Hello
Ok now that I am out of the abyss of ESC calibration:
Could someone let me know how to make very very simple vertical lift offs, and other simple missions.
The simpler the better. I got sonar and GPS, would appreciate to learn from the gurus here how to manually navigate the copter as well.
If there are already sample missions documented as such, please send me the pointers
Thanx
Dara
Replies
Well, assuming you've done all your pre-flight checks, you need to familiarize yourself with all the controls on the transmitter. What stick does what. (Depends on Mode 1 or Mode 2 controller)
Start with short duration lift offs of 1 meter and below to see if everything is balanced. The copter will have a tendency of drifting around as it goes up, due to propeller turbulence. Be ready to make small corrections to counter this. Be gentle on the throttle.
Once you get familiar with the controls, and how the copter behaves on lift off, then try to keep it hovering at 1 meter. Recommend you use both index and thumb to hold the joystick stable.
Really, if your props are decently balanced, the flight software will keep everything levelled in stabilize mode, and you'll just have to make slight nudges to keep it from drifting. Nervously fingers translate into jerky motion in the air.
I would not fiddle with the PID values, until you know what it is you want to adjust. The default values should have been set to work out-of-the-box with the 3DR frames.
I'm still at the manual control stage as I haven't got telemetry working.
Take your Arducopter out on a calm day with no wind, as you're manually controlling it you have to compensate for any drafts, when flying this isn't a problem but taking off/landing will cost you some spare propellers unless you are patient. For first time flight I'd recommend either a newly cut lawn in a park or smooth asphalt, this way you can get a feel when it is ready to take to the air as you increase the throttle; it will start to vibrate on its legs at which point I give it a 20% increase on the throttle to clear it 1-2m into the air before leveling.
Under flight modes I've got Flight Mode 1 set to Stabilise with simple mode on so your directions remain constaint regardless of the heading of your Arducopter. I've chewed through 4 props, 2 motor holds, 1 leg and counting! Can't wait to use telemetry and remove human error (ala me) from the situation. :)