow you to just slide a virtual tab to set gain in a given control surface. But, It's not optimized for planes that are pitch sensitive for example, Aerobatic airplanes, Flying Wings, Deltas, Jets, helicopters or canards.

The Kestrel unit is being used to great success on zagi type flying wing aircraft. But it's not consumer or "average hobbiest" intuitive to set it up. You will need to manage some programming to get it dialed in.

I don't have any knowledge of the INU system.

Good luck. Let us know what you decide.

Dan

[JettPilot]

From reading Jochens post, and I am reading between the lines here ;) I think he is looking for something of reasonable cost, but will still work well. With the pico pilot, you cannot preset altitudes, or program changes, but that saves him 4,200 dollars :D

I could spend 5,000 dollars on a really neat autopilot, but if I did I would be to afraid to send such an expensive setup beyond visual range for the risk of losing it :eek: They also depreciate in value at an alarming rate. That 5,000 dollar autopilot will probably only be worth a couple hunderd bucks several years from now. :(

The Pico Pilot - FMA setup is perfect for the average hobbyist. Less than a thousand dollars and you can send your UAV to fly a route all on its own, and return home :D

I know we all dream of the super neat stuff, but I try to keep it practical also :)

JettPilot

[AntonK]

the paparazzi is always an option as well. Save getting your hands a little dirty.