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
Looks good, cant wait!
Looks really professional. Mr. Santa couldn't do it better. I'll mention the frame on my ArduCopter Build Log.
Just one more question: where? when? how much??? ;-)
P.S.: Here's the blog: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/member.php?u=316305
CU there
i have been practisin alot on simulated heli models geez those things are not eassy to fly i have crushed alot thank god its not the real model but i think when jani and the crew are done i am already saving for a package.
hey jani do you have some sort of software for prctising before i ouch the real thing,iam developing a crush phobia
yes, X mode is supported too on latest code.
Good work to all that participated in the frame building, getting me one when the first non beta is available.
Dose the latest code release support X mode?
Taylor, box will change in future. This box is just "off the shelf" that our box maker was able to provide with short notice. Future box will be 30x20x3.5cm so it fits in bubble wrap envelope. That way we have space to include all motors, esc etc on box. This box cannot hold anything else.
Some minor finetuning on inside packing will be done also but basically it will look like it this.
Looks great. very professional.
Ken
It's been a long process and long days to do all startups for beta production and also looking for future production of ArduCopter frames, everyone has been quite amazed of for fast our whole team has been able to answer the call and so am I. Well still have long way to go but this is one big step for whole ArduCopter project.
I am really happy about this frame and strength of it. And I am sure that everyone else who will receive their packages in matter of days will feel same way like I do. Soon there will be ArduCopters everywhere in the world.
After beta people have received them, please do drop a note for all of us at arducopter.feedpack@gmail.com in good or bad. In mean while we continue working on documentation and assembly instructions so hopefully when you receive it, there will be a set of assembly instructions.
Later on there will be different type of landing gears for people who want to have big cameras mounted under quad, sonar holders and many other things. Also if you have an idea, drop a note to us and we can look what we can do with it. Or just like Chris said on his "How to contribute to the ArduPilot/ArduCopter" post Just Do It! .. I wonder where i've heard that earlier. well cannot figure it out now ;)
Magical box opened in front of video, this is the thing that you can expect to find when you receive your box.
And then some more steady eye candy..
Opening the magic box...
And then all on the table..
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