I just pushed Arducopter 2.2 to the Mission planner. This version went through extensive testing by a brave group of flyers and with both HIL and SIL testing.
See this link for more:
http://www.diydrones.com/forum/topics/arducopter-2-1-1-alpha
If you run into any problems please let me know here. If you find a reproducible bug, please add it to the issues list.
tuning tips:
If you run into Loiter issues, try adjusting LOITER_P. It's 2.0 right now which may or may not be to aggressive for your copter. Nav is no longer used in Loiter control, which should make tuning easier.
If you run into a circling issue, try lowering LOITER_I to 0 and see if it goes away. If not, check your compass declination. A negative error will produce CCW rotations, a positive error CW.
If you have issues with alt hold, try lowering your THROTTLE_P, it may be too high for higher thrust copters.
If you have wobbles and can't seem to get rid of them, there is a new term called STAB_D, which is a derivative term used to tune out the wobbles. You can increase it until they stop, but just like driving a cadillac, you loose some performance and handling. In the CLI "tune 16" in setup will let you control this in flight, and "tune" in test menu will let you see the value printed out interactively before flight. See the wiki for more detail.
Many testers gave me a thumbs up on the code, so if you have an issues please post the flash log from the copter. The tLog isn't that much help to me for debugging as it doesn't capture the needed values at high enough rates.
(Remember, if you'd rather pull the code from the repository and load it with Arduino, you must use the "relaxpatch" version of Arduino in our downloads section.)
Update 2.2b2
I believe I found the simple mode error. It was a bug that was working OK until Tridge fixed it so it was declared properly. Then the bug became active. I made the Simple mode function internal variables static and this should fix it hopefully.
I updated alt hold to not use dampener for now until we get more testing. Some folks saw a latency induced oscillation which was pumped up by the D term.
I added the automatic throttle cruise or hold value as a compile time option for testers. This basically looks at your throttle and climb rate while in stabilize or acro and determines your optimal hover value. This means you can enter any autopilot mode and not have to worry about your throttle position. It should make alt hold more reliable if it works. This is off by default until we get good field tests back.
Update pushed to GIT.
Update 2.2b3
Just some refinements. I added JLN's throttle curve mod for landing. Hopefully that's correctly implemented.
Made the landing delay from RTL user settable
removed the ADC gyro filter, I was doing a lot of testing and determined it wasn't worth it.
Enabled the auto-throttle control by default. Please test in the sim
Altitude no longer resets when flying in Loiter mode
Pitch and roll dampening is smoother now. try values up to .08 for very dampened flight.
Mavlink can now trigger auto-land
I'll push a hex when I hear some good news from HIL testers.
Update 2.2b4
Update 2.2b6
OK, 2.2b6 is on GIT. The Mission planner is going to be out of sync until the release code. until then you can use the APM_Config.h or the parameters list in the Mission planner.
STAB_D : This is the gyro accretion dampener. This can remove small wobbles during sharp changes in angle commands. Making this too high can have a negative effect in performance and add a memory effect that can cause temporary loss in control. The in flight tuning is ranged so you are just below that effect.
If you haven't noticed before the control loops are in two stages. The first is a PI stage that converts some sort of position or angle error into a desired rate. These generally do not need to be tuned. They are more of a user preference on how fast you want the copter to perform a motion.
The second stage is the actual PID loop that needs to be tuned for the copter. This converts the desired rate into a motor command of some sort. I added a D term based on Igor's recommendation to the PI's for each rate controller. These should show up soon in the mission planner for the release. I cannot give you a concrete answer for how to tune the D terms, because they each depend on their function such as alt hold or loiter, etc.
Still, the absolute most important term is always the Rate_P term for each loop. Start tuning here.
The default PIDs are in the what flies great for a stock jDrones/3DR Quad with the purple motors in X mode.
Thanks,
Jason
Replies
Yesterday I downloaded 2.2B6 and installed it to the copter.
Using Mission Planner version 1.1.31 I generated a tlog file attatched.
It flew very well. The Auto mode works terrific using the ch 7 waypoint.
During selection of the waypoints you will see it go from alt hold to loiter then ch 7 was flipped.
This occurs at three points. Auto is engaged and it duplicates and lands perfectly and auto disarms.
There was a little overshoot on the second waypoint making it look like a arc.
With a little more tuning it should be able to repeat better.
I will try 2.3 on another date.
Thanks for the team effort :-)
2012-02-02 01-53-23.tlog
The yaw values are the 2.2b6 defaults. The rate yaw of my table are shown as 0 due to a problem of excel that hidden and rounded the real value ( see the attached Excel), that i guess is rate_y = 0.13
Apologize for that
Angel
Well, I've been flying "old" 2.2b2xp1 PIDT1 with the reset_i_term() commented for the last few days to see if it would affect something else, and nothing so far, it's flying great, very stable and I'm just ending my tuning (I've been tuning 1 or 2 params by day because os battery and time limitations, as well as no laptop to take into field). For what Marco said, the only problem is with Acro mode (wich I don't use), that may cause a crash if you comment reset_i_term() (to remove the wobble effect at start up). I still can't understand how that affect, because after 5 seconds, either the copter is in the air or not, the I term stops beeing reseted, but... I'm not an expert about the code. I believe tomorrow I will finish tunning all the parameters (for my frame of course), but so far, the most important this is that it gave me no strage reactions os control losses, it flies great so far and I believe it was the best version so far after 2.2b2 and 2.2b2xp1. I still haven't started testing b6. I know a new release was made also but in order to have a version well tested, well tunned, I need a lot of time, sorry.
