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Sonar not working

Posted by ronang44 on May 15, 2012 at 5:25am

Hi guys,

I have a brand new MB 1200 sonar, but I cant seem to get it to work. What happens when I flick the Alt Hold switch at low altitude, (~2m) is that my quad will rise slowly and then at about 10m then the motors slow down and the quad just drops.  I have attached a log file from that flight as suggested by Randy and it seems that the baro and sonar readings don't tally.  Do I have a bad sonar? II have already installed the resistor/capacitor filter and use a 2 core shielded cable to connect everything up. And yes, I did choose the correct sonar in APM Planner.

2012-05-15 15-51 3.log

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Replies

  • MaxBotix Inc September 5, 2012 at 3:15pm
    @Ronang44,
     
    I just ran across your post.  I am glad that you have gotten the sensor working well on your quad.  As you had found, clean power is very important to our sensor. Checking the power to ensure it is strong, stable and clean is our first recommended troubleshooting step.  We have provided some recommended solutions by clicking this link http://maxbotix.com/articles/035.htm. Your solution of a separate power supply is a great solution.  Provided the power is clean, the XL-MaxSonar-EZ sensors have a very high noise tolerance which can be read about in our noise testing.  You can click this link http://maxbotix.com/articles/012.htm to view the noise testing data. Also, we recently released a series of I2C interface sensors that were designed with the DIY Drones community in mind.  You can click this link to view the sensors http://maxbotix.com/Ultrasonic_Sensors/I2C_Sensors.htm. 
     
     
    @Wesley Chuen 
     
    Exactly! The MB1260 is a very sensitive sensor and is designed to detect even tiny targets out to significant distances.  For some UAV users this is ideal because they hover over soft targets like tall & thick grass and in this instance it can provide better detection.  Many other users prefer the MB1240 because it is better suited for large targets and is more noise tolerant.  The best balance is found in the MB1220 or if you want an I2C sensor the MB1222.

     

    I you have any support questions, please don't hesitate to send me an email.  

     

    Best regards,


    Scott Wielenberg
    Technical Support & Sales
    of MaxBotix Inc.
    Phone: (218) 454-0766
    Fax: (218) 454-0768
    Email: scott@maxbotix.com

  • Wesley Chuen May 15, 2012 at 8:30am

    Your sonar is not working.  

    3692419085?profile=original

    Have your APM plug into the computer and look at the Flight Data screen.  In the Status tab, you should see the parameter updating live.  Look at the "alt" and it should starts at 20 (cm).  Move your sonar to point to a different places and see if that number update.

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