UAS
What
Arduino based auto-flight, auto-land drone.
Goals
- Command surfaces.
- Command throttle.
- Demonstrate RTS/preflight.
- Short, straight line flight coupled with "safe" landing.
- Fly an oval retaining a static altitude
- Circle up to altitude, then circle back down and land.
- Circle up to altitude, then dive down and land.
- Perform multiple "Go Around" test landing passes.
- Fly a longer flight plan.
- Test failure modes.
- Bonus: attempt to fly thermals!
Why
Because it interests us.
Of course, this is nothing new. It's all been done before, but not by us.
Who
- Scott B.
- Jeremy M. (AKA JT-Money)
Design
The goal of this project is to create an Automatic Flight System for use, initially, on inexpensive R/C aircraft. We intend to do this using low cost Arduino (or Arduino-like) development boards, an IMU, and GPS. As our confidence in the system grows, we intend to grow the project to control larger drones capable of greater range and payload.
See Drone/Design
Bill of Materials (BOM)
Auto Pilot
- Maple Mini as the in craft controller?
- GPS Receiver ~$60.00
- accelerometer or Gyro (3 axis)
- Proximity sensors (for autoland)
Aircraft
- Bixler Looks like a good place to start. Lots of surfaces to control, plenty of room for avionics, and reasonably priced.
Some other fun aircraft:
- HobbyKing SkyFun as the craft
- Note: make sure to get a redundant craft. I, or my s/w defect, will surely crash and destroy one...
- Servos X 3 (two control surfaces plus throttle)
- Predator Fairly large. Lots of goodness?
- review great info.
- Reaper cool.
Coms
- XBee PRO 900 XSC? or...?
Misscelaneous
Assumptions
See Also
- INS @ Wikipedia