Model UAV: RD-8 (Codenamed: Otto )
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Current Objectives for this Model
Get the onlboard sonar working properly
Install a Magnetometer
Install FPV rig
Model Components
Air Frame: Daedalus Kinjal Carbon Fiber Quad
Flight Controller: ArduPilot Mega 2560 with Oilpan H
RD-8 is the new workhorse of the fleet, This model is perfect for fun flying and for UAV/FPV
It is based on the Ardupilot Mega and the Daedalus Kinjal CF Frame. 12 inch motor to motor distance.
Otto Goes into service
On Sunday August 7, 2011 ARDi the primary multirotor in the fleet, was lost in a crash. This meant it was time for another machine to step up and fill the role. RD8 aka Otto, stepped up and on August 11, Otto took its first test flight sporting a GoPro and dual 3s lipos in parallel. The heavy setup on such a small quad, makes for an incredibly stable platform. Otto is currently powered by the Ardu-pilot Mega Flight controller, using Aeroquad 2.4 software. I installed a 3s lipo alarm on only one battery and for this reason, at about 10 minutes it started to fall out of the air towards the roof of the house, when it got lower I opened the throttle to full to slow the decent, and Otto did a 360 roll then hit the roof, breaking 2 props and the 4 nylon mounting legs used to attach the gorpo.
Oilpan damaged
The Oilpan was damaged in the last crash so I am rebuilding and will attempt to use an APM with AC2 loaded.
Rebuild complete RD-08 is in the air
After installing a new APM/Oilpan this time a 2650 with mag, a new FrSky D8R rx since last test flight damaged the last one. After no luck loading AQ 2.5 into it, I decided to give ArduCopter 2 (AC2) a go. It flies but I suspect the mag is not happy or I still have a delicate balance issue. So far though, RD8 running AC2 on beta 39 is the most stable candidate for filming.
RD-08 Test flight and crash
Another test flight of RD-08 with APM and AC2. I disabled the MAG and went for a test flight but it still seems a little touchy. managed to make a video, but it was shakey as hell and I crashed 5 times with the strong wind and challenging test grounds (My back yard with wires and trees an such). Finally stopped when I broke a prop. Still not ready for AP but it flies.
New Firmware promises new life to RD-8
A new firmware released today should give great stability to the arducopter2 platform. I loaded it on tonight and we are test flying tomorrow.
F&^&^ APM! Another damn smokeshow....
Another ArduPilotMega Smokeshow. Damn. Attempting to calibrate the radio on the APM running AC2 and when I clicked reset, Everythng started to smoke, I pulled the usb cable out, and the motors started up, while still smoking. This has happend before, but I erroneously thought they would fix the issue, It is inherent in the APM I guess, new rules, never connect USB and Lipo then move the switch, or, never move the switch while USB and lipo are both connected
RD-8 ready for prime time
After swapping out the APM and starting over, AC2 beta 42 seems to fly nice indoors, tomorrow outdoor testing.
RD-8 gets new props and sonar
First, I soldered in headers for telemetry and sonar:
Then I installed an LV-MaxSonar EZ0 MB1000 sonar sensor:
And finally I installed new Props, they are the Master Airscrew Triblade 8x6
RD-8 Telemetry is working
We now have operational telemetry on RD-8 using the advised components for ArduCopter2. Flight logs and KMZ files attached to flight log see:
flight logs
Otto (RD-8) Gets Sonar Upgrade
SO the old sonar did not work, and so I replaced it with a new Maxbotix 1260MB but, it still does not seem to work right. if it is down low, say 1 meter from the ground, the quad seems to jump up in 30 cm intervals and just keeps going up. I have confirmed that I am using the right pins, GND, +5V and #3 but that did not seem to matter. I also upgraded to beta 74 of AC2 and the problem still persists.
RD-8 Gets field repairs
While flying a camera flight at the farm, I flew through the covered porch deck via the windows, and came out the other side, and rose out of the yard, flying between 2 conifer trees, and when steering clear, clipped an aspen tree, and the quad got tangled in the branches. Damage:
RD-8 The First Adventure.
