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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: jferfre on April 13, 2016, 02:11:06 pm

Title: Other desperate user of revolution
Post by: jferfre on April 13, 2016, 02:11:06 pm
Hi all.

I'm stying to summarize my story. I'm changing a regular CC3D CopterControl for a Revolution with M8N mushroom GPS and OPLink modem. The chinese combo that many people use.

Ok.

I went into following the librepilot steps, calibrating everything and all was ok.

But...When I was ready to fly (removing the USB cable from Revo)...all esc started to beep constantly.

1. No idea. Reflash de firmware, begin from scratch, everything the same. The ESC beep ok, during wizard, and no complain until I remove the USB cable. Then, shut down, up, and start beeping no end... and no arm of course.

2. Came back to the CopterControl and all was OK. So...is something with the new hardware. No motor or esc.

3. I had the idea of...removing the gps cable from the main port and all is ok, here. No complain, esc arm, and ...could fly, although I haven't tried.

4. If I plug the GPS in MAIN or FLEXI...and remove the USB...esc start to beep again.

Currently, as I reflashed, I have no home and no sensor calibration. I guess this is not related.

I REALLY REALLY appreciate any clue

Thanks to all for reading
^_Pepe_^
Title: Re: Other desperate user of revolution
Post by: f5soh on April 13, 2016, 02:31:30 pm
Looks like another hardware issue...

Check the voltage used to power the board with and without GPS connected.
If all Esc start beeping, they do not receive PWM signal from board maybe because Revo is not powered correctly anymore.

Can be a GPS issue with some sort of short circuit or power source that do not handle current.
Title: Re: Other desperate user of revolution
Post by: jferfre on April 13, 2016, 02:38:35 pm
Thanks for answer. You seem to be right.

I've tested +5 from the BEC to the revo but honestly I don't trust this BEC (chinese ZMR plate). If I can discard voltage issues, I'll go for a new GPS in first chance

At least, I can fly (guess) without GPS plugged.

Best
^_Pepe_^
Title: Re: Other desperate user of revolution
Post by: jferfre on April 13, 2016, 05:10:25 pm
Ladys and gentleman... problem solved

 8)

Actually, the behaviour was baffling. ESC start beeping strangely when I was trying to connect GPS AND/OR Oplink...ie...demand more amps

So, the culprit..the integrated BEC. I really hate this boards.

Well, UBEC from Hobbyking from the bottom of the toolbox, and all solved.

Now...lots of work to do.

1. Calibrate sensors, I could fly without it quite well.
2. Configure Altitude Hold and RTH
3. Start with FPV and OSD things.

Thanks to all for reading and f5soh for putting me on the clue

^_Pepe_^
Title: Re: Other desperate user of revolution
Post by: jferfre on April 13, 2016, 07:46:21 pm
Hi all again.
 ;D
Sorry for bother. I promise that with all other minis with CC3D CopterControl all was straighforward...and that I have certain level doing this things.

Issues that I currently have.

1. I guess I've lost (bricked) my Oplink ground station. I don't know why or how, I lost the binding with Revo, and BL6 was shown in Firmware tab. As per it's said that only BL4 is usable with revo and integrated modem, I've tried to downgrade the bootloader. Rescue > Flash > Blue light > wait 10 sec > Unplug > Plug > FW+Erase...but even seem to be connected, there're not green light in TX/RX. Trying to rebinding with Revo, seems to work, but there's not binding dB's...

Just wondering about other options to reset and recover the oplink

2. If I fly without GPS assist, no problem at all. But trying to activate, red light in errors, complaining about not magnetometer signal. I have activate GPS assist as I want to perform RTH. Sensor calibration, following https://librepilot.atlassian.net/wiki/display/LPDOC/Sensor+calibration, very careful...but after all...with the quad flat in the floor, the flight-data tab shows incorrect calibration, but all is green and I can arm (not a good idea...no crash, but crazy behavior).

Please any clue to improve sensor calibration. With battery or without? Is it important to do it outside (GPS Fix 3D?).

Thanks
^_Pepe_^
Title: Re: Other desperate user of revolution
Post by: f5soh on April 13, 2016, 08:12:20 pm
Looks like you need some readings :)

Where you see the Revo is BL4 ?
Go to this page, scroll down and there is a table with bootloaders:
https://librepilot.atlassian.net/wiki/display/LPDOC/Downloads

For all GPS modes you need INS13 and a Mag calibrated, working, not disturbed.
You should start with PosHold first:
https://librepilot.atlassian.net/wiki/display/LPDOC/Position+Hold
And next if successful you can try RTB:
https://librepilot.atlassian.net/wiki/display/LPDOC/Return+to+base
For RTB, no need GPSAssist.

Please note the GPSAssist is the last one in the list, for safety you should do PosHold, RTH and GPSAssist in this order.
https://librepilot.atlassian.net/wiki/display/LPDOC/Advanced+features

Edit: Oh... just see your mini quad. Do you have external mag working using next branch ?
Without doubt i can say your onboard Mag cannot work well in this setup / environment.

