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Looking for help in designing the control system for a quad-rotor craft

Posted by Joseph Propati on March 1, 2010 at 2:09pm

Hello all,

 

I was hoping I could get some answers to questions I have regarding building the control system for a quad-rotor air craft.

 

I have a spectrum DX5e transmitter and receiver combo and I have the quad-rotor built.

 

Now for the questions:

 

1.  Is it possible to control a quad-rotor with just a receiver and four ESC on four Brushless motors?

 

2.  If not, is it better to use a PIC microcontroller or can you use BasicStamp or the Arduino?

    Note:  the reason I ask is because I am familiar with programming Basic Stamp and getting better with C on the Arduino.

 

3.  If not, does any one out there have a scematic drawing of a controller system using a PIC controller?

 

All I want is to play with the quad and build a Thunderbird 2 craft for fit over it.

 

I have checked all over the web and it seems that no one wants to give a step-by-step process of building a quad-rotor craft!  I am not trying to compete with it, I just want to make one to fly around with it!!!!

 

Can any one help with the code if I need to use a PIC controller?   I am just starting to learn how to program the PIC processors and need some help!!!

 

Thanks for any help you can give me!

 

Joe

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Replies

  • SciFly October 24, 2010 at 11:10am
    Very cool. Are you still working on this project? Why do you prefer the pic? If not , have you considered joining the ArduCopter Dev team?You could get you're quad rotor project while building on shoulderr of giants, while workin with them. Then if you really want to explore you're independent inventive spirit you can build onto the whole package, rather than reinvent it.
  • Moderator
    Roberto Navoni April 1, 2010 at 4:35pm
    Hi Joseph I'm start to working 4 month ago at MultiPilot project ... actualy is possible to develop with my Hw and software experimental electric and variable pitch quad check my page on Diydrones or the project repository at this link : http://code.google.com/p/lnmultipilot10/
    Contact me if you need more details about the project
    Regards
    Roberto
  • Stephan March 31, 2010 at 11:14am
    LIST P=18f4431
    #INCLUDE"P18F4431.INC"




    SPEEDL EQU 0X23
    SPEEDH EQU 0X24
    CounterA EQU 0X20
    CounterB EQU 0X21
    CounterC EQU 0X22

    ORG 0X000
    ;***************************************************
    ;---------------------------PORT SETUP--------------


    CLRF TRISA
    CLRF TRISB ;ALL PWM ACTIVATED
    CLRF TRISC
    CLRF TRISD
    BSF TRISD,0
    BSF TRISD,1
    CLRF TRISE

    CLRF LATA
    CLRF LATB ;ALL PWM ACTIVATED
    CLRF LATC
    CLRF LATD
    CLRF LATE

    ;***************************************************
    ;---------------------------PWM SETUP---------------
    INI_PCPWM


    MOVLW B'11111100' ; Free running mode, Input clock is 1:64, Postscale is 1:16
    MOVWF PTCON0


    MOVLW B'10000000' ; Time base is on and counts up
    MOVWF PTCON1

    MOVLW B'00000000' ; CONTROLLS THE PERIOD 20mS
    MOVWF PTPERL ;11111111
    MOVLW B'00000001' ;00000011
    MOVWF PTPERH

    MOVLW B'11111111' ;0xffF AS PER CALCULATION
  • Overwatch March 1, 2010 at 2:11pm
    1 - It is, but it's a very rough ride for a human brain to keep a quad airborne. I.e. possible, but impractical, with crashes and carnage after a few-second flight (more like a jump) being a certainty.
    2 - Basic Stamp is too weak. On the other hand, PICs and Arduinos work very well (the AeroQuad is a very good example of an Arduino-powered quad).

    If you want to have it in the air as soon as possible, then just build the AeroQuad. It has all the parts lists, plans and code ready to go.
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