Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Richard Boyhan on February 13, 2013 at 4:47am

Flip at take off usually means a prop rotation problem or APM position. Recheck prop rotation and APM position. Do you have any logs? Also check your frame type, X or +. If your APM is set for X and you level as +, you get an instant flip.
Richard

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sean Tierney on February 13, 2013 at 6:30am

APM is facing forward, checked prop rotation numerous times, set for X type.  What do you mean by "level"...in the mission planner?  I have done that numerous times as well.  I have read of another way to level the copter with the battery plugged in...hold left yaw for ~20 seconds...is that right?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Richard Boyhan on February 13, 2013 at 12:35pm

Sorry about the 'level' I should have said 'set to'. Basically you need to have your APM and MP set to the same, either + or X. To reset everything, go to the command line type setup and then type erase and reset. You should make a copy of parameters if you want to save them. Then reload the firmware and redo all the configs again.
Good luck,
Richard

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Isaac Chu on February 13, 2013 at 6:23am

I have experienced two cases of flip over during take off even the connections and settings look good. First, the gyro is damaged after crash, if you connect to MP and find the artificial horizon doing weird thing, that could be the problem. Second, it happens today, after flip over, i check everything is normal except the wire to optical flow sensor's ground is disconnected. After I connect it back, the copter fly very well.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sean Tierney on February 13, 2013 at 6:32am

I don't remember the artificial horizon doing weird things but I will certainly have a look to see if that is happening.  I have checked all of the wires..to the point of disconnecting everything and attaching it all again.

I can fly the helicopter but with serious stick manipulation, it just won't take off any more.

Is there a hard reset back to factory that I can do and then try updating all of my software again?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by mark richardson on February 17, 2013 at 3:04pm

is there any repair I can do to the gyro if this is the case? I am having this same problem and on the MP the artificial horizon is doing weird things!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lloyd Breckenridge on February 18, 2013 at 4:18am

Once you have gyro damage there is not a lot you can do except order a new board.

Had it happen a couple of times after crashing.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sean Tierney on February 18, 2013 at 8:46am

If you think you internal gyro/magnetometer is broken I saw external add-on units that you could try. Not sure if there is a performance issue but it might be cheaper than a whole new unt.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Stefan78 on February 19, 2013 at 2:27am

Mark, and all, I have had the same problem but miracously when I reverted back to 2.8.1.. no more problem with strange things happening to the artificial horizon in the MP.

Honestly, I don't trust 2.9.1 fully for reasons I cannot fully explain, part gut feeling. 2.8.1. was very stable and with 2.9.1 I got crashes, lock up of APM with total lack of control (hence crash), strange things happening to artificial horizon. It broke the Optical Flow sensor I had as well.

 

I even went sofar as to buy a new APM 2.5 (already had APM 2.5) because I thought the gyro was broken.

Guess what, the new APM showed the same artificial horizon issues. Even when doing all the calibrations, checking X or +, resetting/erasing etc. etc.

I have gone back to 2.8.1. and she flies a beauty at the moment. Waiting to 3.x I guess before I will update again.

• ▶ Reply

3D RoboticsPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on February 19, 2013 at 9:21am

Stefan: When you're using 2.9.x you need to do the new accel calibration. Were you doing that? It won't fly properly until you do. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by mark richardson on February 19, 2013 at 9:59am

Thanks Stefan! I actually was able to solve it by doing a hard software reset.. I uninstalled MP completely from my computer and uninstalled the APM from the device manager. then reinstalled all of it and uploaded a fresh 2.9.1. I did have to uncheck the external magnometer box as it was checked when I uploaded it. after that it was working pretty great! although I think I noticed some compass drift during flight yesterday but more to come on that!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sean Tierney on February 13, 2013 at 7:52pm

So after testing and re-testing the propeller directions, calibrating the ESC's, leveling, etc. I finally went the route of a hard reset and re-installed the system.  I then went about manually testing and calibrating everything via the CLI.

Long story short...the copter is in the air again and working like a champ.  I also came across a helpful tip to always disarm and level from the remote when I am done flying.

Thank you for all of the help from the awesome community here.

Up next, upgrading to a hex as we can't life enough video/camera gear with a quad.

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page