Hi
I have purchased several ArduPilotMega1.4 and IMU shields (4 of each) cause I tought I can get them working soon as I saw manuals, how-tos, etc. in internet. But I was wrong! I'm expert computer programmer and I have good skills in soldering and some basic electronics. But no luck at all!
a) At first I'm not able to connect ArduPilotMega1.4 via Arduino and upload ArduCopter code to it. Simply I get sync error and programmer not responding errors. I've already read all pages related to that error, did all suggestions, like acetone and RTS reset checkbox etc. No luck at all!
b) I uploaded ArduCopter 2.4.1 firmware via MegaPlanner (latest version). After I uploaded firmware, I was able to connect to ArduPilotMega via MegaPlanner and change it's settings like settings mode to + or x and calibrating radio. Altought I connect to APM after 10 times of try, I see some random irrelevant chars in terminal at startup of terminal while I'm pressing enter 3 times. etc. In a word, I get uploaded firmware and I can connect to it to do changes with a lot of trouble, but let's assume I can do it.
c) I calibrated ESCs with manual mode as explained in AC2_ESC page. Automatic mode wasn't working for me (calibrating all ESCs and motors at once)
d) I have a Futaba 6EX and Futaba617FS receiver. At first When I hold stick down it's max PWM which should be wrong, as far as I know, when you put stick to up it's max power. Anyway, I cannot get any motor running.
When I go to terminal -> setup -> motors
and if I don't disconnect it after motor tests, I can JUST (simply JUST) start 4 motors by putting slider to down and up. If APM powered off, nothing works again! Nothing!
I don't know what to do! I created a power distribution board and I sync all motors with a single LiPo battery.
Also I have another bunch of motors and ESCs which each ESC has it's own LiPo and Motor. All connect to OUT1 OUT2 OUT3 and OUT4
in RC (futaba R617FS) I connected
Channel 1 RC to Input 1
Channel 2 RC to Input 2
Channel 3 RC to Input 3
Channel 4 RC to Input 4
Channel 5 RC to Input 8 (I saw in some page and I also connected Channel 5 to Input 5 also sometimes)
In a word, nothing works! I connect via MegaPlanner and I see random chars in terminal, I can connect via USB after 10 times of try only! I cannot start engines in sync, I cannot control it, I cannot take it off!
Please give me some advice, I purchased 4 APM1.4 and 4 IMU Shield, 8 ESC and 8 Motors, I created aluminum shape for my Quad, but I cannot get it powering/working/taking off with APM.
Please advice, please...
Thanks
Replies
How old are you ?
Right, the following isn't aimed at anyone specific
People, the first test you need to make, is to ensure your APM is working.
I only have APM 1 boards, not so sure what to do with the new boards.
But here goes:
Connect the bare board, with magnetometer and GPS, nothing else connected, to you computer, using the USB cable.
Oh, the GPS won't work under a tin roof, or thick concrete, like a condo at the ground floor.
Upload the firmware for whatever aircraft you intend flying.
USE Mission Planner, it works.
Don't think that your experience in Linux/Pearl/C++/Cobol/Unix, or whatever is going to make you a better uploader than Michael Oborne.
Set the sensors, model, level, declination.
Now, in Mission Planner, under Flight Data, you should have a fully functioning Artificial Horizon.
If you don't, you have done something wrong (like not reading the plethora of setup info), or your board is faulty/badly soldered. ( some people should just buy the complete kit)
Faulty boards are possible, I've seen some, I do repairs for a local hobby shop, but only one up to now.
But I've seen a bunch of badly soldered boards, even one or two destroyed.
Calibrate your ESC's one by one, on the RX.
If all of the above works fine, but the assembled y/quad/hexa/octo doesn't work, you did something wrong.
Most probably wiring.
DO try to find a successful pilot near you, a real eyeball is MUCH better than descriptions of your fault.
