ArduPilotMega IMU shield vibration test results

Hi all,

I have been testing the new sensor shield board for ArduPilot Mega. This new version (codename : Foxtrap2) comes with the IDG500 gyros from Invensense. Old board (and also ArduIMU) uses ST gyros. Well I had heard that Invensense gyros are more vibration resistance than ST´s (because the internal resonant frequency is much higher) so I decided to do a "real world" test.

As you can see the Invensense gyros are MUCH cleaner than ST´s. This is a nice performance for a vibration enviroment (real quad flight).

This is how I did the test:

- I mounted the two boards at the same time in a quadcopter (60cm size, 10x4.5 props)

- Register the raw sensor data in the DataFlash EEPROM at main loop rate (70Hz in this test) on each board

- In order to syncronize the two data sets I tap (with my finger) at the beggining and end of flight (this tap is clearly visible on data)

- I started increasing the throttle slowly and then made a 25 seconds hovering

I calculated the standard deviation of the gyros on the three steps (at rest, ground with motors on and hovering)

The results are VERY clear, the Invensense gyros are MUCH better in vibration resistance than ST´s. This are fantastic news!! and really worth the delay on the sensor shield!!

With this performance, in the case of a quad (and planes also), we can increase the gain of the gyro rate to increase the stability. (Usually the limit of the gain is the noise on the gyros).

Here is the full set of data with graphics (Excel file): Gyro_Test.zip

I have made several flights with this new shield and I´m very happy with the results, the quad shows a fantastic stability :-)

We have tested also the other components of this shield like the Dataflash EEPROM, the new barometer, the rele (for payloads), switches... We needed to make some minor changes (pin assignements) to some libraries (APM_ADC and DataFlash) and we are now developing the Arduino libraries for the barometer and the optional magnetometer.

Also in the final production of the board, Jordi will do some improvements in the ADC part adding a dedicated voltage regulator for gyros and accels because we discovered in this version that the I2C translator (for the barometer) add some noise to the system.

When I talked to Jordi he says that this IMU board should be available starting late next week.

Jose.

I have a helicopter, a quad that i fly and an APM 2.6 board waiting to go into my next project, i think a hexa

I have an AdruIMU, am i able to measure vibration with it?

What i am trying to do with out much sucess is have a small board that i can measure and record from two sensors vibration whilst the craft is in flight.

I have done much searching, i am not a coder and find getting any code to run hard.

I have played with Arduino, i can connect an accelorometer to it and get some reading from it, but how i would configure to sensor that is way above my head.

I am sure you guys must have done something like this during developement of the APM.

can any body point me in the correct direction

Thanks

Andy

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Comments

andrew shrimpton July 30, 2014 at 11:21am

Hi

I have a helicopter, a quad that i fly and an APM 2.6 board waiting to go into my next project, i think a hexa

I have an AdruIMU, am i able to measure vibration with it?

What i am trying to do with out much sucess is have a small board that i can measure and record from two sensors vibration whilst the craft is in flight.

I have done much searching, i am not a coder and find getting any code to run hard.

I have played with Arduino, i can connect an accelorometer to it and get some reading from it, but how i would configure to sensor that is way above my head.

I am sure you guys must have done something like this during developement of the APM.

can any body point me in the correct direction

Thanks

Andy
Christopher Sevilla August 5, 2012 at 2:13pm

great point thanks
carlos guarate July 29, 2010 at 6:22am

Hi!
Is there any place here in Tenerife, where i can buy the pieces?
Developer

Sandro Benigno June 8, 2010 at 6:13am

@Mauro: The ArduPilot Mega already have a PPM encoder on it. It's the motive by that it have two processors (the second one is an Atmega328, that does the PPM job).
Mauro Rodriguez June 6, 2010 at 4:16pm

Hi! I dont see the PPM enconder in the picture... will I need it for the Arducopter? I already bought the Ardupilot Mega and the shield (pre order) :)
Developer

Ryan Beall June 2, 2010 at 6:54pm

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=9801

Now this is impressive? no?
Developer

Sandro Benigno June 2, 2010 at 5:44am

Jose, Can I ask you two small questions?
1- I noticed that you are using 500hz PWM on the code, with a minimal gap at 4.8uSec between pulses. Does it work on all ESCs based on Atmega8?
2- Would be possible increase the main loop to more than 70hz? (I imagine that a so incredible fast PWM actualized at 70hz isn't a big deal... Isn't right? <-- 3 questions... sorry ).
Heinrich Mueller May 30, 2010 at 6:58am

Hi,
the Invensense senors are also used by the eth group with good results: http://pixhawk.ethz.ch/blog/new_open_source_imu_inertial_measuremen...
I have found that the new st sensors LPR530AL LY530ALH (IMU 6DOF Razor) work fine on quadrocopter to.
See the link http://vimeo.com/9894675. It would be nice if you can do the test again with the new st sensors.
Earl May 28, 2010 at 8:31pm

The new shield with the ping sonar sensor for hovering is going to pose a rock solid hover machine !
The ping code works great now.
Earl
Developer

Sandro Benigno May 28, 2010 at 12:50pm

Very nice news, man! I can't wait more... :(

Jose, would be possible increase the main loop to more then 70hz? I'm thinking about use fast PWM with the Pilot Mega. It's very doable on it, but I understand that fast PWM actualized at 70hz isn't a big deal. Could we put 250hz PWM (i.e. 1~2ms pulse with 2ms of gap) commanded by a fastest PID actualization?

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