In October, 2011, we made an epic road trip to visit the Farm where I used to spend my summers as a kid. We took RD8 and RD13 along. This was the first adventure for RD8 and we worked it hard and even crashed it a few times requiring field repairs. Fortunately, Our Cousins Kevin and Tracy had a great garage for repairing UAVs so this was not a big problem.
The highlight of the trip was a small cattle drive with 2 cowboys and 2 cowgirls. What a blast. You can see more pictures here:
RD8 - Otto gets MK Landing gear
I transpanted the landing gear from the now retired ARDi. This means that the gorpo can be mounted right side up and that it will eliminate much of the jello.
This also simplifies takeoff - I will not need to handlauch, nor will I need the takeoff stand I have been using.
Model Flight Logs
Newest at the top, oldest at the bottom.
Testing the flight characteristics with the landing gear. It seemed to need more weight (The gorpo should solve this).
Short flight.
Taking shots of Jens Home
Front:
[Inline:318514_10150331591177032_543332031_8550948_1191422615_n_1.jpg]
Back:
[Inline:297703_10150331614847032_543332031_8551182_1903432129_n.jpg]
More flying around the farm, ending in a serious crash
[inline:preston-house2.jpg]
Flying Around the farm,
[inline:preston-barns.jpg]
Mission part 2: After the cattle were past, we shot them heading down the road, and then being release into the pasture
[inline:cattle2.jpg]
Mission : Film small cattle drive with 2 cowboys, 2 cowgirls, 3 support trucks, est. 150 head of cattle, first flight, caught them arriving.
[inline:cattle1.jpg]
Demo flight of RD8 for the kids, and the family, short, due to wind, etc. video to follow
Degrees Decimal Minutes(DMM)
Lat: 60,26.31402092261979,N
Lon: 114,18.575652064199915,W
Decimal Degrees(DD)
Lat: 60.438567015377
Lon:-114.30959420107
Degrees Minutes Seconds(DMS)
Lat: 60, 26, 18.8,N
Lon: 114, 18, 34.5,W
Google
Lat: 8498034.014
Lon: -12724885.817
Degrees Decimal Minutes(DMM)
Lat: 60,49.86571506077979,N
Lon: 114,27.14917224779981,W
Decimal Degrees(DD)
Lat: 60.831095251013
Lon:-114.45248620413
Degrees Minutes Seconds(DMS)
Lat: 60, 49, 51.9,N
Lon: 114, 27, 9,W
Google
Lat: 8587142.868
Lon: -12740792.482
Winds gusting 25, nearly impossible to fly.
Launch point:
Degrees Decimal Minutes(DMM)
Lat: 60,50.0338749938399,N
Lon: 114,26.802845419200025,W
Decimal Degrees(DD)
Lat: 60.833897916564
Lon:-114.44671409032
Degrees Minutes Seconds(DMS)
Lat: 60, 50, 2,N
Lon: 114, 26, 48.2,W
Google
Lat: 8587783.028
Lon: -12740149.934
Another 4s flight, in gusty winds at 14kmph, the yaw factor seems to have stopped, and the new groundstation is working.
This flight was to test stability and behaviour with a 4s lipo pack, it appeared to be pretty good considering the gusty 14kmph winds.
Fully loaded 3 lipo packs in parallel, gopro mounted and rolling in R5, with telemetry logging
Great flight, still on defaults in beta 42, with new master-screw tri blades. sonar installed but not working.
In the back yard and in front of the house. This flight was better with a nano tech battery seems to respond better to big throttle with this nano pack. Note this flight was interpreted by a hard bounce which shut down the copter and broke the tip off the prop, but was able to reset and fly again with a broken prop, could not even notice, but flight ended with low pack voltage warning from external lipo alarm, not sure what the battery monitor in the APM is supposed to do, I have to read up on it, it was defined in config but nothing happened. This was with no AP/AV/FPV payload.
First outdoor test flight of RD-8 with AC2 beta 42 on APM2860 seemed to repond well but with a light breeze I seem to have to hold the sticks. Also I have a hard time lowering the altitude, seems up or oscillate and fall, I tried to use the nose dive trick but it does not sem to fly like that.
Testing after a complete rebuild and swap of the APM 2560. this one has no mag installed. 100% success
Otto, is built on a Carbon Fiber Daedalus Kinjal Airframe, with an AMP fc running Aeroquad 2.4 firmware
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