New long range module for Turnigy 9X 9Ch Transmitter or other JR Radios.

Long range JR UHF radio system 265 USD

The new UHF RC system is based on Ham band and neighbouring band from 400mhz-470mhz, with the frequency hopping technology and frequency sweeping technology, you never need to worry about losing control of your precious plane.

Have short range trouble? this LRS has a range beyond your imagination. with a bad antenna, you may still get 20km range in the air, and with a super good 1/2 wave length one, you can even get 60km in the air.

Parameters:

RF output:1000mw-2200mw

Power comsumption: 300-600mA 

Range: 20-60km in the air

Failsafe: Yes

High and low power selection: 1000mw or 2000mw output

Highspeed control: yes

Transmitter parameters:

Hardware frequency Range 400MHz to 470MHz
Frequency stability :2.5ppm
Output low-pass Filter :NONE

Band 1
Start frequency:415Mhz
Step frequency:480Khz
Channel :70

Band 2
Start frequency:433Mhz
Step frequency:30Khz
Channel :70

Output Power : 30DB Peak / 33DB Peak

Rate : 40Hz/66Hz

RF interface impedance :50 Ohm

Supply Voltage :  8.4V to 16V
Reverse battery protection:NONE

Logic Voltage :3-12V

Current :
330mA/520mA (@50 Ohm load,12V Supply Voltage)
250mA/440mA (@No-load,12V Supply Voltage)
950mA/1.6A (@RF Short circuit,12V Supply Voltage)

Temperature:50 to 70 Degrees Celsius

Receiver parameter:

Frequency Range 400MHz to 470MHz

Sensitivity :     -112 DBM @0.1EBR(40Hz Refresh rate)
                  -111 DBM @0.1EBR(50Hz Refresh rate)
                  -110 DBM @0.1EBR(66Hz Refresh rate)
                  -108 DBM @0.1EBR(90Hz Refresh rate)
                  -104 DBM @0.1EBR(125Hz Refresh rate)
                  -104 DBM @0.1EBR(166Hz Refresh rate)
                  -101 DBM @0.1EBR(250Hz Refresh rate)

F/S turn on condition : >0.99EBR

Antenna gain : 2.15DBM

Step frequency :10kHz

Bandpass filter:Chip integration
Out-of-band rejection  :No specific data
It can work with video and audio transmitter which frequency less than 300Mhz or higher than 500Mhz .

Refresh rate :40Hz50Hz66Hz90Hz125Hz166Hz250Hz

Hopping rate :40Hz50Hz66Hz90Hz125Hz166Hz250Hz

Hopping cycle:13Hz16Hz22Hz30Hz41Hz 55Hz 83Hz

Recover time :77mS62mS45mS33mS24mS 18mS 12mS
        
Response Time : 4mS to 25mS

PWM Output accuracy :0.5uS step ERROR<20PPM

PWM Output range : 0.5mS-2.5mS

PWM output cycle :55Hz  @Normal mode
                  192Hz @Fast mode

PPM Output accuracy :0.5uS step ERROR<20PPM

PPM Output range : 0.5mS-2.5mS Each channel

PPM output cycle :50Hz@Normal mode & 1mS to 2mS Output
                   42Hz to 50Hz  @Normal mode & 0.5mS to 2.5mS Output
                         50Hz to 83Hz  @Fast mode   & 1mS to 2mS Output
                        42Hz to 125Hz @Fast mode   & 0.5mS to 2.5mS Output

PPM sync pulse width:4mS to 16mS  Automatic adjust @Normal mode
                     4mS Locked                    @Fast mode

Recommend Supply Voltage :    3V to 8.4V

Shutdown voltage :2.1(+-0.15)V

Damage voltage   :>15V

Power supply noise cancellation  :<=15 VPP

Reverse breakdown voltage : >-15V

Output ports withstand voltage : >12V

Normal Current : <110mA

Operating Temperature :–40 to +80 °C

Also available as a UHF Futaba module

well, that's an annoying thing to do ...!

