Replies to This Discussion

3D RoboticsPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on December 21, 2011 at 11:21am

What is the "5.0" software?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tom Petruzzelli on December 21, 2011 at 8:24pm

Sorry - I have ver 2.5 software loaded into arducopter.
When Thecarducopter takes off it always want to take off and go in one pat ocular direction, it will hover in one spot. Any ideas!

• ▶ Reply

3D RoboticsPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on December 21, 2011 at 8:39pm

There is no "2.5" software either. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tom Petruzzelli on December 22, 2011 at 5:48am

Sorry Chris, The exact is Arducopter software ver 2_0_49.zip is the latest I have loaded into the arducopter. As I mentioned, When I advance the throttle in STABILIZE MODE - I cannot simply make the Arducopter hover, as it wants to always go off in a particular direction, always. The Arducopter is configured in the X mode. If I support the Arducopter from a string, I can get it to move in different directions, but from neutral position it will not go straight up and stay in one spot or hover. Is there a Ground Effect problem, a balance problem of some sort of electronics problem?

What are your thought?

Tom

• ▶ Reply

3D RoboticsPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on December 22, 2011 at 8:15am

The latest software is 2.1. Please upgrade to the latest Mission Planner and use it to load the software.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by AndrewF on December 22, 2011 at 8:59am

Tom,  in my experience flying in Stabilize mode with 2.0.49 and 2.0.55, I have found that I always have to add in some constant pitch and roll control input as I lift off in order to maintain a level hover and to avoid drifting off (or tipping over).  This may be due to my quad being slightly unbalanced, but also because while 'leveling' the imu, it can be difficult to make the quad exactly perfectly level, so if there is even a small offset it will mean that some control input is required to keep the quad from drifting.  While the DCM algorithm does a great job, it is not always exactly perfect, so any difference between the estimated attitude and the actual attitude will also result in some drift.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Geir Engebakken on December 22, 2011 at 12:59pm

Also : leveling the copter on the ground will always be slightly imbalanced is my experience. The best is to use the "in-flight" leveling, which can be activated by pushing (on the ground, with no motors running) the yaw stick 20 seconds to the right, and then take of in no wind environment and leveling the copter by stick input.

This can also be activated by CH7 option in Mission Planner in 2.1.0 Good luck!

Just out of curiosity, where did you get "5.0" and then later "2.5" from?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tom Petruzzelli on December 22, 2011 at 3:00pm

Please explain the "in-flight" leveling technique in more detail as I do not understand. How does the Xchan7 option work - please explain in more detail. Sorry I made a mistake my software in use is ver 2_0_5
Thanks Tom

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Geir Engebakken on December 22, 2011 at 6:24pm

The latest sw is 2.1.0, 2.0.5 is veeeery old, if it ever existed.

In flight leveling is explained in the wiki and has also been explained several times in the forum, so you could try a search.

The basics is this .

Keep the copter on the ground. Arm. Keep it in arm for 20 seconds and then the lights begin blinking slowly. Take the copter into hover, and input the sticks needed to keep it stable. The copter will then save leveling information. Do this several times if necessary. You must do this in a windless environment for instance in a gym or garage or something. Keep the copter at a hight of 1m+ to be out of groundeffect turbulence. 

NB! The leveling lasts for about 13 seconds so you have to be rather quick.

You can setup chanel 7 input on APM for this function if you like, but it is better to use this for saving WPs for example as the level function is readily available by the ARM function held for 20 seconds.

• ▶ Reply