Networkm0nkey's Build Log - AQ Cyclone v2

[networkm0nkey]

Although I'm fairly new to the RC world, I have decided to try and build a nice quad while waiting for spring and warm weather to arrive. Since I do want to transition into some better AV and eventually FPV, I selected the Cyclone frame since it large enough to handle a GoPro, can setup in several different configurations and has parts that can be replaced fairly easy.

So here is what I am planning on so far:
Frame: Cyclone v2, X format
Brains: AQ 2.1 Kit
Transmitter: Spektrum DX8
Receiver: Spektrum AR600 Sport DSMX
Motors: BP A2217-9
Props: APC 10x4.7
ESCs: HobbyWing FlyFun 30A
Battery: Hyperion G3 Vx 5000 mAh 3S 11.1V 35C
Altitude: MaxBotix LV-EZ0
Camera: GoPro Hero 2

Further down the road:
Wireless: Most likely Xbee 900mhz
GPS: Maybe
FPV: Probably try for a 5.4ghz system

First good news, according to FedEx, my frame and mega kit were delivered today and are waiting for me to get home from work! Now while I work on putting the all headers, etc. on the Arduino, hooking up the shield and sensors, I can decide on the rest of the parts.

Looking forward to the build, trying to remember to document the process and joining the community here.

Cheers

[networkm0nkey]

Hi All,

I was hoping that someone with a little more experience could comment if I am on the right track with my parts list. At the moment, most interested in whether I have a good motor/prop/ESC combination, but any other comments, questions or advice would be great as well.

Here is the current part list:

Frame	Cyclone v2, X format
Controller	AQ Mega 2.1 Kit
Motors	Turnigy 2217/20
ESCs	Turnigy Plush 30A
Props	APC 12x3.8
Transmitter	Spektrum DX8
Receiver	Spektrum AR600 Sport DSMX
Battery	Hyperion G3 Vx 5000 mAh 3S 11.1V 35C

Thanks

[Kenny9999]

This look really good to me!

[kha]

I have pretty much exactly same components on my bigger quad.

One thing about the motors, you will want to put threadlock on the screws holding the axle (otherwise the screws will undo themselves and fly off and your quad will come down).

[networkm0nkey]

This post will be updated from time to time, as my list of parts and PID settings change.

Data Last Updated: 2012-05-21

Frame	Cyclone v2, X config
Controller	Arduino Mega 2650 R3
Shield	AQ Mega Kit - v2.1.2
Configurator	AQ 3.0.3 beta
Flight Software	AQ 3.0.1
ESCs	Hobbywing Fly Fun 30A
Motors	BP A2217-9
Props	APC 10x4.7
Transmitter	Spektrum DX8
Receiver	Spektrum AR600 Sport DSMX
Battery	Hyperion G3 Vx 5000 mAh 3S 11.1V 35C Hyperion G3 Cx 4000 mAh 3S 11.1V 25C
Altitude Sensor	MaxBotix LV-EZ0
Camera	GoPro Hero 2
VTX	Hobby King 5.8Ghz 200mW TX/RX Set
VTX Battery	Turnigy Nano-Tech 460 mAh 2S 7.4V 25C

Motor 1 to Motor 3	24"
Weight (no battery or camera)	1490g
Weight (with 5000mAh and GoPro)	2080g
Flight Time (with 5000mAh)	8:00 Minutes
Avg recharge capacity	~3650mAh

PID Settings
Notes: Attitude mode needs quite a bit of tuning, currently suffers from too much drift, but not too bad with oscillations, but quite a bit more stable than rate mode.

[Rate Mode]
Roll Proportional = "105"
Roll Integral = "0.5"
Roll Derivative = "-290"
Pitch Proportional = "105"
Pitch Integral = "0.5"
Pitch Derivative = "-290"


[Attitude Mode]
Roll Accel Proportional = "3"
Roll Accel Integral = "0.1"
Roll Accel Derivative = "-5"
Pitch Accel Proportional = "3"
Pitch Accel Integral = "0.1"
Pitch Accel Derivative = "-5"
Roll Gyro Proportional = "70"
Roll Gyro Integral = "0.4"
Roll Gyro Derivative = "-350"
Pitch Gyro Proportional = "70"
Pitch Gyro Integral = "0.4"
Pitch Gyro Derivative = "-350"
Windup Guard = "1000"

[Yaw Configuration]
Yaw Proportional = "200"
Yaw Integral = "5"
Yaw Derivative = "0"
Heading Hold Proportional = "3"
Heading Hold Integral = "0.1"
Heading Hold Derivative = "0"
Heading Hold Config = "1"


[Altitude Hold]
Altitude Proportional = "25"
Altitude Integral = "0.6"
Altitude Derivative = "0"
Altitude Windup Guard = "25"
Throttle Bump Value = "90"
Throttle Panic Value = "250"
Minimum Throttle Adjust = "-50"
Maximum Throttle Adjust = "50"
Altitude Smooth Factor = "0.1"
Z Dampening Proportional = "0"
Z Dampening Integral = "0"
Z Dampening Derivative = "0"