But definitely rewarding.

My test bench was actually the arducopter arm, on which i mounted the prop to be balanced.

i hesitated how to balance them, as ordering a balancer now and waiting for it to arrive for a month would piss me off....

as i tried to run an un-balanced prop, the vibration were so noticeable that i decided to test it on the frame itself.

the before and after difference is HUGE.

and finally this is the testing setup:

Hi all,
My MAP-One is finally ready!
Remember, this is an autopilot based on pic18f452, but I do an error, it doesn't work at 40Mhz but just at 20Mhz because I choose a 20Mz crystal...stupid.

It can control 4 servos and esc, it can receive 4 rc signal from rc receiver. This autopilot is development platform for my gyro and accelerometer. This is not really an autopilot because it doesn't possess GPS or magnetometer. It has a on-board pressure sensor, xbee (or serial) connector, and other connectors for analog sensors.
The pressure sensor is missing, but my board works well !
I test the serial (with ftdi adapter) and the ADC,I transmit value at 9600 bauds. Today I test servo and that works !

This my first board and my first autopilot (stabilization system) project. Be forgiving ;)

http://mapdrone.wordpress.com/about/map-one/

Dear Friends ,

the 07/04 will doing a online webcast where we present last updates of Multipilot32 project.

The index of presentation are :

• Improvment of IDE and library , new functionality and new lib , i2c lib is available and work !! , now we support all standard diydrones accessories:).
• Ready to use bin Example for testing your MP32  : Introduce Sensor Lab.
• Pre Flight Check with Arducopter NG 32 and Multipilot 32.
• Introduce new release of IMU and a RTF concept board.

Standard Fly configuration :

This is the official link to join the event:

http://www.virtualrobotix.com/events/webcast-on-multipilot32

We're back in stock , so the board is available.

Link of offcial product page :

http://www.virtualrobotix.com/page/multipilot32-1

First Flight video with Arducopter NG 32 on ArmFox V.4.

Main Thread :

Status of the project you can found daily update :

http://www.virtualrobotix.com/forum/topics/multipilot32-vride-and-vros

Power Point Presentation of Official Multipilot32 presentation.

http://www.virtualrobotix.com/profiles/blogs/multipilot-32-power-point

Getting started usefull information about the board , tools ,libary and firmware available for developing code on Multipilot32

http://www.virtualrobotix.com/forum/topics/multipilot32-getting-started

As you've all probably read in Chris' posts, DIY Drones/3D Robotics is growing fast. We're now at the point where we need to hire a full time Web Developer/Software Engineer to support the current website and upgrade the store to a better architecture as well as programming in Arduino to support new hardware development. Ideally, we would like someone who is as passionate about UAVs as we are, so we're turning to the community for the right person! If you have the skills listed below (or know someone that does), we want to hear from you! Competitive salary.

Desired skills:

-HTML, XHTML, HTML5, Java Script, SQL, PHP, AJAX.
-Some experience in databases.
-Experience with Zen Cart.
-Basic designer skill's and CSS.
-Networking and servers.
-Linux, Windows and Mac.
-Some Photoshop and photography (preferred).

Other skills in addition to the above:

- Strong teamwork and cooperative design skills.
- Self-motivated to learn and solve problems independently.
- RC/full-scale airplane or helicopter experience.
- C/C++ Programming and Arduino IDE...
- Strong technical writing skills preferred.
- Living near San Diego, CA or willing to relocate

For those of you who don't know me, I'm the newest addition to the 3d robotics team. I'm here to help get more new products into your hands faster. I can personally attest to the fun and exciting work environment at DIY Drones headquarters. Please forward your resumes to ardupilot@gmail.com and don't hesitate to contact me personally if you have any questions. We look forward to hearing from you!

