3D Robotics

T3--Round 6: The Simulation Round!

For the last T3 round before the weather improves (in the Northern Hemisphere), we're going to do something indoors! It's a simulation round, which I previewed here.


I'll repeat the basics:


There are two kinds of simulations: "open loop" and "closed loop".


Open loop means that you connect the output of the simulator to the input of the autopilot. The simulation drives the autopilot with synthetic GPS coordinates and sometimes synthetic attitude data, essentially replacing the autopilot's sensors. This basically fools the autopilot into thinking that it is flying, and you can watch how it responds. This is typically done by having the simulator output data via the serial port and feed that into the autopilot.


Closed loop means that you also connect the output of the autopilot to the input of the simulator, so that the autopilot is "flying" the aircraft on screen. This usually requires a relatively complicated bit of hardware that converts the PWM servo output of the autopilot into what amount to joystick commands via USB or serial that steer the plane in the simulator. It can also be done entirely in software on the host PC, as in the case of Matlab simulations being driven by a flight simulator.


Here are some blog posts that show examples:


--Curt Olson's FlightGear demo

--Faisal Shah closes the loop, Part 1

--Faisal Shah closes the loop, Part 2


Here's the contest structure:


Two sets of winners:


Both must write "DIY" (in cursive) over a place of their choosing. Example above from brakar, who, like Jesse & Jared, have jumped the gun a bit and already submitted successful entries for this round.


--Group One: Open loop (video showing you mirroring the airplanes control surfaces with the arrow keys): First six to complete this win a $25 gift certificate to the DIY Drones store.


--Group Two: Closed loop (aircraft controls the flight simulator): First three to complete this win a $50 gift certificate.


A special top prize will go to the person who best documents how they went about it and creates a useful tutorial for others to use afterward (judge: Gary Mortimer). The prize for that will be the notorious Raven UAV clone (unless the winner requests something else, in which case I may grant mercy and come up with something of equal or greater value).


Also, as suggested by Brian Wolfe, anyone who completes either of these rounds will get points added to their grand total: One point for open loop and four points for closed loop. Here are the current cumulative rankings after five T3 rounds:


Brian Wolfe 31
Vassilis 24
Brakar 23
Mark Griffin 18
Krzysztof Bosak 17
Andrus Kangro 12
Jesse Jared 8
IOS 6
Bill Premerlani 6
MarcS 6
Joe 6
Steve Joyce 5
Steve Westerfield 3
Chris Anderson 3
Icebear 1


Entries must include a video and KML track and a description of your simulation setup (flight sim, autopilot, other hardware). Submit your entry in the comments below by 12:00 midnight PST on Sunday, May 2nd.


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Comments

  • Congratulations to all who entered! Thanks to Alexandr for the hints and inspiration, and brakar for saving me having to come up with scandinavian timber themed innuendo, as any great Norwegian would.
  • Congrats to Krzysztof and Brian with the victory! The two also deserves a special thanks; Brian for the effort and for the spirit of sharing, Krzysztof for making this round easy surf for me.

    PS Gary, I find it hard to belive you are still not hooked on norwegian musik. Where I live it is incredible popular. You really should attend the Norwegian wood festival next month and do some more sampeling, http://www.norwegianwood.no/
  • 3D Robotics
    Congrats ChrisB and Brian! Please PM me your address, so I can send the boards. (I know you've sent them to me before, but my inbox here is a mess)
  • Moderator
    Ok then.... No objections.... It gives me great pleasure to say that the winners, and there are two have been chosen... Brian for his simulation and the best explanation, and Chris B for sillyness whilst undertaking the task. they will both win, drum roll, a brand new ArduPilot Mega board

    Everybody that entered I gave 5 points to.

    I think that's almost the round I enjoyed most, there was lots of helping each other which is just the ticket.

    So after six rounds heres the standings

    Brian Wolfe 36
    Brakar 28
    Vassilis 24
    Krzysztof Bosak 22
    Mark Griffin 18
    Jesse Jared 13
    Andrus Kangro 12
    IOS 6
    Bill Premerlani 6
    MarcS 6
    Joe 6
    Steve Joyce 5
    Alexander Malikov 5
    Hopslink 5
    Steve Westerfield 3
    Chris Anderson 3
    Icebear 1

    Remember kids, when we finally work out how long a DIYdrones annual contest lasts the champion will have had a crack at more tasks than any other UAS contest out there.

    Now, dust down your airframes, and get some repair material at the ready. You will need it for the next one.....
  • Moderator
    I'm wondering if just single points all around is a little unfair, such an amount of work has gone into this task that perhaps 5 would be better. Even points for the physic, early entries. Any objections to that?
  • T3
    A link to a tutorial I'm putting together. Not quite done yet, but I'll post the link to what I have so far so people can comment.

    Tutorial
    Layout 24
  • Moderator
    Well today is the day, I will look again tommorrow morning, so midnight has passed everywhere. Excellent job this time, I like the shared learning that happens in the T3 thats exactly the idea, I also like the sillyness that is being expressed this time.

    I will take your entry from elsewhere Chris B as being for this, Hopslink seems to know all about entering, I'm still not hooked on Norwegian music Brakar, I am fully expecting Hopslink to remark about Norwegian wood.

    Loved the use of Lundy isalnd BTW I spent many moments flying over there when I was a lad.... Just looked at me chart, and I see the danger areas are gone, so it was a legal simulated flight!
  • Moderator
    Wow thats cool!!!

    I thought it had gone all dot matrix these days

    800px-Bling-Bling_Skywriting_David_Shankbone.jpg

  • T3
    How about this sky banner from MT propeller
    http://www.mt-propeller.com/imgs/photos/pages/skywr4_t.jpg
  • Moderator
    Ok went straight to Spotify and selected Vast Plain Clouds http://open.spotify.com/track/2TwcZUZDeNnL0K7Nq4hCKx

    Seemed an appropriate title.

    Little bit of lots of styles with Mr Garbarek, who would have thought a UAS competition would have me listen to Norwegian music!
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