Discussion New Quadrocopter and Tricopter UAVP updated with GPS and more - UAVX!

[gke]

This thread is dedicated to UAVX a new version of UAVP quadrocopter and tricopter control software. UAVX includes numerous improvements to hover stability and the long awaited GPS navigation features.

Safety

We all know this but read it please anyway.

It is very important that you follow the normal safety procedures for electrically powered aircraft with propellor(s).

* You MUST check that the radio control link is functioning correctly before you apply power to the motor(s).

* You MUST conduct a radio range check before every flight.

* The aircraft MUST be restrained when power is applied and you MUST be clear of the propellor(s) at all times.

This applies to ALL electrically powered aircraft not just quadrocopters.

If your Tx is OFF or the aircraft is out of radio range PPM receivers can, and do, receive radio noise which they interpret as valid signals including throttle commands. PCM receivers with incorrectly set failsafes can also apply full throttle or maintain current throttle which may not be zero if the transmitter signal is lost.

Assumptions

It is assumed you:

* Are trained in aircraft SAFETY by a qualified FAI affiliated trainer.

* You have read and understood the UAVP manual as it applies to safety and setting up a UAVP quadrocopter.

* Are familiar with the use of UAVPSet to setup parameters for UAVP, UAVX's predecessor.

* You have previously flown your quadrocopter/tricopter using UAVP flight software.

Threads

Discussion on this thread should focus initially on the tuning and further improvement of the UAVX software.

The originating thread from which this thread is derived is:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=811550

You SHOULD refer to that thread for information on the hardware aspects of the quadrocopter and the software development preceding UAVX.

Downloads and general information on UAVX and the unofficial versions of UAVP are at:

http://code.google.com/p/uavp-mods/

The hardware requirements for the new station holding and return to home features are described at:

http://code.google.com/p/uavp-mods/wiki/GpsNavigation

UAVX requires an 18F2620 PIC processor and will initially run at 16MHz with a later upgrade to 40MHz. The 18F2620 with bootloader and UAVX is available from QuadroUFO:

http://www.quadroufo.com

Startup Documentation

The startup process for UAVX is described at:

http://code.google.com/p/uavp-mods/wiki/UAVXStartup

Please take careful note and understand the contents of this document particularly as it applies to safety and the relevant assumptions

Beta Test

We are currently in a Beta Test Phase so there will be changes so monitor the Download Repository for updates which we will try to keep to no more than once a week .

UAVX was first released for Beta testing 15th August 2009 Australian EST.

This post (UAVX) and the second post (UAVPSet ) will be updated periodically.

Greg

Acknowledgment & Disclaimer: We wish to acknowledge the pioneering work of Dr Wolfgang Mahringer the author of the original UAVP software. The work described on this thread however is not endorsed by nor is it part of the official UAVP project.

[jesolins]

......

[41south]

Congratulations to the both of you on getting this done, excellent work!

While I have all the hardware just about in place to support the UAVX I won't volunteer as a beta tester (officially anyway ). I have the crash requirements sorted - just not enough successful flights

[13brv3]

Trying so hard to resist... too many projects already... but as the Borg say, resistance is futile. Go ahead and sign me up if I'm qualified

Cheers,
Rusty

[kb6mcc]

Most of the time I crashed my quad without a test.
I hope this time going to test the UAVPx without a crash.. I don't have the GPS module yet but please count me in..

[foliage]

Great, I better get the GPS soon, count me in.
Anyone willing to sell some programmed 18F2620 PIC with initial boot loader.
Jack.

[narpat007]

Hi Greg !

Pl. eleborate more...

"If Channel 7 is below around 20% GPS assistance is effectively disabled"

"There will be a temptation to "help" the GPS using pitch and roll but be aware that if you move either the pitch and roll sticks by more than about 5% then the desired location will be updated."

It is really nice to c that the things are coming out....
Greg & Jim, pl. accept my humble gratitude to both of you. Extreme efforts done by Greg.

regards

narpat

[jesolins]

Greg,
To take full advantage of the UAVX and GPS functionality, you need a minimum of a 7 channel TX, so you meet that requirement.
I will attach a photo of a mode 1 TX and the switch functionality for UAVX. The stick comands are of course used in the unarmed mode only.
*Reposted from UAVP thread.
Cheers,
Jim

Originally Posted by Greg swiss

Dear all
I've two questions about the uavp-uavx transfer.
1) The DPST, do you us a mechanical or an electrical switch? Mechanical
I guess a mechanical will do it, right?
2) The uavx-functionality compared to uavp See attached photo
I use an 8-channel ACT and 8-channel graupner
Configuration and use one extra channel for camera-nick.
and one extra channel for triggering the camera.
Channel 5 (parameter change is connected but don't use)
What changes do i have to perform on that end.
In other word can i leave the configuration as it is and the new
Functionality can be used by using the "old" hardware?
.... I think some scheme and pictures would help at the end, in terms
Of mods... I think in a couple of day i i get the PIC stuff and the BMP85
So my question will be how to connect the bmp85 and how to put the
Starting software to the PIC18F2620... See our UAVX Goggle code WIKI: http://code.google.com/p/uavp-mods/w/list
I'm really excited and having the parts and a good start, I can bring in also
my experiences. At the moment I'm installing video transmission to see what my camera sees!
Best and thanks, greg swiss

[gke]

UAVX and UAVPSet 3.0 will be posted after I have my morning coffee and Jim finishes his evening meal.

