Interview with UNAV's Dave Perry on the PicoPilot

[zlite]

We've just posted a new interview at DIYDrones (http://diydrones.com/) with UNAV's Dave Perry, in which he talks about the history of the PicoPilot, what he thinks of Dean Goedde's thermopile aproach with AttoPilot and the recent 50% price reduction in his 3500 series autopilot (its now $2,500). Check it out here (http://diydrones.com/profiles/blog/show?id=705844%3ABlogPost%3A27173).

[dmgoedde]

...what he thinks of Dean Goedde's thermopile aproach with AttoPilot...

In the interview was written "Unlike the CO-PILOT, the PICOPILOT attitude control is not affected by terrain, weather or surface water."

and also "I know most low cost autopilots use the FMA Co-Pilot for attitude control but anyone that's used it knows it has limitations"

True, raw thermopile is affected by terrain, though less than you think, but more importantly for AttoPilot is that I built sophisticated self-trimming routines that continually and automatically cross-reference pitch via a very special barometer routine and roll via GPS turn rate. I have confirmation from Mr. Tom Harper on recent flighs that a HUGE mountain only 1km North of the flying field has no effect on the bias-corrected pitch and roll, given that thermopile-controlled altitude hold was within +/- 3m of target at all times. Similarly, Atto is performing its own auto-gaining of the thermopile output as well. You just turn on your plane and after GPS lock throw it in the air. There is none of the normal pre-flight calibrations that one normally had to do with FMA's CoPilot unit. The only time you can't use a thermopile is inside a cloud or heavy rain, but how often do people fly in those conditions? Overcast is OK, sunny is OK, night is OK, light rain (drizzle) is OK. Add in that thermopiles don't get affected by engine vibration like MEMS accelerometers do and you have a real competitor. No to mention, thermopiles allow solid control of Deltas, flying wings, planes with no dihedral that are inherently unstable, and we have more than a mere competitor.

Dean

[Connexxion]

@Zlite:

Thanks for posting the link on Rcgroups!

@Dmgoedde:

What you're gonna do regarding the last question?
The Attopilot project is a potential moneytree that needs to be plucked.
But with those export regulations in the US,you'll be severely limited in doing so.

I don't have to tell you many,if not most customers are abroad.

I think I understand why Micropilot is selling their autopilots now also per piece instead of only in bulk (100qty).
They're looking for those who can't buy an autopilot in the US anymore due to the regulations. ;)

Connexxion

[dmgoedde]

@Dmgoedde:

What you're gonna do regarding the last question?
Connexxion
What "last question" are you referring to?

[typicalaimster]

Q: Recent export control regs have made it impossible for you to sell outside the US. What are the prospects for export approval for your autopilots, and in the meantime, what do you suggest that non-US customers buy instead? (Obviously, our suggestion is that they DIY, but that's not right for everyone ;-)

A: I'll leave the interpretation of US export regulations to the lawyers but you can read them for yourself by looking up 9A012 on the EAR or go to our website and click the"US Export regulations" link . I can tell you that we have successfully obtained export licenses for several of our customers in Europe and have shipped PICOPILOTs to them. Your readers should be aware that the export regulations make no distinction between hobby ( DIY ) or commercial UAV components and any air-vehicle with an autopilot is defined as a UAV.
--DIY Drones interview with UNAV

[dmgoedde]

--DIY Drones interview with UNAV

I have to follow the law. Staying out of jail is more important than selling AttoPilots across the ocean. This is painfully obvious to me with newest Atto capabilities, which are world class flight control.

Luckily I live in Phoenix AZ, which is a mecca of aerospace industry, and I am sure I can find the specialized lawyers to set everythng up.

Dean

[Connexxion]

Thanks typicalaimster.

AND Dmgoedde,ofcourse :D

[zik]

Sounds like they regard you as a serious competitor Dean!

[dmgoedde]

Sounds like they regard you as a serious competitor Dean!

:) :) (one smiley face is "too short of a message", so I posted 2)

[MIG-29]

Could ultraviolet band be used for horizon sensing?
I don't know whether the ground and the sky have different signatures in ultraviolet. Maybe the clouds won't be a problem in ultraviolet...? Although shorter wavelength leads me to believe that there would actually be more problems from small droplets of water (fog/clouds).

What do you guys think about this?

MIG-29

[RaptorAP]

How about interviewing Dave Jones with AUAV? His EZI-NAV autopilot is very user friendly and top of the line.

[zlite]

How about interviewing Dave Jones with AUAV? His EZI-NAV autopilot is very user friendly and top of the line.

We're focused on the under-$1,000 range. The EZI-NAV starts at $2,800, as I understand it.

[UAVeez]

Looks like there are some pretty nervous people out there Dean...Good Job!

[dmgoedde]

We're focused on the under-$1,000 range. The EZI-NAV starts at $2,800, as I understand it.
I think the question about EZI-NAV AUAV might also have to do with the fact that their lower cost ($2500 or so?) system uses FMA thermopile sensor (though they have another $3500 (or so) autopilot that uses Kalman IMU.)

The $2500-ish thermopile autopilot version weighs 1 Lb, so not going to work in a 6 foot Telemast very easily. To me this is very topical, because from what I saw in the AUAV system demo videos on their site, Atto (at only 1 ounce) is at least functionally equivalent to EZI-NAV.