My ArduPilot Trials Day 2

I started off the day very excited to see how a new day of testing would go. I'd re-read portions of the manual, searched for ArduPilot tuning posts and contemplated the replies I got from my previous post.

The conditions were great and I was ready to toss that sucker up and get some satisfaction.
Instead, I learned a lesson. You see the picture above? That's what you get when you fly your plane using the wrong configuration on your radio. Notice how the tall grass beacons my plane to follow it's shadow... Well it did! Fortunately for me the grass was tall and I was quickly able to see the problem and cut power so no damage to speak of.

After I double-checked the electronics and hardware I reset the model in the radio to the appropriate configuration I got a GPS lock and tossed it up. I waited to engage the ArduPilot, which was in Stabilize mode until I trimmed out the model. Wow, what a great flight. The Stabilize mode checked out wonderfully. My fellow flyers were impressed with how well it did, especially when I used the stabilizer to bring it in for a landing. It was truly great. I lined it up on the approach I wanted, into a slight breeze and cut the gas and it glided in perfectly.

My ArduPilot Trials Day 3
Like yesterday I started of today very excited to try the next test. After flying yesterday, I took home the plane so I could change it's mode from Stabilize to Fly-By-Wire-A.

I was all set and ready to figure out what the heck "tell it where you want to go and it'll figure it out" was all about (that's a slight synopsis of the description of the FBW modes). I got my lock, put the wing on and gave it a toss.

Again, I learned a lesson. Not a new lesson, but one that should have been very fresh in my mind. You see the pictures below? That's what you get when you fly your plane using the wrong configuration on your radio. Notice how the tall grass beacons my plane to follow it's shadow... This time the grass was shorter and right next to a service road! Fortunately for me it was the grass, which was tall enough so again damage to speak of, just a bruised ego as I had watchers and needed a rubber band to hold on the GPS which had popped off.

So just what was that lesson? No it's not "dont fly your stryker" or even "double-check your model". It's Use Checklists to avoid these type of problems. I could have been sent back to ground zero with either of these crashes. I'm now building some easy grease pencil checklists that I'm going to attach to the plane and complete right on the model prior to flight. That should save me from myself and from having to remember to bring the list!

Todays second attempt went very well. Again once I trimmed out and got the model into the AP mode the FBW worked very well. It is different than the Co-Pilot for sure, but I use the rudder to produce a flat turn. The flatter the turn the better it's keeping itself stable. I did not get the chance to do the tests that are recommended for FBW, that will be next flight. For now I'm very happy with the ArduPilot. I again used the AP to land the plane, which was a little off from yesterdays great landing but I blame that more on me and how nervous I was after drilling the plane into the ground two days in a row. It did remain very stable during the approach and landing the line up was a little off so I had to walk a few yards to retrieve it instead of a few feet like the previous day. No big deal.

Next Test, FlyByWire-B, although I'm not sure what to expect in this mode with the motor? I guess it just keeps it constant? If anyone can explain that I'd appreciate it.

Wish me luck!

Notice how it's not quite square to the frame of the first picture? That creates visual interest!

In the second shot the shadow almost forces your eye to whats outside of the frame.

The third shot conveys movement. Notice how the grass in the background is in focus yet the foreground grass is blurred as the plane smashes into it...
Last but not least a nice shot after the model was corrected.

I recently started an open-hardware project based on my RF work for the past several years.  Although I was targeting challenging real-time data collection in a tree-fruit orchard envrionment, UAV telemetry seems like a very good match for the design due to the inherent attributes of Low-latency and High reliability.  This modem is very similar to the performance characteristics of something like the original MHX910 from Microhard Systems.  Let me know what you think.

----------- from the project page ---------------

http://sourceforge.net/projects/openfhss/

For the 2nd time, we plugged the genderless micro Dean connectors in the wrong way & got an explosion followed by fire.

