Announcing ArduCopter, the merger of the ArduPilot and AeroQuad projects!

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.

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 List
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

Software Roadmap
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)

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Comments

Cenk Kucukkoylu October 1, 2010 at 2:01am

Wayne, i like your folding setup very much! Looks very practical and useful.
I have a few questions: Are you using some kind of "lock" for the arms to be sure that they don't fold during the flight? I think it will be necessary.
Your motor stands look very strong and nicely done but I think they add too much weight. I suggest lighter way of attaching the motors to the arms.
Wayne Harton October 1, 2010 at 1:01am

Weight including 2 batteries and esc's, rx etc. is 1.48 kg. The 4 booms are from a trex 500 clone 16mm o/d x 15mm i/d, clips and posts are from RS components everything else is custom.
Troy Bethel September 30, 2010 at 7:33pm

@Craig I am an ex jappie living in the US ,if there is anything I can help with ,PM me ,I can get small packages to you via Fedex at airline staff rates ,which will be a saving for you .
Moderator

John Church September 30, 2010 at 6:36pm

Very nice, Wayne! Is all of your hardware custom, or can we find these bits off-the-shelf?
Developer

Max Levine September 30, 2010 at 5:55pm

NICE folding setup :)))))
how much is it weight ?
Wayne Harton September 30, 2010 at 4:10pm

Hi everyone, I have been following the progress of the arducopter for a while now. it's a great project and a big thumbs up to all the developers and community members. I have designed and built my frame which is foldable and should fit in a 450 heli box when folded. I have posted a couple of photos for you to look at. My setup will use turnigy 2217 motors 25amp esc's and 12" x 3.8 props power supply will be 2 x 11.1v 2200 in parallel and I will be using a 5v BEC to power the APM & IMU. I have all the hardware except the IMU which is on back order. Hopefully not too long to wait till it arrives. Can't wait to get it in the air. Keep up the good work.
Craig Burden September 30, 2010 at 2:59pm

@Sgt Ric, I live in South Africa, we dont have these endless supplys, so when stock comes in its gone very soon! kind of sucks... :(
Craig Burden September 30, 2010 at 2:55pm

@Max, of coarse, I used a NPN2222A transistor, using a multimeter i found the two contacts that needed to be connected in order to trigger the shutter, i connected the emmiter to the negitive contact and the collector to the positive. then i soldered on two wires one onto the emmitter and one onto the base, the one from the emitter goes to the GND on the Arduino and the other to you trigger pin. the pin allocation goes e-b-c. this was purely luck, i know nothing about transistors i just had a few lying around! :)
John Owen September 30, 2010 at 12:46pm

Thanks Max, Chris, and Sebastian. I will have to get this thing changed over while I wait for the kit ><

I am mainly wondering if there has been any change to the cost estimate or if there is a more exact estimate. Working on a college budget makes finding money for expensive hobbies a bit of a pain. Anywho sound like only a month to go!
Developer

Max Levine September 30, 2010 at 12:05pm

@John
mode change
@Craig Can you share more info on the camera trigger ?

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