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MANUAL
SPRING SEMESTER REPORT
Indoor Quad-rotor Control
M.E. Team Number 01
Members:
ECE DEPARTMENT:
Jigar Patel: Team Leader
John Chung: Software/Hardware Engineer
Matthew Kishe: Team Webmaster/Test Engineer
ME DEPARTMENT:
Adam Sobiewski: Team Leader/Treasurer
Andrew Silva: Sponsor Liaison
Gabriel Morales: Mechanical Engineer
SPONSOR
Contents
I.
Function Analysis.............................................................................................................. 2
II.
Project Specifications........................................................................................................ 2
III.
Operation Procedures................................................................................................... 3
Hardware Assembly............................................................................................................ 3
Firmware............................................................................................................................. 7
IV.
V.
Troubleshooting................................................................................................................. 9
VI.
Future Repair/Replacement........................................................................................... 9
VII.
Spare Parts.................................................................................................................. 10
Table o
Figures
Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure
1: Propeller Guard......................................................................................................... 2
2: Support Arm............................................................................................................. 2
3: Protective housing.................................................................................................... 3
4: Landing gear and motor assembly...........................................................................4
5: Main frame Assembly1.............................................................................................. 5
6: X-frame Configuration1............................................................................................. 5
7: PDB mounting1......................................................................................................... 5
8: ESC cable connections1............................................................................................. 6
9: PX4 mounted onto the bottom of the frame.............................................................6
10: Cable connection for hardware...............................................................................7
11: QGC PX4FMU CONFIG/SCAN Screenshot.................................................................8
12: Installation instructions for protective housing.......................................................9
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I. Function Analysis
The protective housing is comprised of eight (8) total parts consisting of four (4) support
arms and four (4) propeller guards, both shown below. The propeller guards enclose each
motor assembly to prevent it from coming into contact with any obstacle in the event of
a crash. The propeller guards are connected to the main quadcopter frame via support
arms. The support arms are designed to transfer the load from the propeller guard
through the center of mass of the quadcopter.
FIGURE 2: S UPPORT A RM
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FIGURE 3: P ROTECTIVE
HOUSING
Furthermore, the protective housing will protect the users from harm during handling of
quadcopter. In addition to disconnecting the battery, the protective housing will keep the
users hands and fingers outside of the propellers spinning radius. Eyes and hand
protection is still a requirement while handling the quadcopter.
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Refer to the site for detailed instructions on how to unbox and assemble a quadcopter.
Below are a summary of the steps for putting together the quadcopter.
a. Start with putting together the landing gear onto the arms with spacers in
between the legs, do this for all four arms (See Figure 4)
Parts used:
o Two M3X25mm screw (green)
o Two M3 metal washer (pink)
o Two M3X18mm spacers
o Four M3X5mm screws (blue)
b. Mount the motors onto the end of the arm. Insert the motor cables into the side of
the arm, do this for all four arms (See Figure 4)
Parts used:
o Two M3X5mm screws (blue)
o Two M3 lock washers (orange)
FIGURE 4: L ANDING
c. Once all four arms are done, assemble the main frame top and bottom plates
(See Figure 5)
Four M3X30 mm screws (blue)
Four M3X25 mm screws (green)
Eight M3 metal nuts (pink)
Four M3 lock washers (orange)
Four M3X08 mm spacers
Four 3X5mm screws (red)
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FIGURE 5: M AIN
FRAME
ASSEMBLY 1
d. Mount the PDB onto the four spacers in the middle of the bottom plate. Make sure
that the front arrow on the PDB matches the copters convention and configuration
type (X frame configuration). (See Figure 7)
FIGURE 7: PDB
MOUNTING 1
e. Connect the ESC cables to the respective motor cables. See Figure 8 to obtain the
correct directions for the motors. Directions are shown in Figure 6.
NOTE: Do not secure the ESCs until the directions have been verified
(this step is explained in the next section)
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FIGURE 8: ESC
f.
CABLE CONNECTIONS 1
Mount the PX4FMU and PX4IO onto a plate and use spacers to attach it to the
bottom plate.
FIGURE 9: PX4
g. Use double sided tape or Velcro to stick the RC receiver, and telemetry receiver
onto the top of the copter and use M3X8mm nylon screws to mount the PX4FLOW
onto the bottom of the accessory plate.
h. Use the figure below to make all the cable connections to the PX4FMU/IO board
(See
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Once all the components are correctly connected move to the firmware section to
flash the firmware.
Firmware
This section talks about setting up the PX4FMU along with the carrier PX4IO board. Make
sure you have an empty Micro SD card. First step is to install the firmware using
QGroundControl (QGC).
a. QGroundControl (QGC) Software
Download the most recent version of QGroundControl which can be downloaded
by clicking here and then follow these steps to get ready for your first flight
b. PX4FMU Firmware
In QGC click on the CONFIG then on the big green SCAN button. Click on the
flash/upgrade firmware button to load the firmware onto the PX4FMU.
2 High
cache=
resolution
image
http://pixhawk.org/_media/airframes/x5/buildlog_q_x5_26.jpg?
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V.
Troubleshooting
INSTRUCTIONS FOR
PROTECTIVE HOUSING .
The multirotor velocity controller folder contains the source code that needs
In addition to the controls listed above, spare parts for each component of the protective
housing will be fabricated in case of failure of one piece. The parts were designed to be
easily interchangeable if a piece were to fracture. Prior to each flight, all screws, nuts,
and components of the protective housing, as well as the entire quadcopter system,
should be checked for any issues to prevent catastrophic failure during flight.
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Propellers
Spacers
Specifications
11 X 4.7
11 X 4.7P
M3
M3
M3
M3
X
X
X
X
24mm
08 mm
18 mm
30 mm
Description
Used for flying the
copter, the letter P
which stands for
pusher is used for the
clockwise rotating
arms. While the
propellers without the
P are used for the
counter-clockwise
rotating arms.
Black nylon spacers of
varied lengths.
*NOTE: have lots of
these on hand, easy
to break hard to find.
Legs
N/A
Battery
LiPo
Battery
3S
3300 mAh
Lithium
Polymer
battery 20C discharge
rate
Male
Female
Dean
Connectors
Images
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ESCs
20A-BEC
Electronic Speed
Controllers (ESCs) a
spare set would be
helpful (4 ESCs)
Motors
880 kV
Arms
3DR
Aluminum
Arms
Support
Arms
Protective
Housing
Support Arms
Propeller
Guards
Protective
Housing
Propeller
Guards
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