Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jake Simon on July 23, 2012 at 3:03pm

Andreas,

I would like to try out the geofence on my quad, but I can't figure out how to get the .hex file onto the APM2.

Any suggestions?

-Jake

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Vernon Barry on May 2, 2012 at 10:16am

Seriously though, getting back to the original poster minus all the other opinions, the facts seem pretty clear. The accident was caused by a failure to set proper "failsafe" settings into the radio receiver, and then further, lack of testing with props off to ensure those settings worked with the APM. In other words, follow the failsafe setup instructions from the radio's manual, then test that under live conditions with the props off by removing the transmitter's antennae and doing a range check and/or bring the aircraft up to throttle and then turning the radio off. Every good radio I have ever owned said to do those exact steps (JR, Futaba, Airtronics, and of course Spectrum).

Further mitigation (again, not a fix for the above steps which are REQUIRED), is to use the new fencing code variants and ensure you set them. The biggest concern here is that you the pilot must be in control at all times, and further, have been trained and practice and know what to do in the event of major radio glitch or system failure before you ever bolt on the props and try to fly. There simply is no excuse to blame this on the APM. It's meant for pilot assistance to help with tedious or difficult tasks such as loiter, altitude hold, moving to set waypoints, all with the pilot in constant radio contact and control. In no way was the APM or code ever designed to "save the aircraft" or "prevent a crash". If you think that's what it does or should do, then you need to be looking at a much more expensive redundant system and sensor package that includes some sort of obstacle and collision avoidance-something we haven't even thought about on the current APMs. Without collision avoidance, any of the measures described as safety features such as RTL, RTB, Circle at altitude (loiter), have the potential to actually cause a crash, not prevent it with fixed objects such as buildings, light poles and power lines and maybe even people! If you are not in control, then we must assume the worst.

 

I'll add that further, this is why the brand name radios cost more. It doesn't mean they are fool proof, just that they probably are a better radio since they are often certified by the FCC and also tested by groups such as the AMA. Flying a $600 aircraft with a less than $200 radio system or non-name brand might be expected to exhibit problems like this with untested failsafes, lack of radio interference rejection and a whole host of other issues. Cost is not the most important consideration, but you really do get more for a name brand product.

I cannot stress enough that the builder is responsible for the safe operation of the aircraft. You must test and know what it will do before you put it in the air and put both yourself and others at risk from an out of control machine.

No doubt this sucks to have crashed and LOST the aircraft, but at the same time, for other new flyers, this is important info to take away.

• ▶ Reply

DeveloperPermalink Reply by Andreas M. Antonopoulos on May 5, 2012 at 12:38pm

Both of those pages need to be updated. I could use some help, if anyone wants to help writing some content for those pages, to get it done sooner.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Andreas on May 7, 2012 at 9:12am

I have not seen a stock 9x do failsafe. The PPC/PCM manual entry might be  a red herring. But maybe I'm wrong...

http://diydrones.com/forum/topics/turnigy-9x-ppm-and-failsafe

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Andreas on May 7, 2012 at 9:08am

As far as I know the only way to get failsafe to work with the Turnigy 9x is to use the FrSky module and receiver (or similar?).

I put a plane into the bay because the 9x lost connection. Now I'm setup with the FrSky and the plane will RTL on signal loss (just programmed the receiver output to set RTL mode and 50% throttle on signal loss). Also the radio seems to be less glitchy with FrSky. Worth the investment.

With the Aurdocopter it's a bit more tricky. I can't always trust that RTL would actually do the right thing. Still in the midst of tuning things that loiter would actually be reliable instead of just flying off to a unknown destination. Maybe 25%-30% throttle would be the best setting for now. -> Fall down but not as fast as gravity would dictate.. but it would start to mow the lawn after impact...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Zen on May 17, 2012 at 8:12am

I know this thread has finally died down, but I wanted to post a relevant thread for anyone who may find this one in the future.  It would appear as though the Turnigy 9x was NOT to blame and that the fly-away was directly caused by the APM.

http://diydrones.com/forum/topics/help-with-new-first-tx-rx-purchas...

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• Next ›
• Page