Custom helicopter IMU

I soldered together the helicopter IMU after the long wait for the board (It was worth it, batchPCB doubled my order). The only things not connected is the camera, GPS, Wireless transmitter, MAG, and pressure sensor. All of these go off with cables to various parts of the helicopter. I still have two expansion ports available on seaperate cores available, the only thing planned for the first core is the wireless connection (all other mentioned sensors connect to the shield), and the second will be a memory controller for external RAM, in order to proccess larger images.
You can see the ADC's poking out, one samples the gyros and the temperature outputs on the gyros, and the other does the accelerometer. I have some spare analog inputs, as well as around 12 digital spare (6 broken out on board).
Got all the helicopter parts, but on first spin up, the tail blade got stuck in some blankets and destroyed the belt transmission gear.
I did some surgery to remove a bad cell from the 6s 5000mah battery I got from hobbyking, ended cutting open a cell to get it off as its glued together very well. Very nerve-racking.

Thanks.
y
I will be testing outside, I am testing inside with weights and bindings to hold it down. I temporarily moved for an internship, so the bedroom in empty with no furniture, so I should be able to test inside. It is actually a Swift 16, nice quality. Even though the rotor head is plastic, it is quite strong.

The are stuck on by the connectors, but since the pictures I added some foam tape.

The board design is actually very very bad, I plan on making another soon with the XMOS processor. on board, as soon as I can find a symbol for the XS1-G4!! I don't really trust my self to make one without a way to test it. I will probably go for 4 or 6 layers.

Looking back, I bought the GPS at a bad time, when all the new, better, cheaper ones were coming out....

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Comments

Robert Palmore July 6, 2010 at 9:55am

Like that hot glue gun, get the sticks that feel a little softer, a little rubbery, not sure it makes a difference but feels like those have worked better for me in the past. Computers and stuff, still a little too new in the civilian drone world to speak with authority.
T3

Brian Wolfe July 5, 2010 at 1:55pm

Yea, no matter when you buy there are better, cheaper ones the next day...
Ravi Gaddipati July 5, 2010 at 1:32pm

Thanks.
y
I will be testing outside, I am testing inside with weights and bindings to hold it down. I temporarily moved for an internship, so the bedroom in empty with no furniture, so I should be able to test inside. It is actually a Swift 16, nice quality. Even though the rotor head is plastic, it is quite strong.

The are stuck on by the connectors, but since the pictures I added some foam tape.

The board design is actually very very bad, I plan on making another soon with the XMOS processor. on board, as soon as I can find a symbol for the XS1-G4!! I don't really trust my self to make one without a way to test it. I will probably go for 4 or 6 layers.

Looking back, I bought the GPS at a bad time, when all the new, better, cheaper ones were coming out....
T3

Brian Wolfe July 5, 2010 at 1:19pm

Nice board!
It looks like the gyros are cantilevered out from their connectors. You might want to glue/stick them down so you don't get excessive vibration on them.
Keep us posted!

Brian
Admin

Morli July 5, 2010 at 12:44pm

Good work, keep it up, pls keep us updated with progress. Meanwhile do not test/fly the heli inside the bedroom ;) ( even thought it is 500 size electric ( my guess is HK500, if it is , do very carefull inspection and few important upgrades). Cheers and good luck.

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