Hi, this is my first project involving a quadcopter. I purchased the quadcopter with X configuration from 3DRobotics with the apm2.5 included. I've also ordered an RC set but I have not received the radio receiver.I am currently trying to test out the motors on the quadcopter using the mission planner software and the arducopter 2.9.1 code, however, there is no function to my knowledge in the program which allows me to send commands directly to the motors via a serial connection to spin them, etc.As such, I tried out the aeroquad configurator program, found here: http://aeroquad.com/content.php and when I loaded the aeroquad v3.2 code and tested out the motor commands,only one motor spins while the others kind of just jitter in place. Does anyone know how I can fix this or if there is a simpler way to do this with the mission planner software? Thanks!
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Thanks so much for the detailed info! I really appreciate it! And I figure that's the case too, that I need a radio controller. Also, the beeps are short beeps with extremely short time intervals between them, like: beep- beep- beep -beep- beep- beep -beep- beep- beep -beep- beep- beep.
At first, I thought it was my APM connection/ software and I tried looking up the source code as the aeroquad configurator comes with an esc calibration process and only one particular motor spins during the calibration. I think I'll get a radio controller and see how it goes from there. Thanks again for the help!
Checking motor direction and connections with the "Motors" command
One of the best ways to check that everything has been hooked up right is the "Motors" command in the CLI. Move your APM slider switch into the CLI position (towards the RC pins) and go into the Mission Planner's Terminal window. Type Setup (return), then Motors (return).
Procedure:
1) Connect usb port to APM, launch the planner and enter the CLI mode (do not connect the main motor battery for now!).
2) Type "setup" and press "enter".
3) Type "motors" and press "enter".
4) Connect the main motor battery without disconnecting the USB cable, do not turn on your tx, is not important. Wait some second while APM initializes your esc.
5) The motors will now spin in sequence, each motor will spin for less than 1/3 second at very low throttle and then stop, before the next motor will start after 2 seconds (3 with Y6 and X8). Please observe direction of rotation of each motor to ensure it is turning in the expected direction. First motor to spin will be the one located directly forward in the case of + configuration, or the first motor to the right of straight forward in the case of X configuration. The motor test will then proceed in a clockwise rotation. In the case of X8, it will spin the top front-right motor first, then the bottom front-right, and proceed around with the same pattern. OctoV will spin the front-right motor first, and then again, proceed clock-wise until reaching the front left motor.
6) After the test pattern is complete, there will be a 4 second (5 with Y6 and X8) pause before beginning again.
7) When you are satisfied that the motor pattern is correct, or you wish to stop the test, disconnect the main motor battery and then press any key to exit from test. Now if you want disconnect the usb port.
Replies
At first, I thought it was my APM connection/ software and I tried looking up the source code as the aeroquad configurator comes with an esc calibration process and only one particular motor spins during the calibration. I think I'll get a radio controller and see how it goes from there. Thanks again for the help!
I assume you are trying to check the motor rotation direction?
try here : http://code.google.com/p/arducopter/wiki/AC2_Props_2