I'm pleased to announce that we've joined forces with the other Arduino-based powerhouse in the aerial robotics world, the AeroQuad quadcopter team, to extend the ArduPilot platform to whirlybirds of all kinds. The project, called ArduCopter, will use the ArduPilotMega and IMU shield hardware along with a low-cost custom platform that will be available commercially to provide a full quad UAV with both stabilization and GPS waypoint navigation. It builds on the awesome work of Jose Julio in ArduPilot quad development, with the excellent full-systems integration of the AeroQuad team. We expect that first code and hardware will be available this summer.
And here's the impressive work of the AeroQuad team:
Another team is also extending this to traditional helis, starting with the Trex 450 heli (and its equivalents), which should be ready for release this fall. Along with Blimpduino, this should make for 100% coverage of all aerial robotics platforms on the Arduino platform, with shared libraries and ground stations across projects. Go Arduino!
We'll be setting up a proper microsite here, along with dedicated tab, for the project in the next few days.
If you haven't already seen this preview of what the ArduPilot/ArduIMU combo can do with quads, check this out:
And here's the impressive work of the AeroQuad team:
Here's the announcement from the AeroQuad team:
ArduCopter - The Full Featured UAV Multicopter!
Hey guys, as many of you know the AeroQuad has teamed up with DIY Drones on developing a very full featured multicopter! Chris from DIY Drones has proposed the name of this new effort to be called the ArduCopter! It will be based on the ArduPilot Pro Mega (APM) and the APM sensor board currently nicknamed the Oil Pan. Here's an initial feature list and software road map. Please chime in! Your input is valuable! I'll keep updating this front page until we agree on the first version of the ArduCopter's capabilities.
ArduCopter Feature ListSoftware Roadmap
- 6 Degree of Freedom IMU stabilized control
- Gyro stabilized flight mode enabling acrobatics (loops and barrel rolls)
- GPS for position hold
- Magnetometer for heading determination
- Barometer for altitude hold
- IR sensor integration for obstacle avoidance
- Sonar sensor for automated takeoff and landing capability
- Automated waypoint navigation
- Motor control using low cost standard PWM Electronics Speed Controllers (ESC's)
- On board flight telemetery data storage
- Mounted camera stabilization capability
- Wireless command & telemetry for long distance communication
- Capability to fly in "+", "x", hexa and octo configurations
- Battery level detection
- User configurable LED flight pattern
- Capability to use any R/C receiver
- ArduCopter Configuration and Ground Control Software
- Realtime graphs of flight data
- GUI for configuration of PID and other flight parameters
- On Screen Display integration
- Waypoint programming using Google Maps
- Mixertable view to auto configure "+", "x", hexa and octo configurations
- Initial baseline using Jose Julio's v3 software
- Provides absolute angle PID flight control
- Obstacle avoidance
- Waypoint navigation
- Generalize basic ArduCopter functions (ie. Separate PPM receiver input and motor control functions into separate libraries. Allows future coding of PWM vs. I2C ESC's)
- Emphasis on developing new capability into easy to use C++ libraries
- Integrate user defined EEPROM storage capability
- Develop/optimize AeroQuad serial real-time command/telemetry for ArduCopter
- Integrate AeroQuad Configurator for external software configuration of ArduCopter
- Rename Configurator to Ground Control Station and integrate graphical programming of waypoint navigation
- Integrate AeroQuad rate PID control
- Integrate mixertable configuration for multicopter configurations
- Integrate AeroQuad camera stabilization
- Integrate I2C motor control
- Develop capability to wirelessly control ArduCopter directly from Ground Control Station (USB joystick controller from laptop or through waypoint programming)
Comments
http://www.vimeo.com/13244820
I know that there are many obstacles for beginners and we try our best to clear some of these. So if you feel that you need something extra, let us know and we will provide that info.
ArduCopter WIKI can be found: http://code.google.com/p/arducopter/w/list
Especially on assembly area we going to have a lot info on how and where to connect which cable and so on with picture illustrations. Ok Google Wiki is not the best one to do it in really nice looking way but it works for sure.
We are also working on OilPan, APM manuals but untill they all are ready, it takes some time.
I am a beginner and do not know how to connecting RC equipment.
It would be great idea if there was a video driver, for us beginners.
I did not understand many things from here http://code.google.com/p/ardupilot-mega/wiki/RC
show mine construction http://www.grobot.gr/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=766
(translate.google)
About test hmm not that I know of at least nothing official tests. Need to think if there is good says to do this.
my setup is:
4 x towerpro 11amp esc
4x tp 24g bl motor with 80x38 prop
30 cm motor to motor.
i fly this setup 100% stable using MK controller and i2c to ppm converter
when i put arduimu with JJ code the quad fly very unstable.
i modified the PID parameter but the fly continues unstable.
my question is .... may the the towerpro esc uncompatible with 500hz update rate ?
have some test that i can do to confirm if this esc run at high update rate ?
regards...
Our code repositories can be found from:
http://code.google.com/p/arducopter/
http://code.google.com/p/ardupilot/
Ill build my own frame from alloy square tubes (got a bunch 10*10mm's at home)
So for sure, even before all those nifty features are added, we will release it and you can even download it now already due this is open source / open hardware project but if you do download it now, be careful with the code. It is still on alpha stage and having a lot of bugs :)
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