We strongly advise only the brave and experienced try UAVX first and for the wise to learn from the posts .

We expect it will be bedlam initially with many questions so bear with any delays.

We will be dealing with the most clearly described problems first so please try to be coherent even if you are crying and weeping at the time.

All posts to THIS thread please.

Greg & Jim

[jesolins]

All,
Congratulations and Thanks! to Greg on all the fantastic work he has done rewriting the firmware and getting GPS on the UAVP! There were 606 revisions to the code to get here today
The UAVX and UAVPset v3.0 are now posted in the Google Code Download area: http://code.google.com/p/uavp-mods/d...&ts=1250295190
Minimum requirements are posted in the WIKI: http://code.google.com/p/uavp-mods/w/list
Cheers,
Jim

[narpat007]

Hi Greg !
Hi Jim !

It is really impossible for me to express the feeling of my happiness at that moment when I wake in the morning and it was India's 62nd Independance Day ON 15th Aug 2009 and when I open up my Laptop and found the "UAVX beta release v1.606"

Hats off to both of you !! for great efforts by both of you.
Greg & Jim, please accept my humble gratitude !!

Extreme efforts done by Prof. GK Egan, so Greg Hats Off to you once again !

Greg why even in the Beta release, you have mentioned "Experimental" ?

Thanks & Best Regards

narpat

Originally Posted by gke

UAVX and UAVPSet 3.0 will be posted after I have my morning coffee and Jim finishes his evening meal.

We strongly advise only the brave and experienced try UAVX first and for the wise to learn from the posts .

We expect it will be bedlam initially with many questions so bear with any delays.

We will be dealing with the most clearly described problems first so please try to be coherent even if you are crying and weeping at the time.

All posts to THIS thread please.

Greg & Jim

[gke]

Originally Posted by narpat007

Hi Greg !

Pl. eleborate more...

"If Channel 7 is below around 20% GPS assistance is effectively disabled"

"There will be a temptation to "help" the GPS using pitch and roll but be aware that if you move either the pitch and roll sticks by more than about 5% then the desired location will be updated."

It is really nice to c that the things are coming out....
Greg & Jim, pl. accept my humble gratitude to both of you. Extreme efforts done by Greg.

regards

narpat

Narpat,

Channel 7 is used to control the gain or strength of the GPS corrections. Below the 20% level the GPS corrections are disabled. Above 20% the strength of the correction is increased up to a maximum roll/pitch angle of about 20 deg which we have found to be enough in quite strong winds.

If you are hovering the GPS will be maintaining your position. If you see it start to drift away from this position you will try to correct the position by moving the stick rather than waiting for the GPS correction. If you do this then the software will adopt the new position, to which the quadrocopter has drifted, as being the correct position. So if you repeatedly move the sticks then the quadrocopter will continue the drift.

Greg

[narpat007]

Thanks Greg !

regards

narpat

[narpat007]

Hi Greg !

To keep in view the upcoming UAVX, I have recently purchased Futaba 2.4GHz, 10CHP, which has 14Ch. receiver.

But it is not listed in the drop down list of UAVPSet 3.0 (UAVX).
I have even programmed it as 7Ch also.

Pl. suggest.

regards

narpat

[jesolins]

Narpat,
Greg is probably fast asleep in the Down-under by now ...Deservedly so!
We have not used or tested the Futaba 10CHP and the 14ch FASST RX with the UAVX. Here are a few things to try. Choose the Futaba ch3 in the pull-down menu and put the servo connectors on the odd channels. Typically you will have to reduce the end points for channel 5 to about 80% upper and lower. Use the UAVPset tools testfirmware to see how many channels pass and try to adjust the other channel upper and lower end points to about 80% accomplish this. If you get the channels to pass, then go to the graphic icon to fine tune the sliders using your TX EPA adjusts and subtrims. It is likely that you might only be able to get 5 channels without a converter as I believe that the channels are spaced differently. If this is the case and you only get 5 channels, you can still fly UAVX but without the GPS. The GPS requires the 7th channel to adjust sensitivity and influence. *Edit: In emails with Rusty, the 14ch RX has overlapping channels, so the above probably won't work. You can try getting these converters and use the Futaba ch3 and put a check in the RX to Quad = All Channels:
- QuadroPPM sold by the Mikrokopter Shops
- TT-RecEnc sold by another German shop. http://tt-rc.ath.cx/SHOP/ITEM-10 This was reported to work well, and comes mostly assembled.
- Paparazzi PPM board- http://ppzuav.com/osc/catalog/produc...products_id=91 This looks good, but no flying reports yet.
Rusty and OMM already have a solution to get the 7 channels with their converter board and the FASST R617FS RX, but I will let them address that. Here is a link to Rusty's converter: http://www.radrotary.com/OMMrxconver...erterRev2.html Also, I'm sure Rusty will be willing to trade you your 14ch for his R617FS and converter board...or maybe not...
Another option for you is to get a Spektrum module for your Futaba 10CHP and an AR7000 RX You would just use the Futaba 9C and Spektrum pull-down for that option for now.
Cheers,
Jim

Originally Posted by narpat007

Hi Greg !
To keep in view the upcoming UAVX, I have recently purchased Futaba 2.4GHz, 10CHP, which has 14Ch. receiver.
But it is not listed in the drop down list of UAVPSet 3.0 (UAVX).
I have even programmed it as 7Ch also.
Pl. suggest.
regards
narpat