Developer

ArduCopter Heavy X-Octo / X8 Coax - Foto, video and other

Hi all! After some pid tuning, but require further adjustment, today i made the first real flight with my "heavy ArduXOcto", i open this thread for sharing my experience if someone else wants build a similar  "heavy configuration" using ArduPiloltMega 2560, IMU, GPS and Baro, etc.
I have previously tested more expensive systems like Mikrokopter and Wookong, and unfortunately i think there is still much hard work over the code for make this electronic flight like the competition, but considering the price i would say  that goes too well.
I'm still quite satisfied, even though my copter in some aggressive maneuvers tend to wobble a lot, and in the Loiter mode some circles is inevitable because I believe that the management of the accelerometers correction is not optimized or inactive.
Over the baro range i've a good altitude precision, max 20/30 cm of excursion.
This is my hardware configuration:

- APM 2560
- OilPAN IMU
- Mediatek MT3329 GPS V1.6
- XL-MaxSonar MB1200 (with active filter and "thermal mods", 4 x 10 ohm resistor around the case)
- ESC HiModel Pro 30A, in high timing mode
- Two switching BEC 6V 5A (connected to electronics through two diodes 3A, the tension output is 5.33V)
- Motor TigerMotors MT2814 710 kv (mounted with 3° inclination for increase YAV control)
- Props APC 13x6.5 "E" (X8)
- Two-Way telemetry "Mikrokopter Wi232" (890 MHz)
- Six led strip connected to APM (pins AN8<->AN13 through ULN2003), thanks to u4eake for the code
- Homebuilt frame, mixed aluminum / vetronite (by AleBS, thanks dude! :P) + homebuilt hood
- Lipo 4s2p 5000 mhA 40c
- TX Futaba T12FG
- RX Futaba R6008HS

Total weight (with 2 lipo pack): 4.3 Kg...i forgot something or not? :-)

I'm uploading the video on my youtube channel, post them soon, for now I leave you some pictures.
I enclose the parameters used for the flight test in a soft wind, but there's one error, the real "Rate Pitch I" is set to "0".

Best...

Marco



NOW IN "X8 COAX" CONFIGURATION...



 One of the first flight:

New video with "X8" frame and "ArduCopter V2.4"


Views: 11195

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by F5PQL on February 1, 2012 at 12:15pm

Hello,

Very nice achievement, how did you made the landing gear? 

I am very interrested;-)


John


DeveloperPermalink Reply by Marco Robustini on February 1, 2012 at 12:48pm

Hi John, the frame and the landing gear are homemade, black vetronite 1.5 mm cutted with cnc machine.
The project / design is not available for all (at the moment), need some little fix, i'm sorry.

Marco

Permalink Reply by F5PQL on February 1, 2012 at 12:57pm

I just acquire a cnc;-)
I am currently mach3, so very interrested in your code if you want to sharebecause I am very novice ...

john

Permalink Reply by Dusty Starbucks on February 6, 2012 at 12:38am
Marco,
Very nice thread. I bought a jDrones hexa with 880 KV mtrs and 30 amp escs. First remote control outdoor vehicle of any kind for me. I am running a 4S 5000 mah bat and was wondering what voltage does your octa start dropping out of the sky(unloaded)? Mine seems to come down at around 14.2V (unloaded) and I thought it would do better. I am concerned that when I put a camera on it with associated bits and pieces, I will get pretty poor fight times.

I am also running 10X4.5 blades, I suppose for real lifting I should at least go 12". What are your thoughts?

Anyway I have read a lot in the last couple months, since I started thinking "this would be fun", and I really appreciate the time you have put into sharing you experiences.
Permalink Reply by Juan Carlos Hdez on March 10, 2012 at 5:58am

Hi Marco.

Have you modified the code to run on X8-coax configuration?
or is it available in version 2.4?

Permalink Reply by Velociraptor on March 14, 2012 at 7:02pm

Hi Marco,

Since your experience with multirotors I would like to know how the arducopter compares to DJI WK-M?
Are they on the same level? What the goods and bad points of each?

Thanks


DeveloperPermalink Reply by Marco Robustini on March 15, 2012 at 1:19am

Excuse me if I answer only now, but version 2.5 is coming out and we are working diligently!

@Juan Carlos: no mods, X8 is full supported in 2.4 and of course in 2.5.
Follow the wiki for the connection and the right direction of the props.

@Velociraptor: level of reliability that today I would say ArduCopter is proving a very stable system, provided that they comply with the proper parameters of construction and assembly of the quad.
Up to version 2.3 I was not able to be able to say now after many tests and have never had a problem without "blocking" I would say that there is stability.
But you know, a system is reliable until it crashes, a friend a few days ago has disintegrated an octo with Mikrokopter by several thousand dollars.
Until now I always used MK for my video productions, but do not rule henceforth use ArduCopter for this.

@Piero: l'impostazione high del timing dovrebbe stressare meno i motori anche se perdono un pò di coppia, ed avevo letto da qualche parte che era l'impostazione consigliata per i TigerMotors (in effetti questi sono a tutti gli effetti dei TM) ma son felice che hai gli stessi esc e motori, mi auguro di poter scambiare opinioni riguardo a molte cose.
Farò prove anche con timing low e ti so dire.
Che configurazione hai? Octo? Hexa?
Il mio frame nasce da un progetto sviluppato da me e dal carissimo amico Alessandro Parisi (aka "AleBS")...

Bests, Marco

Permalink Reply by Velociraptor on March 15, 2012 at 1:35am

Thanks Marco!

I will stick with WK-M for now, but will keep an eye in the Arducopter. For what I have seen I believe it has the potential to overcome WK-M in nearby future. That would be great as it is open source and quite cheaper. 

Permalink Reply by Ian forbes on April 2, 2012 at 10:58pm

amrco, I am trying to get my x8 up and running using APM 2.  I have wiring correct, but I think I am loading the wrong firmware maybe, I am not getting the right motor spinning when I run the motors test. 

Do I use Ardu coptor V2.5.3 octa X firmware?  I have all my motors setup as per wiki X8 counter rotating diagram, but when I run the motors test, it does not conform to the video in the motors test.

Motors are absolutely wired correctly, I disconnected and listened for esc beeps to test location, and they are correct, what am I doing wrong?  Instead of 1-6 4-7 3-8 2-5 like the video, mine is firing 1-3-8-4-2-6-7-5, I can't find any info on proper firmware setup for this config, any help would be appreciated...


DeveloperPermalink Reply by Marco Robustini on April 3, 2012 at 12:41am

Hi Ian, do you upload the firmware to your APM2 using Arduino or the Planner?

Permalink Reply by Ian forbes on April 3, 2012 at 11:02am

Thought I could and did do it throught the planner, since there are wiki diagrams on APM2? Maybe thats what I am doing wrong?


DeveloperPermalink Reply by Marco Robustini on April 3, 2012 at 11:50am

Yes, is correct, but the X8 firmware is not available in the planner, you must use Arduino!

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