New Timer UAV + Picopilot GS

[icebear]

Everyone that has followed my SuperMiss & Miss2 adventures knows that I like small electric UAVs and I am currently looking for a new home for one of my Picopilot -NA autopilots.

I found the New Timer ARF from Cermark which seems very light and it looked like a good candidate for a typical "grab-and-go" system for those simple AP missions with restircted landing space. About 25 oz, 56" wingspan, 338 sq in wing area.

I have testflown the New Timer a few times and it is REALLY stable and nice to fly and it seems pretty efficient too. On an AXI 2212/34 + 3S-2100 pack I think I will have at least 45 min duration if I can keep the AUW down.

Without autopilot and camera the AUW is 27 oz and I plan to keep everything below 35 oz with all gear installed.

At the same time I have also tested the U-Nav Picopilot Groundstation (GS).
It is derived from their 3500 software and provides the possibility to enter WP's into the Picopilot via Google Earth maps that has been created and GPS-tagged on beforehand. This way you can bring the laptop out in the field and enter WP's either via the standard editor or by clicking on the map.
Once you get used to saving GE maps and tagging two corners with the correct Lat/Lon coordinates it is an easy way to enter routes if you don't have a map software like Garmin Mapsorce.

It is also possible to show a flown track if a modem is used to downlink GPS data, but I have yet tested this feature yet.

More reports to follow after I have test flown the NewTimer with the Picopilot!

/Icebear

[Disciple4123]

Glad you are finally getting the New timer together. I guess it should do 15-20 miles or so of travel per duration estimate? Lighthouse last time, maybe an oil platform next :)

[Connexxion]

On an AXI 2212/34...
/Icebear

What happened to the Mega Motor? ;)

[Mark Hanson]

IceBear, did you have any problems installing your PICO-GS ?
Someone said there were a bunch of error messages on it ?

How hard was it to setup your custom map ?

[icebear]

Thanks Disciple! I have been flying the New Timer a lot to test it out - even with a GPS tracker to see cruise speed, climb rates etc. Around 40 kph cruise so it's around 30 km range...

Connexion - you spotted it! I had a MEGA 16/15/6 in there first - LOTS of thrust but I found the AXi to be better for duration...

Mark - the installation went just fine. The custom map was not a problem either. I actually found the manual way of tagging the map the quickest - just note Upper left /lower right corner coordinates and add them in a textflie.

Now I just have to find a nice yellow "pod" to mount the Picopilot in - my fuselage is full of battery, ESC, motor & rx!!!

/Icebear

[Chucky_D_Gr8]

The pod thing sounds like a way cool idea Icebear. Make the UAV system totally (or nearly - battery) 1 piece plug and play. Just mount a camera on the opposite side of the fuselage to balance the craft out. You could design it either like a drop tank config or body contour like the F-15E tanks.

[icebear]

Chucky,

You got it - I want it to be like a removable unit, like Workshop did in one of his setups (Telemaster I think).

I will probably place it (the 'pod') in front of the wing and simple place the cam on the budy under the wing. That wont affect lateral stability much and I have done that in several other setups without problems.

Just looking for a nice plastic cup or something similar that dont weigh too much...

/Icebear

[Chucky_D_Gr8]

Icebear,

You mentioned that you are using a pico-gs.
What is a pico-gs?
Can you provide a link to where I might get more info about this?

-Chucky_D_Gr8

[icebear]

Chucky, I was referring to the Picopilot Ground Station (GS) - check it out at www.u-nav.com

/Icebear

[Mark Hanson]

icebear,
Why do you need a POD for the NewTimer ?

I have a NewTimer and didn't need a POD. I mounted my PICOPILOT-N on top of the gear block (inside), with the sensor toward the tail. I don't use the landing gear to save weight.

PICOPILOT-N is still the smallest autopilot in the world !
1.0" x 2.0" x 0.35 = 0.7 in3

Second place: the US Army is using an autopilot that's 1" x 1" x 1" = 1.0 in3

Third place: The PICOPILOT-NA 1.0" x 2.0" x 0.7" = 1.4 in3

[icebear]

Hi Mark,

OK, I'll check again to see how much space there is - I was surprised to see that my LiPO + ESC + rx toatlly filled up the front compartment so I thought a removable pod could be an option. The GPS has to sit on the fuselage in any case.

I think I'll keep the LG since it saves the prop & camera if I decide to put it lower on the side but I am looking for. What's the AUW of your setup without camera?

