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
You need to be a member of diydrones to add comments!
Mathieu > Chris LewickiSeptember 2, 2014 at 5:04am
Seems like Don is not using the Tarot controller but an alexmos clone.
For different reasons (mounting the gimbal front facing on my TBS Discovery being the main one) I've dropped the Tarot gimbal for an alexmos controller + brushless motors and 3d printed gimbal.
My control board is directly connected to the radio receiver.
Haven't tried to connect it through the Pixhawk so I don't know if it's compatible...
Cheers,
Mathieu
nickthecook > Chris LewickiJuly 15, 2014 at 11:38am
Thanks Chris. I have everything I need to set this up except an adapter plate to mount it on my Y6, and I have done a "point camera here" in APM planner just for fun.
This would really have stumped me once I got it all set up if I hadn't run across this post.
You have probably tried this, but connect a normal servo to the gimbal control channel on your receiver to make sure it has a signal and that you have mapped it properly from your TX
I rewired everything, reinstalled the tarot firmware (gimbal + motors), tweaked the gimbal configuration in APM mission planner, and... it's now working.
Also, maybe I was so impatient to have the gimbal tilt command work that I didn't turn the knob enough.
The gimbal starts to tilt after I give the knob a 1/4 - 1/3 turn.
Anyway, now I need to fine tune the gimbal to get rid of the vibrations.
And now I'm considering mounting a gimbal "front faced" on my TBS Discovery.
Not sure if I can reuse the tarot controller with other motors to use this one.
As far as I understand, the gimbal can not be powerd by the Pixhawk.
Some prefer using a separate battery to power the Gimbal, in that case, a small 3s or 2s LiPo battery will do the trick.
I chose to use only one battery for powering everything (pixhawk, motors, fpv...).
Here is how it works:
The Gimbal works with "DC 7.4V ~ 14.8V (Recommended 12V, three lithium battery)", and "working current: 200mA-500mA" meaning if you have a way to connect the gimbal to your main 3S battery in parallel , it will work.
Darryl, to get the linear relationship you want, you need to connect the USB dngle and select "Stick Mode" (Mode 2) in the gimbal configuration software. You then need to input max and min angles.
Replies
Seems like Don is not using the Tarot controller but an alexmos clone.
For different reasons (mounting the gimbal front facing on my TBS Discovery being the main one) I've dropped the Tarot gimbal for an alexmos controller + brushless motors and 3d printed gimbal.
My control board is directly connected to the radio receiver.
Haven't tried to connect it through the Pixhawk so I don't know if it's compatible...
Cheers,
Mathieu
Thanks Chris. I have everything I need to set this up except an adapter plate to mount it on my Y6, and I have done a "point camera here" in APM planner just for fun.
This would really have stumped me once I got it all set up if I hadn't run across this post.
Chris,
You have probably tried this, but connect a normal servo to the gimbal control channel on your receiver to make sure it has a signal and that you have mapped it properly from your TX
Did you try checking the wiki??
http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/common-tarot-gimbal/
Sorry Jaime it took me so long to reply,
Yes I had.
For some reason, I finally got it to work.
I rewired everything, reinstalled the tarot firmware (gimbal + motors), tweaked the gimbal configuration in APM mission planner, and... it's now working.
Also, maybe I was so impatient to have the gimbal tilt command work that I didn't turn the knob enough.
The gimbal starts to tilt after I give the knob a 1/4 - 1/3 turn.
Anyway, now I need to fine tune the gimbal to get rid of the vibrations.
And now I'm considering mounting a gimbal "front faced" on my TBS Discovery.
Not sure if I can reuse the tarot controller with other motors to use this one.
http://klinkeraerospace.com/ffblg-gimbal.html
It just looks awesome.
Anyway, thanks, problem solved :)
Hi Chris,
As far as I understand, the gimbal can not be powerd by the Pixhawk.
Some prefer using a separate battery to power the Gimbal, in that case, a small 3s or 2s LiPo battery will do the trick.
I chose to use only one battery for powering everything (pixhawk, motors, fpv...).
Here is how it works:
The Gimbal works with "DC 7.4V ~ 14.8V (Recommended 12V, three lithium battery)", and "working current: 200mA-500mA" meaning if you have a way to connect the gimbal to your main 3S battery in parallel , it will work.
If you use a 4S battery, then you'll need, like me, a UBEC to reduce the voltage between your battery and the gimbal. Here is the one I use: http://mikrokopter.altigator.com/ubec-12v-45a-p-40518.html (sorry, the page is in French).
Not sure if that's crystal clear, but feel free to ask if there's anything I can do to help :)
Cheers,
Mathieu
Darryl, to get the linear relationship you want, you need to connect the USB dngle and select "Stick Mode" (Mode 2) in the gimbal configuration software. You then need to input max and min angles.
Thanks Daryl,
Not sure who you responded to but I read carefully your post.
Somehow, I managed to get the tilt control to work.
Cheers,
Mathieu
Pleaaaase, does anyone use a tarot gimbal with a Pixhawk and figured out how to use the tilt control?
"help me DIYD community, you're my only hope"
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next