ArduCopter 2.3 Final release in the planner:
Hoping that everyone can benefit improvements in this release we announce that version 2.3 Final is available on the planner, and was opened by Chris a dedicated thread.
Let's stop posting here, thanks!
Bests, Marco
Hi All,
has anyone tried 2.2b6 on their tricopter? Does it work at all?
Mine seems to flip at some point when flying in windy conditions (not sure if it's hardware or software related), some logs here from previous crash are here.
Thanks.
Indoor 'loiter'. Nuff said.
.
Indoor 'Loiter' and flourish at the end ;) 2.2b6 'Tuned' from Kamakaze UK on Vimeo.
But i know you love the detail...
Just to be clear this is stabilise mode - no gps lock.
The quad is now auto-levelled. The room is 3.6*3.4m. This was the first time I tried this. For 1 minute 25 seconds, before I go for the 'flyabout', I touched the stick just 4 times, only to push the quad back to the centre of the room. Then after the fly I release the stick and it just sits in the air for another 15 seconds. No optical flow, no sonar, just throttle and an amazing flying machine. I noticed after a few tests that sometimes as the quad approached a table or sofa or a doorway the turbulence would cause it to fight toward the backdraft from the object and so increasing the error. I think in an empty room with closed doors, quad in the centre of the room, the reflected downdrafts under the quad, pushing it away from centre toward the stiller air around it may encourage it to stay 'about centre'.
What amazes me most is that it's so responsive and yet slow and gentle enough to actually watch it react to it's own drafts. And its so smooth and so placid until you try to push it about a bit and then it growls at you like an angry bear, but never loses its cool. Then if you throw it about with the controls it does exactly what you tell it and stays solid as a rock throughout...
Tomorrow I'm moving furniture and possibly installing concave skirting boards.
I'm bathing in the light at the end of the tunnel :D
Oh and for a bit of fun... magnetic trees...
So happy with RTL performance of arducopter i decided to treat myself. Last battery goes in the kk tri for my second attempt at fpv ever... I'm cosy warm in the white van with my goggles on :)
its those magnetic trees again!!
Tricopter vs magnetic trees. from Kamakaze UK on Vimeo.
2.2.b6 pid tune guide: based on Igor´s guides
Igor has done two PID tunning guide: one in this blog post (PIDT1) and the other presented in this discussion by Marco.
I personally prefer the first one (applied to 2.2.b6) since it takes more advantage of the new PID stability code (mainly the D-terms) and for me gives a more solid flight (really close to the very good "ArduCopter_2.2ß2XP2_PIDT1" )
Below is a step-by-step guide base on that. Keep the copter with a hand while tunning. This worked great for me
Hope this help you all
Angel
pd tunning.xls
GOOD NEWS!!! You can (at your own risk) fly 2.2b6 pretty much out of the box on most standardish mulitcopter frames.
BETTER NEWS!!! You can also follow Igors new method (above) to achieve 'that' feel of PIDT1 but now in 2.2b6 :)
My quad now has rate_d 0.012, rate_p 0.140, rate_i 0.05, stab_d 0, stab_p up to 9 again and it feels like it would take a sledge hammer to take it out of the sky, and no oscillations (almost none - little bit of tuning left to do) :D
Only trouble is i have the 5 seconds of initial 'wobbles' back - a minor niggle considering.
This is the best news I've had in my multicopter 'career'
Simply brilliant, Thanks all. Jason - Enjoy your break, have a beer on me :D
Fixed now (I think and hope), ready to fly (without baro, but is irrilevant), I want to try it out, look out the window... snow, and will be for a week... well, good timing! :P
Tuning params for B6 (with PIDT1 implementation):
Excellent guide by Igor to set the best parameters of the stabilization/rate with B6 (soon to be inserted into the Wiki, when the B6 will be made official)... happy tuning!
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You can disable the D and T1 by setting all RATE_XXX_D to zero. That
means you have the same as bevore.
So try to set STAB RATE_XXX_P to a value a little lower than you normally
fly. For example "3.0" if you fly with "4.5". This makes the copter rotate slower to new
attitude setpoints.
Set the RATE_XXX_I to zero. Set the STAB_D to zero.
Use your previous values for RATE_XXX_P and RATE_XXX_I and RATE_XXX_IMAX.
RATE_I_MAX should not be zero, use 20 or somewhat.
RATE_XXX_I should be around 10...40 percent of RATE_XXX_P.
With this settings it should not oscillate!
Start using a RATE_XXX_D of 0.004 (or even smaaler).
Try hovering carefully. Try some attitude changes carefully. If you dont
see any oscillations increase RATE_XXX_D carefully.
( I fly with a RATE_XXX_D of 0.012 )
Repeat increasing until you see some oscillations. Now you know the
value where it gets unstable. Decrease to a safe value.
After tuning the RATE parameters you can increase STAB_XXX_P to get faster reactions. I use a STAB_XXX_P of 9.
I would never try to fly a copter that I had not in my hand, feeling the
stability. I agree you cant hold any copter in your hand and turn it
around to test all controll parameters one after another, but you can
still lift a heavy 5 kg hexa with one hand over your head (or give it to
someone to hold it up with both hands) and try a little bit if it feels
stable or if it overshots or oscillates bevore flying it.
Another method is to build a mounting where you can put the copter that
it can rotate around one axis. Now you can tune without crashing.
In all cases, the copter should do three things right:
1) Change to new attitude setpoints fast and without overshot or
oscillation.
2) Change back to original attitude after disturbance ("hit" the copter
gently)
3) Compensate for a little extra weight on one arm.
Regards, Igo
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Bests, Marco
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