Tarot 2D gimbal and Pixhawk - Tilt control - Discussions

Hi everyone,After spending almost my entire Sunday trying to get this work, I finally thought that asking here might be wise...Here is my problem:I can't get to control my tarot gimbal tilt from my RC through the Pixhawk.I think the Pixhawk is running the latest apm version (I updated it a month ago).I've found two different wiring instructions.- Here, using 3 cables: http://3drobotics.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Tarot-gimbal-kit-quady6x8.pdf- Here, with 2 cables: http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/common-tarot-gimbal/None would work for me.With the 3 wires option, the gimbal turns and locks facing up/left.With the 2 wires option, the gimbal behaves like it's working independently (i.e. stabilizes nicely, keeping the camera straight, but now way to command it).I checked in APM PLANNER, RC calibration, the knob (pot) I want to use seems correctly mixed to channel 6 and I can see the gauge moving on the calibration page.So it seems that it is not something on the RC side or the Rx.Btw, I use a turnigy 9x flashed with the er9x firmware. The receiver is a FrSky D8r-II plus flashed with the XP firmware to get PPM.I also followed the wiki instructions to configure the gimbal in the mission planner.I uploaded the 3dr settings to the gimbal with the tarot flashing software.And the gimbal is running the 1.4 firmware.So please, can anyone help me find where I'm messing up?And as a starting point: is it a 2 or 3 cables wiring needed to the pixhawk?Many thanks for your help,Mathieu

Replies

Federico Herraez Pery September 15, 2018 at 1:06pm

Hello all:

I had the same problem using an Alexmos type gimball and finally got the following solution:

- Connected Main Out nº6 (section 3) with gimball

- Set SERVO6_FUNCTION to 1 RC PASSTHU ( http://ardupilot.org/copter/docs/parameters.html#servo6-parameters )

Be sure to power the Pixhawk with battery when testing (not through USB)

Complete Parameter List — Copter documentation
Anand S. Biradar April 29, 2016 at 5:12pm

Hi All,

I am having the same issues that I am not able to operate my Tarot 2-D gimbal through RC.

Here are more details about my systems and things I've tried so far.

1. Pixhawk with Arducopter V3.3.3,

2. S900 airframe

3. Followed all the instructions given here , http://ardupilot.org/copter/docs/common-tarot-gimbal.html

4. Tarot 2-D gimbal with Gopro 4, latest firmware flashed

5. Output rail powered via separate BEC (although not necessary since Gimbal is powered on it's own)

Gimbal operations; It maintains preset attitude (GoPro camera orientation) pretty well, flight tested.

My goal;

I am trying to get the manual control of camera via RC working but no luck so far,

I have tested the toggle option via Mission planner and Gimbal moves fine but when I try to operate via Transmitter the gimbal doesn't work.

What am I doing wrong ? any suggestions ?

Tarot Gimbal — Copter documentation
mark coleman September 10, 2014 at 8:33am

I got this to work on a pixhawk to tarrot 2d gimbal. I can't get the ROI to work but the knob controls the gimbal. I had to use channel 7 or 8 and it wired up to the second row of pins on the pixhawk. I'll hook her up later and get the exact settings for you.
- mark coleman > mark coleman September 10, 2014 at 11:49am
  - mark coleman > mark coleman September 10, 2014 at 11:50am
    
    black and white wire only
Chris Lewicki May 24, 2014 at 1:05pm
I'm having similar problems controlling tilt on my Tarot-2D, and at a loss of what to try next.

Here's what I've done so far:
1. Followed all the instructions on the wiki
2. Verified that Signal (AUX 1 / RC9 on the Pixhawk) and ground are in the right places, and that I'm connected to the minus and "T" pins on the Tarot.
3. Verified correct configuration on Tarot (V1.5, Tarot Mount, Standard Receiver, Stick Position Mode)
4. Verified calibration on radio input channel (RC7) - channel mapping and limits.
5. Verified Camera Gimbal settings in APM
The "blinking blue light" indicates a connection on the Tarot, and it stabilizes fine. I'm actually able to successfully change the tilt on the gimbal if I change the Min/Max Servo limits or the angle limits (although I can't exactly determine the correlation).

However, I can't get it to respond to the AUX2 knob on my Spektrum DX7s controller.

If I connect to the port on the Tarot, I'm able to see a change in RC input.

I've even tried the other AUX outs on the PIXHAWK, adjusting the appriate settings in APM, and verifying that it is indeed talking to the right channel.

Perhaps something is fried? Errant APM parameter not set right?

At a loss of what to try next.
- Mathieu > Chris Lewicki May 25, 2014 at 9:46am
  
  Hi Chris,
  Make sure you calibrated the gimbal sensor in the Tarot software (back of the camera mount laid on a flat surface, camera facing up) and see if it works.
  I think this is what unlocked everything for me.
  
  Good luck!
  Keep us posted :)
  Mathieu
  - Todd > Mathieu June 8, 2014 at 4:54am
    
    Hi,
    
    Is it just the calibrate button, in the software after facing camera up?
    
    Is it OK if camera is level & facing up whilst installed on the quad or does it have to be on a table?
    
    My tarot just flashes blue & does nothing.
    
    When usb plugged in, shows on screen & image changes as I manually move the camera.
    
    Thanks in advance.
    - Chris Lewicki > Todd June 8, 2014 at 10:52am
      
      So far as I can tell, this is all that needs to be done. You can "enable motors" to see it point straight and level, and perhaps you may need to "save settings to flash" after done.
      - Todd > Chris Lewicki June 8, 2014 at 3:26pm
        
        Cheers,
        
        Should the unit level with power on even if other wires (plugged into Pixhawk) are wrong or not plugged in at all?

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