Hi Everyone:
Sorry for the long list. But I am totally new to arducopter. The following is what I conclude from web searching. Please take a good and give your opinions.
Thank you very much in advance.
Radio control
(Which is the most popular one?)
Receiver
(How to choose one so that it can match the RC)
Rx/Tx modules
(How to set?)
Batteries and connectors
(We have a bunch of them in our lab)
Arducopter kits with full electronics
http://store.jdrones.com/product_p/ackit1.htm
including:
* 1 x ArduCopter v1.0 Frame as seen in DIY Drones
o 24" Frame (28cm arms)
* 4 x Motors designed to ArduCopter use, 850kv (can be changed)
* 4 x ESCs designed to ArduCopter use, 20Amp
* 4 x Propellers designed to ArduCopter use, 10x45 (can be changed)
* 1 x ArduPilot Mega Flight controller board
* 1 x ArduPilot Mega OilPan IMU board
* 1 x Connectors/Cables between APM + IMU (we may have)
* 1 x set of 3 row pins for APM (we may have or easily get from somewhere else)
* 1 x MediaTek 3329 GPS + 10 cm Cable
* 1 x HMC Magnetometer + 10 cm Cable (Starting from v1.1)
plus:
Xbee Telemetry Kit ( http://store.diydrones.com/Xbee_Telemetry_kit_p/kt-telemetry-xbee.htm )
Sonar altitude sensor for autolanding and ground-hugging altitude hold
( http://store.diydrones.com/MB1200_XL_MaxSonar_EZ0_p/ac-0004-15.htm )
Sonar Mounting Bracket (http://store.diydrones.com/Sonar_Mount_p/ac-son-mount.htm)
camera (We need a small camera for research and we already have a Hero HD camera)
camera mount ( http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=16343 )
servo for the camera mount
(http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__662__HXT900_9g_1_6kg_12sec_Micro_Servo.html)
barometric altimeter (http://store.diydrones.com/product_p/br-0011-01.htm)
(Maybe we do not need it since GPS can manage altitude control. Does any one use it? )
landing gear (http://store.jdrones.com/product_p/acfglg20.htm)
canopy (CD case or plastic box used to store food)
Battery Alarm, for 4 Cell LiPo (http://store.jdrones.com/product_p/batalrm02.htm)
Replies
Yucong, that kit includes all the electronics and sensors you need to make it flying. You only need to add battery, radio rx/tx modules. Even GPS is included to the KIT.
If you get Turnigy TGY9X radio, you already have even those rx/tx modules on it. We use those a lot and they are really good for the price.
You can also get all telemetry/sonar/mounts and other items on same order.
Highrise landing gears are good if you plan to have that cameramount. There will be ArduCopter specific 2 axis cameramount available on jDrones in week or so.
The IMU board already has an barometric pressure sensor on it. The arducopter code uses this sensor blended with Sonar - if available- for altitude determination - not GPS
Buy some fresh batteries and a good charger - not much extra cost - but lots of peace of mind that they wont die on you halfway through a flight.
You will also need to find plenty of time and patience to put this all together and learn
Arducopters are very much DIY and Beta products - expect to learn every time you crash
-Andrew
Radio control:
I use the Turnigy 9X for the reason that it is pretty much the cheapest Tx/Rx system that has all the features needed for the APM. "Mode 2" (throttle and yaw on the left stick, pitch and roll on the right stick) is the more popular control layout.
Receiver:
You'll need to buy similarly branded receivers. Most systems come with at least one, and have very easy methods of pairing the Tx/Rx, usually by pressing a button or inserting a bind plug. This isn't something to worry about much.
BTW, the ArduPilot Mega hardware already has that BMP085 sensor on-board, so you don't need to get an external one.