If you are having problems with uploading firmware or communicating with the gimbal software (RCTimer - Gimbal controller board for example) then most likely the following info will help you.

See communication problem below in Arduino:

Follow this link for instructions:

https://www.olimex.com/forum/index.php?topic=2031.0

Remember to update both the "serial port driver" and the "USB serial converter" driver.  You will have to update driver, select the browse button and then pick the driver (have disk option), else windows will always take the latest driver available.

Driver link:

https://www.olimex.com/Products/_resources/FTDI_drivers_2.04.06.zip

Trust you will find this useful as I did.

Greetings,

Hein

As a member of Arducopter (maybe not so active anymore) I have started my own business on the side line.  Its call Vertical Limits Aerial Photography.  Recently I have just put up my website and then also decided to market some DIYDrones products directly in South African markets.  I don't have e-commerce as yet and would first try the market out to see how big it is.  I have a lot of experience in using DIYDrones products and thought I could help many possible clients out in the country.  My main focus will be on providing preassembled kits (no soldering required, and pretested).  I will also preload firmware on the autopilot which I believe proofs to be the most stable at the time of your purchase.  I myself make use of this products on a daily business.  My website gets updated on a regular basis (doing it myself and looks a bit unpolished).

I have also decided to put some specific kids together which I believe could server some clients better.  My products will not be as cheap as other suppliers but I hope my knowledge and additional services would proof to be worth the price.

See attached some videos I have done lately:

Scottburgh Video Dec 2011 using my Hexa APM1 with 2.0.49 firmware.  FPV flying.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI6gUCajHAk

Bixler flight 200m high using APM1 with 2.24 firmware.  FPV flying.  Auto Pilot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foywexhgTTI

Some Pictures of Hexa, Quad, Octa, Heli and Plane:

Trust you love it.

Greetings,

Hein

web: www.vlap.co.za

Just an update on my previous Blog Post.  I have tested Loiter, RTL and Waypoint navigation on my Bixler Plane. 

So far I am happy with the results.  There was a bit of wind on this specific day.  I also tested waypoints at 100m Altitude which I was looking forward to seeing the end result myself.........but my camera battery went flat.......... 

Chris you are welcome to link some of these videos to the Arduplane site.....

Pictures of my plane with GoPro Camera.

Video's of Waypoint flights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njTb_Tbd6CI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qtRcn_wZQo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbHMyzBpwR4

I finished building my Bixler plane and did some test flights.  I was just flying in an anticlockwise circle with these tests (I have not been flying a plane for almost over a year and my last flight ended in a crash).  Yet with the ArduPilot flying is very much more easy.....  Landing is a breeze....

I am more familier with the heli's (multirotors, Quad, Hexa and Octa) but believe this plane could also be helpful to me in FPV flying.

Still learning the trade.....and love the ArduPilot projects.

I think the ArduCopter, ArduPlane.....ect.... Teams are Great people.

On this occasion I only tested the Stabilize mode but will do more testing (waypoints, RTL....) soon.

Specifications:

Bixler

Motor Turnigy2836 brushless Outrunner 2350kv

Prop 6x4

40A ESC

4400mA 3 cell Battery

default parameters for Bixler frame.

ArduPlane 2.24 firmware.

Flying weight with this big battery and GoPro Camera is about 1.25kg and it was still flying smoothly.  The motor and prop gives about 1kg of thrust (according to some info I got).

http://youtu.be/DdC77fH1xAw

http://youtu.be/vnfbIHzlSEk