Hi all,Another newb here, and I thought I'd approach my new project with some deserved caution.My goal is quite simple, and not unique - to build an autonomous camera platform to use to shoot some HQ aerial scenes for my wife's new training program, starting with a gopro, and seeing how it goes from there. (I've already noticed the hideous fisheye effect!).I've specced a heavyweight Quadframe with 325mm arms and with legs and gimbal:http://quadframe.com/collections/quadcopter-frames/products/heavy-weight-quadcopter-frame-with-21-5mm-carbon-armshttp://quadframe.com/collections/legs/products/155mmllhttp://quadframe.com/products/g01kBut the main thing I'm planning right now is the wiring. I'm very nervous in case I've got it hideously wrong. Any thoughts on my proposed setup? I'm looking for really basic stuff here - am I missing any components? Are my connectors wrong?See attached...wiring.pdf------------
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Frame is built + legs, APM is on, ESC's and motors are in, and PDB up and running. Total weight, inc 2 x 6S 4000mAh = 3.1kg. APM (and soon to be spektrum receiver) insulated via elevated platform on rubber elevators + moongel pads. Moongel pads also applied to 3DR radio and GPS.
Snags I've run into:
- 2 x 4000mAh snag the bolts in the battery tray of the legs, with potentially nasty punctures a possibilty. Shorter bolts used, and all is well.
- APM power module only 4S (this will be 6S). Alternative power supply planned; either an SBEC, or routing into the "peripherals" battery I had planned (2S, 800mAh) for camera power, gimbal power & control and LED control. Snag with the SBEC route is the connection going into the PVM of the APM2.5; supposedly a servo connection works, but that can't can it? Servo's are a "big" 3 pin black thing, and the PVM wants a "small" 6 pin thing.
- The decision to go with XT60 is maybe not so wise; they are an utter b****r to open and close! I'm gonna snap something unless i can make the process better
- I can't get the radios to talk to MP correctly, even on 57k. Just garbage text in CLI.
- I can't work out a neat way of checking the motors are completely vertical, short of a convulted check with a spirit level.
Following Magnus' advice, I now have a config - on paper - which meets my criteria. It's attached. The Tiger Motor motors, some big props and a swap to 8000mAh (either as 1 unit, or 2 x 4000mAh) gives me my payload, plus the crucial 14 mins flight time.
Ok, following on from Magnus' invaluable advice, I've scaled back the motors on the KV front, and now it looks much better. Ran it through xcoptercalc using the most accurate weights and performance stats, and I got the results as attached in the PDF (it doesn't reflect the 40A 400hz ESCs, but it does reflect their weight).
I'd like to see more flight time than this - I'd like to see 10mins rather than 7.5, and maybe around 15 mins hover.
Better? More stable as a camera platform (without resorting to 6/8 rotors)? Suggestions on how to extend the flight time? Two smaller/lighter 4S' in parallel might work, but I'm not sure it'll help that much.
If you can read my PDf file ok, I have a number of follow on queries for the more experience chaps. Specifically:
- Can I buy an off-the-shelf cable for the Optical Flow sensor?
- Are the Turnigy nano-tech's recommended? And can I get 6000mAh/4S for lighter? Do I need 4S?
- Is a 1500mAh too much for powering a GoPro? I'm looking for 4 hours run time where possible (I only intend to make the main flight battery removable), and anything to reduce dead weight (by using a small battery) is a good thing, no?
- How good is the APM at gimbal control? Or am I better off with a seperate board (such as Quadframes 'Smoooth')?
Replies
As way of an update:
Frame is built + legs, APM is on, ESC's and motors are in, and PDB up and running. Total weight, inc 2 x 6S 4000mAh = 3.1kg. APM (and soon to be spektrum receiver) insulated via elevated platform on rubber elevators + moongel pads. Moongel pads also applied to 3DR radio and GPS.
Snags I've run into:
- 2 x 4000mAh snag the bolts in the battery tray of the legs, with potentially nasty punctures a possibilty. Shorter bolts used, and all is well.
- APM power module only 4S (this will be 6S). Alternative power supply planned; either an SBEC, or routing into the "peripherals" battery I had planned (2S, 800mAh) for camera power, gimbal power & control and LED control. Snag with the SBEC route is the connection going into the PVM of the APM2.5; supposedly a servo connection works, but that can't can it? Servo's are a "big" 3 pin black thing, and the PVM wants a "small" 6 pin thing.
- The decision to go with XT60 is maybe not so wise; they are an utter b****r to open and close! I'm gonna snap something unless i can make the process better
- I can't get the radios to talk to MP correctly, even on 57k. Just garbage text in CLI.
- I can't work out a neat way of checking the motors are completely vertical, short of a convulted check with a spirit level.
Got something similar I'm putting together:
Frame - http://www.foxtechfpv.com/tarot-fy650-cf-folding-quadcopter-p-896.html
Motors - http://www.foxtechfpv.com/foxtech-motor-w4822-kv690-p-624.html
probably will go 4S for batteries and 13-14" props
This gimbal looks good: http://www.foxtechfpv.com/tarot-5d2-gimbal-p-965.html if a little pricey (I can't really wait for the new brushless gimbals to come out on the market).
Still not 100% sure about going hex or quad, leaning towards quad...
Bingo - I think I've got.
Following Magnus' advice, I now have a config - on paper - which meets my criteria. It's attached. The Tiger Motor motors, some big props and a swap to 8000mAh (either as 1 unit, or 2 x 4000mAh) gives me my payload, plus the crucial 14 mins flight time.
stats2.pdf
Ok, following on from Magnus' invaluable advice, I've scaled back the motors on the KV front, and now it looks much better. Ran it through xcoptercalc using the most accurate weights and performance stats, and I got the results as attached in the PDF (it doesn't reflect the 40A 400hz ESCs, but it does reflect their weight).
I'd like to see more flight time than this - I'd like to see 10mins rather than 7.5, and maybe around 15 mins hover.
Better? More stable as a camera platform (without resorting to 6/8 rotors)? Suggestions on how to extend the flight time? Two smaller/lighter 4S' in parallel might work, but I'm not sure it'll help that much.
stats.pdf
If you can read my PDf file ok, I have a number of follow on queries for the more experience chaps. Specifically:
- Can I buy an off-the-shelf cable for the Optical Flow sensor?
- Are the Turnigy nano-tech's recommended? And can I get 6000mAh/4S for lighter? Do I need 4S?
- Is a 1500mAh too much for powering a GoPro? I'm looking for 4 hours run time where possible (I only intend to make the main flight battery removable), and anything to reduce dead weight (by using a small battery) is a good thing, no?
- How good is the APM at gimbal control? Or am I better off with a seperate board (such as Quadframes 'Smoooth')?
- Am I overloading these motors with 12" props?