Unboxing the Feiyu FY-3ZT IMU autopilot

As promised ("take one for the team") I bought one of the Feiyu FY-3ZT autopilots from Hooks at FPVFlying.com, and it arrived today.

I haven't had a chance to test it (the software only runs on Windows XP right now, and I don't have any XP boxes), but here are the unboxing photos:

The instructions don't look too bad for a Chinese product.

Here are the parts:

--The three boxes in the middle are the (top) IMU, (middle) Remote Adapter and (bottom) Autopilot controller. Only the IMU and the Autopilot go in the plane. The Remote Adapter is for the ground station.

--Hooks also threw in a 433mhz 500 mW long range modem (black modules at left). I have no idea if they're legal in the US!

--There is also an OSD module (FY-OSD); I'm not sure if that's part of the basic kit or Hooks just being generous to me again.

--The GPS module is one of those very small Locosys deals (MC-1513). I'm not a huge Locosys fan, but we'll see how this performs.

--And the thing with the two red Deans plugs looks like a power/current monitor.

--All the rest is all the necessary cables, antennas and mounting bits.

Of course I took the boxes apart. Each one has an AMR7 processor. The IMU has the usual 3-axis accelerometer, a 2-axis gyro and a 1-axis yaw gyro. The controller board has a absolute pressure sensor. All the markings on the chips are obscured with black varnish so I don't know what kind they are.

I've got to fly off to Europe again tomorrow (Paris this time), so I won't get a chance to start testing until next week.

Bedankt Hooks. Don't worry, no energy used at all, I'll leave the AP wars to those with commercial interests. I must admit painting varnish on your chips doesn't leave a good impression, seems a bad attitude but perhaps that is just me. I still know they are using an STM32 though despite the varnish....

Note that I quoted everything from that thread, I'm more curious than anything as some of those comments are just simply bizarre, especially as they attack the hardware ArduPilot have chosen:

"They used such low tech chips for Autopilot???".

This is why I am really looking forward to the flight test of this platform done by Chris, there could be a real opportunity for our projects to learn something and realise we have made a huge mistake with our low tech chips, or possibly there will be another outcome?

RC Groups - the most active Radio Control model community: electric and fuel rc airplanes,rc helis,rc boats and rc cars. Features discussion forums,…

You need to be a member of diydrones to add comments!

Join diydrones

Comments

brakar August 2, 2010 at 5:19pm

Anyone who have thoughts about how this ap will perform compared to more known imu autopilots like the AttoPilot IMU, Micropilots, Arduimu etc?
Developer

Michael Smith August 2, 2010 at 4:53pm

A couple of notes (based on looking at their earlier FY-20A device).

The 'varnish' is a protective coating; it helps protect the components from moisture, etc. Reading part numbers through it is easy, just use some high-intensity lighting and experiment a bit with angles.

The SoC they seem to prefer is the STM32F103RB, which has a CortexM3 core, not an ARM7. Probably not a big deal from the user's perspective, but actually a much higher-performance device than the opening comments might have suggested.
Connexxion July 19, 2010 at 1:47pm

Chris A,what plane are you gonna test this AP in?
Real test would be a MPX Funjet or Stryker.If it handle that,it can handle (almost) everything.
JOHN PIZZICARA July 12, 2010 at 5:04pm

BTW, I have both my FY AP and the ARDUd2 crammed in to an Avistar with one of Jordi's standalone MUX's for Mr. Toad's Wild Ride next weekend!
JOHN PIZZICARA July 12, 2010 at 4:59pm

Well now Chris, I guess we'll have to check the Sim/AP Transform to find out!
Chris McNair July 12, 2010 at 3:42pm

Its 9DOF?
JOHN PIZZICARA July 12, 2010 at 2:10pm

OK, this is interesting - if you research the evolution of the descriptive terminology for full scale aircraft autopilots, there was no reference to AHRS until an AIR DATA input was part of the attitude picture the heart of which is an AOA (angle of attack) sensor and includes calibrated airspeed, so I guess the answer is no, even though my FY has magnetometers (according to the instruction book)!
RolandS888 July 5, 2010 at 8:18am

I love a good conspiracy theory....take it away dankers.
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson July 4, 2010 at 6:59am

"the ArduIMU and the Oilpan are IMUs and not an AHRSs as the attitude equations are solved by the autopilot."

Actually ArduIMU+ solves the equations onboard with its own atmega328, so it's a true AHRS (thus the "+" in it's name). The IMU shield for APM is just an IMU, as you say, because the processing is done on APM.
David Ankers July 4, 2010 at 6:46am

Bedankt Hooks. Don't worry, no energy used at all, I'll leave the AP wars to those with commercial interests. I must admit painting varnish on your chips doesn't leave a good impression, seems a bad attitude but perhaps that is just me. I still know they are using an STM32 though despite the varnish....

Note that I quoted everything from that thread, I'm more curious than anything as some of those comments are just simply bizarre, especially as they attack the hardware ArduPilot have chosen:

"They used such low tech chips for Autopilot???".

This is why I am really looking forward to the flight test of this platform done by Chris, there could be a real opportunity for our projects to learn something and realise we have made a huge mistake with our low tech chips, or possibly there will be another outcome?

RC Groups - View Single Post - FeiYu Tech - New UAV System Supplier

RC Groups - the most active Radio Control model community: electric and fuel rc airplanes,rc helis,rc boats and rc cars. Features discussion forums,…

of 5

This reply was deleted.