Capstone Search and Rescue Project. Help Needed to Finish!

I had initially raised this question in Arducopter 2.x group yesterday but since no one replied and I really need help, I am posting this question in the Arducopter User Group.

Here is the situation:

I am doing a project to augment Search and Rescue operations as we know it with Semi-Autonomous UAVs. About a month ago we tried to join modules together but we hit a major problem with making the Arducopter fly in AUTO mode. We need to get the Quadcopter following the waypoints before Friday, the project presentation date.

Below is a screenshot of a log we downloaded yesterday. I have also attached the log to this post with our params file. The waypoint file for this flight only contained two waypoints and an RTL mode. Before this flight we tested Loiter mode and it worked well. In this flight however, we had multiple fly-aways with the Auto mode.

We believe that our project has potential. We have presented at the NCUR conference last week and won an award yesterday for our project, but for this project to come together we need a video of the waypoint navigation working with system by Friday.

EDIT 1:

Thank you Tsoi and Boland.

Yesterday (4/21) I did three things before flying:

1. Downgraded the FW to 3.1.5

2. Twisted the GPS wires for them to stay together and used a toroid.

3. Waited until I had connection to more than 10 sats before flying auto.

I ran two auto modes both worked well (the second ended abruptly at the second waypoint but that might be related to the problem I am about to explain).

The main issue that I am having now is the same the one discussed in the discussion forum called "AC 3.2.1 APM 2.5 Throttle pulsates in Loiter". As you can see from the image below and the log (named: 2015-04-21 20-18-29.log) attached, although the APM knows that the altitude is increasing and the error between desired alt and barAlt is increasing, it doesn't compensate.

red (barAlt) green (Desired Alt)

EDIT 2:

I flew again today (4/22) first with an Alt Hold P gain of 1 and then I increased it to 3 and tried it again.

Stabilization when Alt Hold P gain = 1:

Stabilization when Alt Hold P gain = 3:

Both flight logs are attached in the response I left today at the bottom.

Alt hold controller seems like it is broken. Not following the desired value at all.

What now? Tomorrow is my last day to test and fly...

Details

Frame: DJI F450 kit with motors and escs (original)

Autopilot: APM 2.5+

GPS & Compass: ublox RCtimer version (Ublox LEA_6H-0-002 (19) it also says v1.2) I also have a 3DR MTK v2.0 that I can use

I have done autotune to tune the craft.

Thanks!

2015-04-19 12-40-12.log

ParamList421.param

2015-04-21 20-18-29.log

Replies

Talha A. April 25, 2015 at 12:35pm

Thanks to everyone who helped me with this project. The video below shows our Quad following waypoints (of a lawnmower pattern). I will consider the advice on z axis vibration.

Thanks again!
Dom April 23, 2015 at 6:43pm

I have a very similar setup, not far from you.
- Talha A. > Dom April 23, 2015 at 8:03pm
  
  Today I balanced my Props and flew with INS_MPU filter at 20. I still get pulses while on Alt_hold but the APM seems to compensate it while on Auto mode within +/- 2 meters. I got some data for my presentation which is tomorrow. I will also try flying tomorrow early in the morning :)
- Cala > Talha A. April 24, 2015 at 9:49am
  
  If you can solve vibs probably you solve pulsate, try to balance your motors too, try with 3M foam that Randy recommend, if you can't find quikly, try with doble sided 3m tape only, a quick compromise solution, not definitive, try to fix 50 grs weight on your APM with doble sided tape (be carefull if you have internal compass, use something that not interfere). Good Luck.
- Felixrising > Talha A. April 24, 2015 at 6:06am
  
  Could you share a video of your quad in flight?
- Talha A. > Felixrising April 25, 2015 at 12:08pm
  
  Here is the video!
- Mike Boland > Talha A. April 25, 2015 at 12:30pm
  
  z axis vibration.
  
  This my preferred mounting method to stop that, especially on noisy frames
  
  Carbon plate/Sorbathane/Lead sheet/Gyro tape/APM
- Talha A. > Mike Boland April 25, 2015 at 12:37pm
  
  Thanks for the suggestion!
  
  The project supplies all are Geroge Mason University's property. I will probably buy a Pixhawk for future projects.
Dom April 23, 2015 at 6:42pm

Any luck?
Talha A. April 22, 2015 at 5:40pm

I flew again today first with an Alt Hold P gain of 1 and then I increased it to 3 and tried it again.

Stabilization when Alt Hold P gain = 1:

Stabilization when Alt Hold P gain = 3:

Both flight logs are attached.

Alt hold controller seems like it is broken. Not following the desired value at all.

What now? Tomorrow is my last day to test and fly...

2015-04-22 19-29-02.log

2015-04-22 19-38-29.log

https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3701987382?profile=original

of 5

This reply was deleted.

ArduCopter User Group

Replies