Small Electric Helicopter 108km/h Auto Flight

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Another recent accomplishment with the Helicopter version of Arducopter was this full auto speed run which achieved a top speed of 30 m/s or 108 km/h.  This was done using 3.2 which features improvements to the helicopter flight dynamics code, as well as Spline Waypoints which is a general Arducopter feature.  I find the Spline nav really helps helicopter flight as it avoid jerking the helicopter  which is very important at high speeds.  

108 km/h in auto mode is a good accomplishment given that the absolute maximum speed this helicopter is capable of is 140 km/h, based on Retreating Blade Stall.  This performance wasn't a fluke either, as not only do I do 2 back-to-back runs in the video, I did in fact run this mission 10 times while preparing to shoot the video.

For reference this is a relatively small helicopter, a Trex 500, which weighs only 2100g and is 90cm long.

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Comments

  • Amazing!

  • Yep, that's exactly where I put it.

  • Stubugs, here's where I mounted mine, there's plenty of room on the side of the frame, sounds like Rob's setup is similar:

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  • Hi the parameters would be very handy as I have a trex 500 and pixhawk
    Do you have any pics of where you mounted pixhawk gps
    Stuart
  • No major difference with rc10.  But I'm not using anywhere near stock PIDs.  I'll try to get you the file.

  • Rob, outstanding work on the 500.

    Sounds like I've built a T-REX 500 very similar to yours, also mounted the pixhawk on the side of the frame, and have had difficulty with the PID tuning so far.   So, if I understand correctly, you're running the 3.2 rc9 firmware with minimal tuning?   When I check the beta firmware, only 3.2 rc10 is available, any major difference between rc9 & rc10?

    Thanks,

    Jeff

  • Rob,  I just started a two week vacation. Come October 6 or so I will be flying again.  I will be happy to load 3.2 rc9 then and give it a try. Good work again!!

    Regards,

    David R. Boulanger

  • T3

    Very impressive! And I know from experience: http://vimeo.com/6369217 I think we were spinning ~1300 rpm on that 700 sized heli. I don't know why we didn't do an auto takeoff  that day.

  • I'll try to put up some pictures of the helicopter for those who have asked.  It is a surprisingly easy build on this one.  The Pixhawk is simply stuck to the side of the frame using the 3DR foam mounting pads.  I was surprised at how well it performs.  But, reducing vibration at the source is pretty important with such a simple mount.

    Gary, I've tossed around the idea of making an electric X3...

    David: I'm using standard 3.2 rc9 dispatched right from Mission Planner.  I would like to open it up to others for testing at this point.  I've flown quite a lot of flights on it and am pretty confident in it.  I am using the EKF.  I'm even using it on the Gasser, that wasn't quite standard rc9, but I just had to add some code to control the throttle servo, that's it.  The throttle servo control won't be in 3.2, but 3.3.

  • Hi Rob,

    I'm impressed and it just so happens I have a spare Trex500 and a brand new Pixhawk just waiting to be used. Would you mind sharing your exact Pixhawk and copter configuration so that I might try to get mine to do some of the same things. It has been grounded for a while waiting for this opportunity actually.

    Great work

    Rick

     

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