my alien/reptile... NOW DISCO

[Hands0n]

thanks danny, this was indoors when I got that warning so is that normal? or do I still need to change it?.
I know I need to change my yaw orientation too I think... my compass is reversed too.. glad I found this now!

Yes, if you';re indoors you will be very unlikely to get a decent HDOP.  I usually step outside to the conservatory, get a decent HOP and then bring it back in.

There are overrides in MP to turn off one or more of the pre-arm checks. But caution if you do, make sure you turn them back on afterwards or disaster may ensue.

[guest2350]

Yes, if you';re indoors you will be very unlikely to get a decent HDOP.  I usually step outside to the conservatory, get a decent HOP and then bring it back in.

There are overrides in MP to turn off one or more of the pre-arm checks. But caution if you do, make sure you turn them back on afterwards or disaster may ensue.

lol  yes, I turned off gps the other day so I could arm it indoors to do some hover tests..  I did turn it back on though..lol

Just been for another short flight and all went very well, I hit geofence as is set it very short (about 50m) and it came straight back. I even set rtl height to about 8m so it didn';t get too far.
I might do an autotune when the wind dies down 

[Hands0n]

I';ve had mixed results with Auto Tune.  It worked fabulously on the TBS Disco and was horrid on the Firefly 450.  With the Firefly it left it a bit highly strung, I had to turn down the PID a little afterwards - then it was fantastic. 

The nicest thing about Auto Tune is that it at least gets you in the ball park quickly and effortlessly.

[guest2350]

Indeed, I still need to learn how to tune PID';s though lol

[Hands0n]

Possibly the easiest is to stick each one on Channel 6 to a rotary knob on your TX, set hi and lo points and then adjust while in flight to get it feeling right for you. Do P first, then I then D and you';ll be good to go. There';s a good article on doing this someone on the Arducopter wiki/blog

[guest2350]

So, I did an autotune today. I must say its steady as a rock. it was pretty good before I did the auto tune to be honest.
one thing that is really bugging me now is the amount of jello, I have balanced my props on both the dubro and magnetic balancer. the only thing I can think of is it`s the motors. they seemed pretty good on the laser though 
I have tried various layers of moongel too.
a little bit of a panic landing at the end as I lose orientation  :embarrassed
http://youtu.be/INt9CcYa3Ks

[GdLookinMingeR]

I take it your useing a mobius i found the only answer was to add some weight to the camera to stop the jello
or the ther option was i bought the waterproof case and took the lens cap off this made the camera heavier and removed the jello.

https://joovuu.com/gb/home/103-mobius-waterproof-case.html

[guest2350]

Yes, it';s the mobius mate. I';ll give that a try! Thank you!

[Hands0n]

Thats looking good Jamie - I have never seen Auto Tune from the multi-rotor';s view point before. And have to say that it was a very short tuning run - mine have nearly run the battery dry previously. I';m certain that it is a lot to do with the quality (bendiness) of the air frame.  My cheapo Firefly 450 with its uber-cheap rotor arms took near six minutes and a complete 2200mAh battery.  My TBS Disco, heavier, pukka DJI rotor arms (£4.50 a pop ) too much less time and was more locked in than the Firefly ended up. 

You got a good result with your Auto Tune.

@GdLookingMingeR - thanks for the link for the Mobius dive case. I am also going diving while on holiday in June/July so this will be a handy addition to have.  30M is my licenced limit - I won';t be going any deeper anyway ::)

[guest2350]

Thanks Danny, I';m already in love with this air frame, it just holds beautifully.
The problem I have now is orientation, with everything being black and me being short sighted I am struggling a little to see which way it is heading.
I';m thinking of painting the feet with day glow starboard and port side colours and also maybe add some LEDs to help 

[GdLookinMingeR]

@GdLookingMingeR - thanks for the link for the Mobius dive case. I am also going diving while on holiday in June/July so this will be a handy addition to have.  30M is my licenced limit - I won';t be going any deeper anyway ::)

Nice to see a fellow diver on the forum then :-)

[Hands0n]

Nice to see a fellow diver on the forum then :-)

Cor, you too? Awesome. I';m PADI Openwater Advanced but only use it on holidays. Far too chicken to chance the waters of northern Europe ::)

