GUI almost done...

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The GUI for my tricopter is almost finished. Watch a screen capture video here. It's working very fine and it is pretty handy.


 What needs to be added is a possibility to flash new firmware to the tricopter. I would like to include avrdude in my GUI, but I still need to do some test with avrdude, Arduino bootloaders & RS232 cables... The GUI will be released when it is finished.
The Arduino pro mini m168 is now filled to 85%. I will change over to an Arduino pro mini m328 so that I'll never run out of space.
It seems as if I am going to build an extra tricopter with the ESC's from mikrokopter.de. That is a good opportunity to test everything again, making sure that building a Shrediquette DLX doesn't cause any problems.

Edit: Today I sucessfully flashed my m168 and my new m328 via RS232 + bootloader + avrdude! I also managed to run avrdude hidden inside my GUI (so you don't have to enter any parameters, everything is done automatically with one single button press!). I will soon write an extensive tutorial on how to build a Shrediquette and how to set all parameters etc....

Comments

  1. Fly me to the moon17 November 2009 at 02:58

    Good job!! william
    I think Tricopter Gui is simple and useful.
    Thanks to share your tricopter all stuff^^

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous17 November 2009 at 19:23

    You're great !
    Maximus

    ReplyDelete
  3. Fly me to the moon19 November 2009 at 05:35

    you are progressing!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous21 November 2009 at 22:59

    Waiting on the edge of my seat for the GUI!!!! can't wait!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous29 November 2009 at 13:11

    This is brilliant!!!

    I have built a Mikrokopter but this seems much less complicated and is programmed in BASCOM that I understand!!
    I thought I read somewhere the back motor is controlled by a servo to change its position (I can't find where I read that now!) is that correct?
    Do you use standard ESC's or I2C ones like the MK?
    You have used an Arduino - why not put a 328 or 168 direct onto the pcb?

    regards Peter

    ReplyDelete
  6. William Thielicke29 November 2009 at 15:02

    Hello Peter,
    yes, I am using a servo to tilt the motor at the back:
    http://www.villalachouette.de/william/krims/tricopter/buechi/5.jpg
    I am using I2C ESCs (actually standard ones that I modified, but the "Holger-Regler" will also work). I am using an Arduino, because it comes preprogrammed with a bootloader. That is quite handy for people that do not have Bascom or an ISP-Programmer. With the Arduino, they can simply program the controller using a simple RS232 cable.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous1 December 2009 at 10:43

    Impressive engineering, and beautiful cinematography. Thank you for sharing it with everybody.

    I can understand that using I2C can minimize the number of pins to control ESCs etc. I also read an argument and also counter argument that I2C's fast speed provide advantage. However, considering the inertia of the propeller, I do not see that update rate of the speed control is that critical.

    Can you enlighten us why you use I2C for ESCs and do you thing normal ESC with RC input can be used in your system?

    Roberto

    ReplyDelete
  8. William Thielicke1 December 2009 at 11:56

    Dear Roberto,
    I also think that I2C is much faster than PWM. But, there are also Quadrocopters that work really good with PWM ESCs. You're right that the inertia of propellers should make the whole system quite slow. But still, even if the "rpm-change" reaction of the motors is slow, there is no reason to make it even slower using PWM. I am planning to make a I2C->PWM converter using three (or even four) mega8's (TQFP package). But I am still looking for a "sponsor" for three standard PWM ESCs so that I can test the converter. Anyone, feel free to borrow me these ESCs, you will get them back when I finished programming the converter.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous1 December 2009 at 17:16

    Thanks feedback William. Couple more questions I have:
    1. How far from the centre of the frame are the motors.
    2. I assume the variable pitch motor is to the rear of the flight direction?
    2. How should the gyros be orientated relative to the flight direction and how are the sensor boards mounted (ie flat)?

    regards Peter

    ReplyDelete
  10. William Thielicke1 December 2009 at 19:38

    The distance of the individual motors is 37cm. But the copter can be smaller or larger, it doesn't really matter that much.
    "Variable pitch" is a bit misleading. It is fixed pitch, but the motor itself can be rotated. It can be to the front or to the rear, as you wish. Personally, I think it looks better with the motor at the rear. The gyros are orientated to work for roll, nick and yaw. In this image, you can see the sensors:
    http://www.villalachouette.de/william/krims/tricopter/triguide_finished.jpg
    The front of the copter would be bottom-left.

    ReplyDelete

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