Model UAV: RD-5 (Codenamed: Knee Biter )
|
+1 this on Google |
 Share this Model using Facebook |
 Follow this Model using RSS |
Current Objectives for this Model
The primary research objectives for this model are :
Model Components
Flight Controller: AeroQuad Mini 1.0 With Arduino Pro Mini
History: RD5 was built from the broken and remaining parts when RD3 crashed and was converted from an OCTO to a QUAD.
RD-5 Rebuild begins
Today I started the rebuild of ankle cutter. First we shortened the arms a bit.
Next we mount the motors in a very different manner than is normal for the Lab, we usually use the 3mm motor shaft add on, but today we mounted the motors inverted, and used the prop saver adapters instead.
I am hoping that this will eliminate a small amount of weight, and at the same time, split the spinning mass and balance it above and below the mount plane, creating a prop plane above the mount plane and a motor plane below the mount plane, I am hoping this will increase stability.
Further, the Rusty Rev 7 derived frames have been breaking arms too often, it is my hope that the prop saver approach will also reduce arm breakage.
RD-5 New Power Distribution Approach
Normally, I build a wiring harness, in the shape of a circle to distribute power, but I saw a crazy idea, that looked like it was just bullet connectors soldered into a group of 4 so I built one, it works great.
And after several hours messing about I found I had a bad ESC,
Next I was going to install an HK FC but soon realized it only works in plus mode so fell back to Aeroquad 1.9 FC,
Then another few hours of messing around to config the AQ 1.9 FC I discovered the problem was a dead Orange RX, out of the package DOA, Arg HK! So moved on with an FrSky Instead. Rest of the day is shot, will try some tuning tomorrow.
RD-5 Enters Flight Testing
RD-5 while an older airframe, I sporting some new approaches (for us) to:
So after its first successful indoor flight test on AQ 2.4.2 on AQ 1.9 Shield I am happy to announce it has moved from development to flight testing :)
RD-5 aka Kneebiter gets AeroQuad Upgrades
With Aeroquad's release of version 3 of thier configuration software and a new version of the FLight Software, It was time that RD-5 got an update.
We began by trying to use the Macbook pro to do this, and found that OS-X Lion, which is the first OS-X to boot into 64 bit mode by default, was unhappy about the 32-bit NI-Visa drivers, so I download the beta 64-bit drivers and tried that. Everything einstalled just fine. I mentioned to the Aeroquad team that these drivers may help future "Lion" Issues.
Next , RD-5 has been running with the AQ 1.9 board. 
And it seemes that the USB drivers for that board were somehow not working right in the Macbook Pro. So I pulled the 1.9 off and put on an AeroQuad Mini.
After hastily putting a few settings into the board, and trying to fly, I managed to brake a few APC SF8x3.8 Props. Then after an elaborate balancing act to move the machine around for the "new for 3.0" accelleromoeter callibration routine, then I began to doubt myself about which way is the front of the board, so took it all apart and put back together with the board facign the wrong way, one hour and 15 minutes later, I was reminded that even a season verteran can make rookie mistakes. Started from scratch and got things responding more or less as expected.
I removed the APC props and put on some junker squarish 8" bulk hobbyking props, if I am going to break props getting the machine to fly, I will use cheap ones. No joy, seemd like the props had no power, so I changed the prop adapters from the o-ring "Prop-saver" type to the frickion fit collet for 3.17 mm adapters and threw on some smallish 7x4x3 Master Airscrew Props.
Now it seemed the issue is still pid tuning. Somehow in had tests I feel that the quad is incverted on the pitch axis. SO I put it away for now. More to come on this.
In the end, after using some pid settigs for my Kinjap frame and th Mini, I got it to behave, but not good enough to fly.
Model Flight Logs
Newest at the top, oldest at the bottom.
Test flight on 4s With 8x3.8 APC props, o-ring mounted. Light winds.
Had a distinct clockwise drift in the yaw, I suspect it is an imbalance on the landing gear. Bigger props will help
Testing the effect of adding additional 4 props same size and pitch and orientation to flight characteristics. Flight time dropped from 8 minutes to 6 minutes but lifts easier and flies more stable in stable mode on default settings, no tuning or balancing.
25cm Motor to motor, In Stable mode, Default settings, no prop balancing, no motor position optimizing, no frame balancing and no PID tuning.
25cm Motor to motor, In Stable mode, Default settings, no prop balancing, no motor position optimizing, no frame balancing and no PID tuning.
We Love Wikipedia
Advertisement:
|
|
 |
|---|