You should consider building the Next branch and use an external mag.
https://librepilot.atlassian.net/wiki/display/LPDOC/Windows+Building+and+Packaging

Title: Re: Other desperate user of revolution
Post by: jferfre on April 13, 2016, 08:19:48 pm
Well noted!  ;D

All of those read twice!

OPLINK issue: I've started here, http://opwiki.readthedocs.org/en/latest/appendices/bootloader.html, and in the general documentation here http://opwiki.readthedocs.org/en/latest/user_manual/revo/index.html
I've downloaded the whole tar.gz, and flashed the BL for Oplink (http://opwiki.readthedocs.org/en/latest/_downloads/bu_oplinkmini.opfw) . All was apparently ok. http://opwiki.readthedocs.org/en/latest/appendices/bootloader.html#how-to-upgrade-the-bootloader-and-erase-settings.
But nothing happens after. :(

RTH: Also I've done the homework. Altitude hold is my very first goal. Actually, to fly decently with GPS assistance. But I'm still stopped in calibration... I'll let you all know. And I offer a full tracklog in a post when finished.

Thanks
^_Pepe_^
Title: Re: Other desperate user of revolution
Post by: f5soh on April 13, 2016, 08:26:46 pm
Quote
But nothing happens after.

What happens if you do a rescue and check firmware / bootloader from your Oplink ?

I repeat: You cannot do any Gps mode using internal Mag on a ZMR250, thrust me.
Title: Re: Other desperate user of revolution
Post by: jferfre on April 13, 2016, 09:19:11 pm
1. BL 4, FW VERSION 15.04
Ashamed, now it's working. Closed
Sorry. I'll try to recap what happened

2. Really sad to ear that. At least gps info could be shown in FPV right?. I'll read info you gave and try to get an external mag. It is going to be implemented in the next version of LP?
Title: Re: Other desperate user of revolution
Post by: f5soh on April 13, 2016, 09:45:45 pm
Firmware 15.04 doesn't exist... maybe a typo ? You mean 15.09 ?

Don't be sad, that just physics... you cannot got a Mag working fine while strong currents from motors / esc / wiring / battery are too close.
You need an external mag on a mast.

Yes, already working for a while using the next branch.
GPS + I2C mag or Naza GPS with his mag.
Title: Re: Other desperate user of revolution
Post by: jferfre on April 13, 2016, 10:00:16 pm
Yep, sorry
15.09. Guess that versions follow the Ubuntu version codes  ;)

Regarding the mag, I guess my cheap M8N has no mag either, so I would have to update the GPS also!

Sad. But anyway, I'm going to focus on FPV.

Thanks for helping!
I really appreciate your help
Title: Re: Other desperate user of revolution
Post by: zukenj on April 14, 2016, 05:02:32 am
Look for Revo AuxMag. In that post there is a link to a video that show how to wire the mag if it is present


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Other desperate user of revolution
Post by: jferfre on April 14, 2016, 07:27:21 am
Hi. Thanks for the info.
Other dumb question. What if I rescue a 2-6S ESC that I have in the bottom of my toolbox and I move all hardware (except motor & props, of course) to a 450 frame?

Do the 450's fellows have external mag also?

Thanks
^_Pepe_^
Title: Re: Other desperate user of revolution
Post by: cato on April 14, 2016, 09:37:09 am
Well,

I hope you have more than 1 of the 2-6 ESC :)

Well, I have a 450 frame (cinetank) with Revo Clone and externel Mag. Even with 450 frames, the internal mag has problems: you have larger distances, but much stronger electrical fields, so the size gives only limited advantages regarding electro-magnetic fields. I see that many people use a Mag stand even on those frames, and did not test it in detail so far. But some quick checks I did suggestet that it may be ok to mount the external mag somewhere to the frame. I guess it depends a lot on your setup.
Title: Re: Other desperate user of revolution
Post by: jferfre on April 14, 2016, 12:06:50 pm
Thanks for the info.

Can you share a link for an I2C external mag to be used in REvolution.

Definitely, I'm going to build a 450 :) (HK has 15€ frames...) I don't know when!

Thanks
Title: Re: Other desperate user of revolution
Post by: jferfre on April 14, 2016, 02:43:24 pm
Other quick question, for a good samaritan.

Should I undersand that all these proprietary solutions that expensive aircrafts as DJI (Naza, so on...) have external mag? Because I've read that they announce RTH, emergency landing in case of low voltage and so on.
Title: Re: Other desperate user of revolution
Post by: f5soh on April 14, 2016, 03:49:22 pm
Yes, of course.

With GPS that include Mag or for old Phantom the Mag is attached to landing gear.
Title: Re: Other desperate user of revolution
Post by: zukenj on April 27, 2016, 09:15:53 pm
Hire is the wiki link to build the Next branch.

https://librepilot.atlassian.net/wiki/display/LPDOC/Developer+Manual (https://librepilot.atlassian.net/wiki/display/LPDOC/Developer+Manual)
Title: Re: Other desperate user of revolution
Post by: jferfre on April 27, 2016, 09:18:46 pm
I'll try soon
Actually, I'm in altitude hold and works near good. Some tweak have to be done