ART-TECH AUTO PILOT

They call it an Auto-pilot but are a copy of the FMA Co-pilot.Looks like it does everything Co-pilot does butwithout servo reverse function.I have no idea on pricing either and got the following specs. on it:Voltage: +4V to 6VReaction Time: 1/60 of a secondWithin 2 degrees accurate.
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  • but does it work
  • T3
    FWIW: I'm doing a presentation of my Lego NXT Autopilot and I found out while doing research on autopilots that IR sensing of the horizon for stabilization has been used in satellites for decades before FMA patented their sensors. So basically FMA has probably only patented the use of thermopiles as a way of detecting IR for stabilization. So as far as you use some other method for detecting the IR wavelenghts you don't violate FMA's patent.. Just tried it out and even the basic NXT light sensor with a visible light blocker can do the trick although it is not even nearly accurate enough for any kind of flight stabilization but consider it rather as a POC......
  • FMA Manual page 2 bottom say - US Patent xyz and other country's patent pending or some thing like that.
  • T3
    "This product was selled last year (a lot of EU shop and ebay shop) but now it's hard to find."

    This seems to confirm that it probably violated some patent or that some other leagal issue arose. IMHO it sounds rather too 'general' to be allowed to patent "the use of IR sensor for stabilisation"; it's like patenting a car as mean of getting to work.. Well not quite but anyways... :)
  • 3D Robotics
    No, I think the Art-Tech one uses IR but probably violates FMA's patent. The Futaba one is indeed visible light and not good.
  • T3
    You will probably find that FMA's the patent on IR is for the US maybe Canada only so the Art-Tech would not be available in the US?
  • T3
    "Does that mean that the Art-tech is visible light like the Futaba"
    ultra high probability since FMA patented the use of IR sensor for stabilisation.
  • Moderator
    Does that mean that the Art-tech is visible light like the Futaba?

    That would be dissappointing.
  • This product was selled last year (a lot of EU shop and ebay shop) but now it's hard to find.
    I know people that use it, it's accurate but they say FMA CPD4 is better.

    An alternative is Futaba Pilot PA-2, but it can work with sun low at the orizont..

    futabaPar2.gif

  • This store looks like it is a Norwegian or Danish of origin at KR499 +/- $90 if I'm not mistaken but could be wrong and this site
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