[Miscellaneous Configuration]
Gyro Smooth Factor = "1.1"
Voltage Reference = "5"
Minimum Armed Throttle = "1150"


[Transmitter Smoothing]
Transmitter Factor = "1"
Roll Smoothing = "1"
Pitch Smoothing = "1"
Yaw Smoothing = "0.5"
Throttle Smoothing = "1"
Mode Smoothing = "1"
Aux Smoothing = "1"


[Battery Monitor]
Alarm Voltage = "3.33"
Throttle Target = "1450"
Going Down Time = "60000"


[Camera Stabilization]
Mode = "0"
Center Pitch = "0"
Center Roll = "0"
Center Yaw = "0"
Scale Pitch Angle = "0"
Scale Roll Angle = "0"
Scale Yaw Angle = "0"
Servo Min Pitch = "0"
Servo Min Roll = "0"
Servo Min Yaw = "0"
Servo Max Pitch = "0"
Servo Max Roll = "0"
Servo Max Yaw = "0"

[MikeD]

Publishing individual build data in this way is an excellent idea and deserves a separate sticky thread where we can all post our data - how about it mikro?
As well as pid settings a flight video would be good to demonstrate the achieved stability.

[networkm0nkey]

Removing bullets
So I finally decided to rewire my quad by removing all the bullet connectors between the motors and the ESCs. I had avoided this in the past since it would make it a pain if I had to unsolder everything, every time I needed to replace the arms. However after a crash a few weeks ago that almost chopped my motor wires off, when I crashed and the motor mounts slid down the arm, I decided to just run the wires outside the arms. Now that I am doing that, I can remove the motors from the arms without having to unsolder everything.

One nice side effect of removing the bullets, was the weight, all the bullets and the solder in them to hold in the wires added up to over 40g. I also was able to shorten the wires running to the ESC, since they now run straight from the motors back to the ESCs, saving a few inches on every wire.

Adding FPV
Friday, my order from Hobby King finally arrived and I now have their cheap 200mw 5.8ghz video TX. I spent quite a bit of time yesterday getting the MAX7456 OSD wired in, getting a cable setup for the GoPro2 to hook into the MAX and video TX. I was able to get everything temporarily mounted on the top side of the Battery plate, but had to switch out the 1/4" standoffs with 1/2" standoffs in order to make sure that there is enough clearance.

So far it is working, but do have some issues with the video signal dropping completely for 1-2 seconds at a time. This could be due to having too high of voltage on the video RX, using a 2S lipo at the moment, but it calls for 5V for the RX, so need to take care of that. Might also need to adjust the channel on the TX/RX and add a 10K resistor to the MAX OSD, instead of the plain wire that is running between the 5V+ and reset.

Here is a test video in the basement.

Note: The GoPro was not recording, so the camera shuts off partway through the video. The quad is a bit unstable after removing bullets and adding the video gear, it needs some more tuning, but that is fine since I can now change the PIDs via the OSD menu!!

New landing gear
I installed some new test landing gear that Mikro sent, so far I love them. The new landing gear and nylon screws/nuts almost cut the weight by 50% over the original ones. Saves almost 20g per gear. Now I need to get outside and fly, to see how well the new gear holds up.

[Airwolf]

So far it is working, but do have some issues with the video signal dropping completely for 1-2 seconds at a time. This could be due to having too high of voltage on the video RX, using a 2S lipo at the moment, but it calls for 5V for the RX, so need to take care of that.

The need of 5V seems to be a typo on the product page as it says otherwise (6.5-12V) in the Rx data-sheet (last page) and personally I already powered it even with a 3s LiPo without any problems.

[jsmcms]

Yep, 12v is correct for that system. You probably are also seeing close phasing problems when a transnitter and receiver are so close. When they are farther apart, it will work better.

Cheers, Scott

[networkm0nkey]

The need of 5V seems to be a typo on the product page as it says otherwise (6.5-12V) in the Rx data-sheet (last page) and personally I already powered it even with a 3s LiPo without any problems.

Yep, 12v is correct for that system. You probably are also seeing close phasing problems when a transnitter and receiver are so close. When they are farther apart, it will work better.

Cheers, Scott

Thanks, confirmed that up to 12V should be fine for the RX, went ahead and picked up a AC adapter so that I can skip the battery when close to an outlet.

Scott, think you are correct with the RX and TX being too close together. I moved the quad upstairs and ran the RX downstairs and saw much less issues with the video dropping out, once the quad was back downstairs, then it had an increase is the video dropping out.

Any issues with wiring the TX direct into the battery feed on the quad, using a 3S, so the 12V should be right on. If that should be fine, I'll probably wire in a connector so that I can kill power to the TX easily if I am not going to use it.

Thanks,
Matt