On Board Computer for RC Helicopter

Projects General Guidance
1

Hello, i been playing a bit with arduino and RC devices for a bit now, and i would like to work on a project for a bit more "bigger" than a car.

so i thought and on board computer could be a fun project to work on. i have an initial schematic for it already.

a few of the things i would like to do are:

  • replace the RC gyro with the one in the IMU
  • failsafe while in-flight if connection is lost with transmitter enter in auto hover mode.
  • provide full 6V to the servos for maximum performance
  • assisted in-flight controls

Missing:

  • a logging module could be useful (blackbox style)
  • RPM sensor (not sure what the best approach for this could be yet)
  • temp sensor (not really sure if this is useful or not)
  • bluetooth with a android companion app to visualize data (real-time data / something with more range that bluetooth?)
  • camera stabilizer

i'm aware of the ardupilot project but i dont want a UAV.

what do you guys think? comments? suggestions?

also i have to add i'm very new to electronics, i'm starting to learn am using this project as a learning opportunity.

hobc.png
hobc.png1849×1264 43.6 KB

2

If you're close enough to use bluetooth, you're going to be in danger of getting bits of rotor blade embedded in you.

3

You didn't say how big the copter is, but you might take a look at the JeeNode. It's
about as small as a 28 pin DIP Arduino board can be. Runs off 3.3V v.reg, and has
an RF transceiver so you can talk to it. Would need a 3.3V IMU.

http://jeelabs.com/products/jeenode

4

The heli is big a 600 class (1200mm)

The bt idea was to get the data out of the heli on the field, for realtime i would need some with more range, probably wifi.

one of the things i wanted to do with this projects was to do my first PCB, so this will be using a standalone arduino board, with the atmega328p.

5

Hi nice to know i have a colleague, i'm trying to build a quadrotor with just an Arduino UNO and an old 4ch RC set, i've got the first parts of the hard job almost done, i connected the RC with the UNO and managet to work them together then i wrote the skeleton for the software and a basic open loop trial version

i'm starting the prototyping with a small quadcopter but the control interface i have designed will surely suit on a hely
in my plans there are an octocopter with rotor redundancy and a gas powered hely with on board generator and a small 2S LiPofor backup power, just to fill the tank and fly for hours

see ya