Without any gender, many a modeler has plugged 2 batteries into each other with these connectors, but why would anyone except a complete idiot say anything bad about a connector they spent $5 on?  Well, let us be the 1st complete idiot & regale the world with this new revelation.

This time, we got a pretty nasty burn.  The micro Dean connectors are the best connector for the job, but the lack of gender makes them Satan.  Marcy 1 has a new objective: finding a better micro connector.

OK so i got the frame parts and assembled it all...

APM and power distribution board:

the flat rainbow wire (black white gray purple blue) is from the power board, it carries GND, Left, Right, Front, Back.

i just used my own wire to have greater length and flexibility. i wanted the GND too because i will power the electronics with another BEC, not from one of the 4 ESC.

Motors mounted:

In the process of tidying the ESC wiring:

GPS mounted:

And finally the whole thing:

I'm still waiting for a few parts to arrive,

especially the radios, the video TX\RX as well,

and lots of parts for the DSLR camera mount i will just start to build.

soon on the way also - 2 more motors and ESC for the upgrade to a custom HEXA frame, on which the DSLR will be mounted on.

so the next post will probably be the camera mount building,

or maybe the first flight if i get the radio sooner than expected :-)

keep following !

Many of you have asked for a return of the DIY Drones podcast, which Tim Trueman and I took to nearly 30 episodes before we got way too busy with our day jobs last year. (You can listen to all the episodes here).

Tim's keen to restart it, but I'm too busy to be his co-host this time. So we need volunteers, both do to the interviews with Tim (they're typically done by Skype on a Sunday night) and to help identify and invite good guests.

Who would like to participate? Please volunteer or comment below.

Lasermotive

Welcome to LaserMotive...

LaserMotive is a Seattle-based company developing laser power beaming systems to transmit electricity without wires, for applications where wires are either cost prohibitive or physically impractical. As our first project, we won $900,000 in the NASA-sponsored Power Beaming competition, part of the Space Elevator Game

Arducopter Quad Ready to Fly now IN STOCK at uDrones!  Assembled, code loaded and tested. Limited Quantities so act now.

We process and ship your order in 24 hrs.

We are working hard restocking this beauty ASAP, so they'll stay in stock going forward

Cheers!

Gigio

Udrones Store

So I was reading the article on the MIT guys using the kinect to map out a physical space and what struck me was not the amazing mapping technology, but their really great guard they've got on their quad props.

It looks like the straight edges are CF Rods... does anybody know about the light-colored round pieces that connect under the motor?  Any ideas on the best material/process to make some that are reasonably strong?

"The face you save could be your own."

This is the sUAS flying over the nuclear plant in Japan, does anyone have info on it, I am struggling.

Here's another cool autonomous vehicle project on Kickstarter. Pledge $400 or more and, if the project hits its funding goal, "We send you a remotely controlled 1m (3.2ft) long, articulated, inflatable Protei in KIT to assemble yourself. The design and functionalities would be similar to the one of Protei002 (http://goo.gl/dWG7p)."

 

"We are developing Protei : a low-cost open-source oil collecting robot that autonomously sails upwind, intercepting oil sheens going downwind. Protei combines conventional technologies in an innovative design that we can implement in the short term to address timely environmental crisis such as the BP Oil Spill, cleaning the ocean gyre garbage patches or performing ocean research. We need your help to build our next prototype of Protei - the first articulated sailing boat that can tack upwind pulling a long heavy payload and initiating a revolutionary family in ocean robotics. http://protei.org"

Here is my quick mod to make it easier to fill up my Easy Star with all the gear. The lid will be held in place with 6 pair of magnets glued to the fuselage. I did the prototype with 3 mm balsa but the next version will be in 2 mm ply. I will probably make a box on top for the APM and better pockets for the XBee and GPS.

They seem to point the finger at the RC pilot, although I think both pilots were showboating. That is unless smoke on and stay down is a standard go around in the USA

Full story

Bring on Detect Sense and Avoid