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Why 7+ channels for drone?

Posted by Matthew Schroyer on May 23, 2011 at 6:49pm

Hey all,

 

Been looking on the DIYD site for a couple days, thinking it's a great community you have here. I have some experience with RC (though by no means an expert), but I'm perplexed by something about the requirements for drone conversion. Here's the diagram from the ArduPilot wiki:

 

ten.jpgThe "getting started" portion of the DIY Drones website states that you'll need at least a 6 channel remote to make a drone with this system. But the ArduPilot diagram seems to indicate you only need four: Aileron, Elevator, ESC and ArduPilot activation.

 

So do I really need a 6 channel? Will this still work with just four?

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Replies

  • Developer
    Doug Weibel May 23, 2011 at 7:34pm

    Will it work with 4?  Well, depending on what you want to do and what hassles you are willing to put up with, then yes.  The limitations with 4 channels are that:

    1. You will only have 3 control channels.  This is usually rudder, elevator and throttle.  You cannot do aileron, elevator, throttle, rudder for example.  Nor can you do more interesting things like pan-tilt control for a camera, etc.
    2. Most 4 channel radios just have 2 gimbals with 2 channels on each.  This means that your flight mode selection channel will be on one of the gimbals.  Usually you would set up a radio so that your flight mode selection is on a toggle switch, 3 position switch or the combination of the 2.  Having it on the same gimbal as your throttle will be a real P.I.T.A.
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