[Hands0n]

The problem I have now is orientation, with everything being black and me being short sighted I am struggling a little to see which way it is heading.
I';m thinking of painting the feet with day glow starboard and port side colours and also maybe add some LEDs to help 

LEDs are a good way to go. You can buy 5m strips of the stuff quite cheaply on eBay, runs off a 3S lipo voltage nicely too. Something like this would do the trick: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5M-300-LED-Strip-Light-3528-5050-SMD-RGB-Ribbon-Tape-Roll-Waterproof-IP65-12V-UK-/350871703543?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Night_Lights_Fairy_Lights&var=&hash=item51b1954ff7

Go for the 5050 size - it is brighter, larger (50mm x 50mm) and easier to see from any kind of distance.  I';d say, from experience, to avoid White as it blends into the sky rendering the aircraft invisible (an old WW2 trick I read somewhere!). 

[guest2350]

avoid White as it blends into the sky rendering the aircraft invisible (an old WW2 trick I read somewhere!). 

Interesting, thanks for pointing that out! something I never knew 

[Hands0n]

Here';s some Wikipedia on "counter illumination" - apparently it wasn';t actually used that much because of the advent of radar.   

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-illumination#Military_applications

::)

[kilby]

Have to agree, go with LEDs.

One thing I would say is avoid blue LEDs as they tend to dissappear from view if you are wearing sunglasses (they';re meant to block UV and therefore cut blue more than other colours)

[PKNEC]

Just fitted this to my clone 550 http://www.unmannedtechshop.co.uk/led-aircraft-navigation-lights.html quite effective during the day but have only been hovering pretty close in so at distance possibly won';t help much, but at night it';s awesome.
proper Alien craft.

[Hands0n]

Love those lights - bookmarked for the next time I purchase from UnmannedTech.  They have some really cool gear.

[guest2350]

Just fitted this to my clone 550 http://www.unmannedtechshop.co.uk/led-aircraft-navigation-lights.html quite effective during the day but have only been hovering pretty close in so at distance possibly won';t help much, but at night it';s awesome.
proper Alien craft.

nice price too!
I was looking at this!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221461700990?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&var=520329300027&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[Hands0n]

nice price too!
I was looking at this!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221461700990?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&var=520329300027&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I have that set of LEDs fitted to my TBS Disco - it was an easy install.

[guest2350]

I have that set of LEDs fitted to my TBS Disco - it was an easy install.

its those I will be getting then lol

[Hands0n]

I like the switching capability of the others of course, the strobes and the landing lights. ::)

[PKNEC]

If I can stay awake tonight I will do a night shot 

Those from ebay look good to Jamie and would probably help better with orientation, mind you could always just assign a switch to RTL and if things get out of hand flick the switch 

[guest2350]

i think I`ve got my disco to where I want it to be now, I have now "properly" balanced my props which are graupner 9x5`s. I think they are the best props I`ver ever bought from a balancing point of view. they took very minimal balancing unlike the gemfan and carbon fibre ones I bought previously. balancing any prop blades seems easy when just doing the blades but when It comes to the hubs, the graupners took the least effort to get right by far.

I had a gopro hero 3 black delivered early this week so that should cope better with any jello and I also cancelled my order for my fatshark dominator v2`s because I got fed up of waiting so I ordered the fatshark gen 3`s instead.
saved myself a few bob and had change to buy other bits that I wanted like osd`s and some batteries for my bixler.
my doms should arrive within a week or so but meanwhile I will keep using my homebrew goggles.
I hope to get out tomorrow and capture some footage so should get back with how it went. 

[weavo56]

Just ordered a naze32 full from  MakeitBuildit.co.uk   FC due in  beginning of Aug  .

I have a 450 Alien  quad with naze32 , GPS  , 980kv sunny motors , not quite flight ready yet  , but close  .

Graham

[guest2350]

So I';ve just realised that orange LRS can output ppm sum and APM + pixhawk accepts it.
Looks like a long range disco is in the making.
I already had orange LRS for my apm bixler but didn';t realise I could set up ppm. So happy now, as soon as I find some spare time the disco is being converted to LRS :)