/Björn

[small_rcer]

Mark H indicated
"PICOPILOT-N is still the smallest autopilot in the world !
1.0" x 2.0" x 0.35 = 0.7 in3

Second place: the US Army is using an autopilot that's 1" x 1" x 1" = 1.0 in3

Third place: The PICOPILOT-NA 1.0" x 2.0" x 0.7" = 1.4 in3"

With that small size is it really useful? When you add the control functions to come to the PicoPilot-NAT then it is about 3 times the size of the -N version. Add a GPS and you weigh almost 3 ounces. So being the smallest probably does not mean much without having altitude control and throttle control. It also appears that the PicoPilot is only intended for rudder only high wing, stable platforms. Aileron control is iffy, if at all. So except for limited applications with a narrowly defined aircraft type, I would think that something like the papparazzi would possibly be as small as the PicoPilot-NAT but with much more capabilities.

Either way using a POD would strike me as adding a lot of drag versus installing inside. The interior volume of the New Timer would appear to be large enough. Getting access hatches installed and keeping the structure strong enough would add time to build, for sure.

Jim

[Mark Hanson]

PICOPILOT-NA is the most popular configuration, slow planes don't need speed control (ie. PP-NAT).

All PICOPILOTs will fly aileron planes just fine (using ailerons and rudder together). Checkout workshop's many postings about his Senior Telemaster & PICOPILOT-NA.

[Mark Hanson]

icebear,

What size battery are you using in your New Timer ?

[icebear]

Mark,

I am using 3S-2100 "Evolution" LiPO that is a little smaller and lighter than a standard EVO Flightpower 3S2170. It doesnt give the advertised capacity though - but good in these types of applications anyhow. I get 45 mins runtime with an AXI 2212/34 with 9x6 APC prop....

/Icebear

[icebear]

Mark,

The gear block is right underneath the servo tray in my NewTimer. Did you move the servos aft and could you post a picture of your installation?

I just found out the SoarStik wing fits the NewtTmer well - 400+ sq in wing with ailerons...

/Icebear

[Mark Hanson]

...I've got the PICOPILOT-N laying on top of the gear block and I didn't have to move the servos. It's a tight fit !


I'm using the AXI2208/26 motor with a 2500maH 2S maybe that's why I have a little more room.

[Mark Hanson]

picture of PP-N installation in New Timer

[icebear]

Thanks Mark!

That sure is a tight fit and I see you decided not to use any foam to prevent vibration. Interesting also that the unit is placed backwards!
I have the -NA so I will place it behind the servos and open a small hatch in the fuse.
That will enable mee to use a bigger 3S pack also for more duration I hope...

/Icebear

[Mark Hanson]

Mounting the -NA behind the servos should work fine, another benifit would be that the GPS cable would be close to the GPS mounted on top of the wing.

Yes, its a "press fit" in there, that's why I had to take off the shrink wrap.
I agree that one should always use some foam insulation for electronic components, but there was no room in this installation.
The board is mounted with a dab of RTV, maybe that would count as vibration isolation? The AXI motor is very smooth and vib levels on this plane are very low. I always balance the prop so that helps keep vib down too.
Mounting the NAV board backwards is OK since the turn rate sensor is on the same axes as forward facing. Mounting the NAV upside down or on its side would not work. There is no ALT board in this picture because I took it out to save weight. The ALT board used to be stuffed in along side the battery pack since it has no orientation limits.

I'd also recommend using a Graupner "SlowFly" prop, they are thinner than other props and more resistant to breaking. I did a endurance test one time and found that I got about 10% more flying time with the SlowFly prop compared to a master airscrew.

[AXI Motor Models]

Did you manage to make the New Timer autonomous? The white and red version looks like a good plane.
How does it fly? It looks like the wind would push it around alot with all of that dihedral.
Do the wings come pre-glued with the polyhedral? It would be good to have a flat wing and add ailerons + the FMA co-pilot.

[icebear]

The New Timer comes with the outer part of the wings pre-glued and you only glue the centre section.

I have found it to be a very stable and gentle flyer but I would not recommend it for winds exceeding 6 m/s = 22 kph = 14 mph

The fuselage is very narrow and small so I could only fit a 3S-LIPO, ESC and Rx and there was not much room for an autopilot and GPS...

In this category I prefer the Miss2 which has a larger wing area, bigger fuse and it is only a little heavier.


/Björn