Comments

• James tate June 29, 2015 at 4:31pm

  Setting up AUX ports on Pixhawk

  I'm using a T8FG Radio and a R6208SB Receiver  and I want to setup AUX ports to operate Retractable Landing Gear, Gimble Pitch, and Lights on a Hexicopter , after setup up in T8FG I will send signal through S-Bus RC-IN to Pixhawk.

  What i need to know , using Mission Planner howto setup on the Six AUX ports.

  I'm aware of the ports are recognised  as;

  1  50

  2  51

  3  52

  4  53

  5  54

  6  55

  I'm using a Receiver Switch to control the light

  The Retractable Gear and Gimble Pitch have their own servo connections
• Phil Horner June 8, 2015 at 4:30pm

  I've just completed 6 flights on my QAV540G with pixhawk and everything is running well in stabilised, alt hold and loiter modes. I've downloaded the logs to see if the auto analysis will pick up any issues, but everything is looking fine except the PM FAIL.  All the logs say the same thing, 31 to 33 slow loop lines found. Max 11.5% line 828.

  Can someone please tell me what this means and do I need to be concerned about it. The logging parameter was Default + IMU but I have reset it to just Default thinking that maybe it was using to much resources but I can't see any difference. What should the logging parameter be set at ? I'm really desperate to get an opinion on this as I want to go to the next step and do an Autonomous flight so I can eventually set up for mapping.

  Any and all comments would be much appreciated.
• Phil Horner June 4, 2015 at 3:21pm

  Does everyone religiously conduct gps calibrations when starting a new flying session out in the field?
• Marc Cretten May 25, 2015 at 12:08pm

  Anyone seen or know anything of the Pixhawk 2?
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  Joe Renteria May 8, 2015 at 11:03am

  It's been awhile so I am not sure how I finally got a similar issue resolved, but I believe I finally got everything working after I had my esc programmed correctly...
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  Artem May 8, 2015 at 10:29am

  Tim, you should really consider updating the stock SimonK firmware on the Spiders to the latest one, once done all your sync issue will go away. Also while upgrading SK it is easy to set the min and max throttle settings in the GUI, as simple as typing the numbers and pressing "flash" when done you won't even need to calibrate them, as they all will have the same settings.  The numbers to put in the min and max fields you can get from the MP radio calibration screen, throttle channel. The most recent Spiders have simonk bootloader on them so they support turnigy/afro ESC linker sticks, if you have older hardware, the best way is to use this + this to flash simonk+bootoader, afterwards you will be able to use a turnigy/afro stick to upgrade/change settings/motor direction through the servo lead w/o taking ESCs off the copter or even flash blheli firmware on them. (I use 40A spiders on almost all copters I build and with 22/24 pole motors ESCs blheli runs them cooler with 8hz PWM).  Another great ESC is hobbywing xRotor 40A. Stock f/w is OK, but when flashed with blheli those ESC really perform great. 
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  Tim Pritts May 8, 2015 at 8:30am

  Thank you Artem and Harry for your input, it's greatly appreciated.

  When I calibrate the ESC's, using the all at once method, they seem to behave fine while in this calibration mode. While still in calibration mode there have been times where one the the ESC's exhibited sync issues and occasionally put out a slight grinding noise.

  If I were to purchase 3DR 20A ESC's, would all of my calibration and ESC's issues definitely go away? I'm beginning to think that this might be the road I need to take. I just hate having to spend $160 if it's not necessary.
• Harry Courter May 8, 2015 at 7:59am

  I am using 60A multi-pal ESC's from Foxtech, I get the impression they are identical to the Spider ESC.  After getting these to configure I have a few simple items to check.  First, your timing is difficult, Apply power, then push the safety switch to arm, then work the throttle.   But the ESC can only be configured for a very short time after power is applied, so you may need to do this several times and be very fast.  Second, calibrate your radio and verify the throttle is on ch3.  My radio did not come configured this way and needed to be changed.  Good luck and I hope this helps.
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  Artem May 7, 2015 at 3:25pm

  Spiders work with pixhawks w/o any issues for me since April last year, no sync loss, but they do heat up like crazy even at 5-6amp loads with high pole count motors. It is ok if you have constant airflow over them, but I tried putting 40A versions inside the tubes and those do heat to the point of cracking the heat-shrink. I am trying to compile a custom version of SK with increased DEAD_TIME, but I do not have much time to experiment till the second half of May and the process is rather tedious, but in the end I should find a setting in which ESC will operate at the same temp as with 16pole motors. 
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  Tim Pritts May 7, 2015 at 3:07pm

  Anyone that has Spider 30A Opto ESC's working well with a Pixhawk, I'd love your advice. I have tried everything to get these to work with my Pixhawk. HELP!