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View Full Version : Discussion My plans for Helicopter UAV using 2.4ghz


Razor_Racer
Sep 06, 2008, 03:13 PM
After getting really interested in RC uavs, I found a common problem in the controllers - it requires the PPM stream from the reciever. That is close to impossible on 2.4ghz recievers, OMM made a converter board for the 6 channel FASST reciever but that's it. So after doing some research and asking on some robotic forums, I found the controller that would be perfect... the Axon (www.societyofrobots.com/axon) from The Society of Robots.

http://www.societyofrobots.com/axon/images/axon3D.jpg

It is an open source microcontroller with 55 i/o pins, so I will have enough pins for sensors and servos. Also I can individually connect each of the signal pins on the reciever for each channel, and plug each of them into the input pins on the Axon, and interpret the signals from there! No ppm stream needed :D

When I purchase the Axon I will start out with programming 120 degree CCPM, and get a 3-axis accellerometer. Then I will slowly add more sensors to eventually get to a hands-off hover without using GPS (instead use IR senors, rangefinders, stuff like that). Then it will be the hard part of getting GPS and waypoints to work with it, but that will be way in the future. Still that is my biggest concern because I am unsure what program to use for the GPS and waypoint things, because I also want to be able to change the waypoints while in flight, which means some kind of transmitter and reciever between the ground station and the heli itself. But anyways that is the way I will try to make a UAV based on the Axon microcontroller :D

phil007
Sep 09, 2008, 02:13 PM
Very interesting!

Razor_Racer
Oct 12, 2008, 07:45 PM
Alright, I've got the Axon a month ago and I've been messing around with learning to program it. The Axon is an AVR based board, uses C langage, which is conveniently just like Java which I am used to. Inputting the data from the receiver is surprisingly easy, I just have to connect the signal pins on the receiver to the input pins on the Axon, and use timers to read the data. I also received a Sharp IR rangefinder which I can use in autonomous landings, and have ordred a 3-axis accelerometer from Dimension Engineering.

The Touch
Oct 12, 2008, 09:23 PM
Keep us posted on how you go with the rangefinder. I was looking at these but then I read they essentially don't work outdoors :(

aschuck
Oct 13, 2008, 11:38 AM
I’m very interested in your project.
Please keep us posted.

Alex