The actual assembling and setting up of a drone like this, is MUCH more complicated than buying an ARF plane, and making it fly.
Sorry to come across so harsh, fact is, there are hundreds, if not thousands of these APM powered drones flying.
And sometimes that old geezer wearing tattered and oil stained clothes at the flying field, knows more about everything related to RC and Drones, than you can imagine.
I have read through this thread. From the beginning everything has been working fine. Except I had one bad motor and had to send it in and get a new one. It came into today and I plugged it back in and started up the Mission Planner and checked everything and added the sonar. Now when I plug the battery in the ESCs play there little tones and I wait. Then hold the throttle/yaw stick low and to the right and the green light comes on but the motors don't turn.
My Power Distribution Board, any failure in this?
Thanks
20120317_005240.jpg
Hi all!
Thank you all!
Here is current situation of my QuadCopter. (sorry it was 41MB HQ movie so I uploaded it to 3rd part site)
http://multiupload.biz/tn6i2sjt3zlx/MOV_0016_MultiUpload.biz.mp4
Please check it. I see different power in motors, no balance at all. Any advice about it?
Also I should mention, sometimes when I keep my motor in MAX power for a while like 4 second, suddenly entire motors and APM turns off. Any advice about this one?
Thanks and looking for your valuable comments
ok..i'm getting confused by all the replies. Lets try to bring this back to one thread.
From what I understand:
1. You've uploaded the firmware correctly and have used the mission planner to setup the radio, mag, accel, etc...
2. You have calibrated your ESCs manually.
Assuming that is correct. If you hold rudder to max right (with throttle zero) you should arm the motors and be able to spin them up(aka fly). Can you do this?
If any of that is untrue, please fill me in on EXACTLY where you are. and again, lets keep the replies to this thread so we don't get confused anymore.
My current setup all in one:
a) Uploaded ArduCopter 2.4.1 firmware without any modification in code via Arduino Relax patch with USB mini cable connected to IMU shield which IMU shield is connected to APM 1.4 with 2560 processor.
b) Created a power distro board like this: an amount of solder wire in a part of board for + and an amount of solder wire for -. A switch button for turning on and off the entire quad. I connected + of Lipo 11.1 V 1000mah to + of my solder wires and same for -.
c) Motors 930Kv with an ESC for each connected to ports 1 to 4 of outputs of APM which also powers my APM. All 4 motors/escs connected to APM with each 3 wires, signal, + and -. All 4 motors have connected with 3 wires in row to APM.
d) Futaba R167FS connected to APM from CH1 to CH5 with each 3 wire (signal, + and -) from APM to RC. CH1 of RC to APM input 1 and same until CH5 of RC to Input 5 of APM.
After I loaded code into APM, I also calibrated controller using setup -> radio command
Now when I enter setup -> motors, I just see 2 motors rotating with different length, one (first motor) spins properly as I saw in different videos of people. But second one turns to an speed then when it turns back to slow it stays for 1-2 sec in slow mode and 2 other motors never spins.
I dismissed motors setup part, still no movement with RC controller, even 1 motor.
It's my entire situtation
Thanks for reading
Okay..,now to do your homework and then report back and we'll help you, gladly!
For some unknown magical reasons, I got it working with Arduino IDE, now I can upload code via Arduino IDE.
a) Still I see some random chars in terminal part if it's error
b) When I try to calibrate motors using:
setup -> motors
command, I see just 1 motor spinning to max and coming down, next motors goes to max and slowly comes down and stays a little turning with lowest speed, but other two motors doesn't spin.
What more I should do to test it or get it working?
Thanks
A) This sounds like 2 different problems. One is a FTDI driver for your PC so you can talk serial. The second is selecting the correct board from the tools menu. It's most likely the 2560 board. Also make sure you have all the pins soldered up on the board to connect the top and bottom. If you miss some, you will have additional issues.
I need to run to a meeting, so I'll follow up later.
Jason
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