OpenAero32 Alpha 1.2 released

Change log:

1. Added Flying wing + drag rudder mixer
2. Updated to include baseflight revisions to r251
3. Fixed mag hold

Release notes:
Mag hold now works. Don't forget to enter a value for Mag P[] otherwise you will get no rudder deflection.
To try the new drag rudder mixer, type "mixer fw_drag" in the CLI.
Don't forget to do a stick calibration with "cal sticks" too.
Outputs:

1. Throttle 1
2. Throttle 2
3. Left elevon
4. Right elevon
5. Left drag rudder
6. Right drag rudder

What is OpenAero32?
OpenAero firmware has matured the point that it fills the needs of most aeroplane and camera stability applications, but is constrained by the 8-bit hardware of the Atmel range and the complete lack of hardware PWM etc.
OpenAero32 will be completely free from these constraints.

Required software tools
Android and Windows-based GUI by nicodh
Android version: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1667520
Windows version: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1667516

Also a terminal emulator program such as Hercules or Hyperterminal will be required.

Source code is available at http://code.google.com/p/nextcopterplus/ in the 'OpenAero32' directory.

OpenAero32 user guide (preliminary)
http://code.google.com/p/nextcopterp...ro32_UserGuide

Naze32 manual:
http://www.abusemark.com/downloads/naze32_rev1.pdf

READ THIS FIRST:
At a minimum, after loading OpenAero32 you will have to set up the following:
1. Enable CPPM with "...Continue Reading

OpenAero2 thread

I'm porting OpenAero to the N6/i86 board as many will enjoy the smaller form factor. I've made a schematic diagram for the board which you can find below.

Update:
I have successfully ported OpenAero to the HobbyKing i86 / Eagle N6 board.
Video below
Code is available in the repo now here.
Files can be downloaded from the project page here.

OpenAero V1.13 Beta 5 on HobbyKing i86 / Eagle N6 (0 min 40 sec)

Connection diagram - N6 CPPM Aeroplane V1.13


Connection diagram - N6 Aeroplane V1.13


Connection diagram - N6 Flaperon V1.13
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Following on from my big write-up of how to attach an accelerometer board to a Blackboard, here is the very simple guide on how to do it to a KK+ board

Step 1. Connect your ACC board as shown. The signal names are written on the underside of the KK+ board.
Step 2. Remove the two upper-most pot resistors (Pitch and Roll pots)
Step 3. Adjust Vref to 2.4V

The ACC board orientation is the same as in the following blog entry.

As promised, here is a step by step guide to adding a 3rd-party accelerometer board to your KK board. Adding the board to a KK+ board is very easy, so I'm going to start with the Blackboard, which is much more complex.
Warning: This modification is complex and only to be done by experienced hobbyists. You could easily and permanently damage your KK board by incorrectly following this build log.

Step 1: The accelerometer - What to buy
You need an analog accelerometer on a breakout board. I have used both the Freescale 6331 and also the ADXL335 chip successfully. This build log will ssume an ADXL335 board. The board I used was bought from eBay but just about any will do.


Step 2: The accelerometer - Wiring it up
We only use the Gnd, 3V, X and Y outputs of the board. Solder wires to these points and it should look like this...


Step 3: The accelerometer - Mounting the board
Correct orientation of the board is critical. If you use another board you will have to make sure the axis are the same as the photo below.
I have attached the board to the KK with hot glue at as close to 45 degrees as I can. Pin 1 of the ADXL335 must be as shown if imagined from below.
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Introduction
------------
The NeXtcopter open source code for the KK boards was just a starting point for my ultimate goal: bringing the much-requested auto-level feature to KK-level boards.
Doing so was a long journey! Over the last few months I have been working on bringing the most current open-sourced KK software up to date. Along the way a number of great new features, some unique to NeXtcopter Plus, have been added.
These include:
- PID loop control on all axis (PI for auto-level)
- Support for accelerometers and auto-level functions
- Custom MultiWii GUI interface for use with serial adapters or potentially bluetooth
- Simple LCD menu system for on-field adjustments without a laptop
- Low Voltage Alarm support for LEDs or piezo buzzer
- Support for PPM receivers with up to 8 channels

A number of changes have been made to the way the code runs:
- Motor control no longer dictates how much processing time is available
- ESC rate varies depending on the flight mode
- RC inputs were originally compressed into 8 bits but now are processed without loss of resolution

Here is a picture of my hand-made acc board add-on. The final version will use Dan's module and be much neater.


And here is Dan's MEMS module on my copter.


Here is a picture of the GUI showing the gyro and accelerometer outputs being graphed on screen.
...Continue Reading