Hello, I am new to Arducopter, but not new to multirotors. I have spent the last 3 days going through documentation and following instructions as precisely as possible.
I just replaced motors and ESC's on an Hoverthings FlipFPV frame and followed all documentation repeatedly, but still have serious issues getting the quad to hover:
Transmitter: Spektrum DX8
Motors: T-Motor 2216-12 800kv
ESC: NextLevel SimonK 30amp
Props 9 inch Gemfan carbon filled
Batt: 3300mah 3S
- Verified motors and props all spinning in proper directions
- Verified that all motors are in the proper order on the APM FC
- Calibrated transmitter - everything is moving in the proper direction according to the mission planner
- calibrated ESC - they all start at precisely the same moment
- calibrated compass and accel
- Only stabilized mode is enabled
Hand test 1:
Hold the quad securely in your hand, ARM, and advance to 1/2 throttle or so, until you feel it getting lighter in your hand. All TX sticks in the middle. Now tilt the copter in the 4 directions. It should "fight" you and try to remail level. It MUST pass this test. if it feels wobbly in your hand, or tries to go places, this is not right, go check your motor numbering, pdb setup and prop directions.
- The quad accelerates in the direction I tilt it and should be fighting to level!
- the quad immediately flips if I take off from level position, as if the props are reversed or ESC's not calibrated.
Hand Test 2:
Still holding it in your hand, throttle 50%, blades spinning, mode the Elevator (pitch) stick forward and back, the quad must follow the sticks. Repeat for Aileron (Roll) stick, and lastly Rudder (Rotate). you may need a bit more throttle to feel the Rudder pull, and be careful here. if you push the rudder left, the FRONT of the copter must want to go left. if any of the directions are incorrect, simply recerse that channel on the radio. (Dont accidentally reverse your throttle!!!!!!)
- Everything seems to be the opposite of the input, even though the mission planner and all transmitter settings look to be correct.
Does anyone have suggestions or might point me in a direction for this? Thanks ahead of time.
Update: Of course it was my fault. And I figured it out when I ran the motor test. I set the motors up in the same order I use for open pilot, not the way I must do it for APM... I am a little embarrassed.
Replies
WTF??? Where is this insanity coming from? "Fight" the quad while "holding it in your hand, throttle 50%, blades spinning..." ??? This is an excellent way to (1) lose an eye or two (2) get a Heidelberg style dueling scar (3) have your dangly bits pureed. Make sure your health insurance is up to date, your dog is fed, the kids don't need picking up, etc.. Wow.
Put your miserable, misconfigured quad on some nice grassy ground. Stand back. Blip the throttle briskly (but not too briskly) just enough to get the quad to go light on any or all corners, then chop it immediately. Repeat a couple of times. Now you have a feel for the throttle, so in the next step you won't fire the quad to the moon or through the neighbor's picture window . Now blip the throttle again, just a little more this time, enough to either get the quad a foot or two off the ground, or to flip it nearly on edge if that's what it wants to do. If it lifts more or less flat, even if wobbly, your very basic setup is OK. If it rolls up on an edge something in your very basic setup is wrong. No hand-holding involved, for crying out loud! (This can also be done safely with secure tethers to a bench, but soft grass is really better and easier, IMHO.)
The results of both hand tests would lead me to think that you have got the the motors wired up in the wrong sequence.
Flipping on take off confirms this too.
Have you carried out the "motors" test.
Can you post up some photos of the quad with close ups showing the connections to and from the APM and RC receiver also of the power distribution board.