X-UFO
Gadgetman
Posts: 2,436
Has anyone attempted to hack one of these and put a BS2 or Propeller in it?
Silverlit X-UFO
I just got one today, and plan to eventually have it fly autonomously, but if someone else has already begun, I wouldn't mind a few pointers.
First off I'll probably replace the 12V/350mAH Ni-mh cell with Li-Po cells to lighten it.
(got to have the capacity to carry ultrasonic transducers)
I wonder if ultrasonics will work if placed underneath?
(Need to know the height)
Or should I use some other sort of sensor for that task?
Forward-pointing transducers should be out of the interference of the rotors, so that shouldn't be a problem.
Then there's the gyro...
Would you believe that the thing actually has a MECHANICAL gyro?
It even whines. Tilt it 20 degrees and it wobbles and loses control.
Do I have anything to gain by going for solid-state?
(I'm assuming that if it gets a 20degree tilt while flying it's probably about to crash anyhow... )
Then there's the 'ducted fan' design.
It may look like it, but it isn't really ducted fans. The rotors are mounted so that they end up at the top of, or slightly over the edge of the ducts, and there's almost .5" clearance between the edge of the blade and the ducts.
Whether or not building real ducts will give an efficiency boost to counter the weight of real ducts is another question.
Guess the first I need to do is to find out how the motor-speed is controlled and an easy way to replicate it.
(All 4 rotors have their own independently controlled motor)
Edit: fixed the link..
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Post Edited (Gadgetman) : 12/6/2006 7:00:45 PM GMT
Silverlit X-UFO
I just got one today, and plan to eventually have it fly autonomously, but if someone else has already begun, I wouldn't mind a few pointers.
First off I'll probably replace the 12V/350mAH Ni-mh cell with Li-Po cells to lighten it.
(got to have the capacity to carry ultrasonic transducers)
I wonder if ultrasonics will work if placed underneath?
(Need to know the height)
Or should I use some other sort of sensor for that task?
Forward-pointing transducers should be out of the interference of the rotors, so that shouldn't be a problem.
Then there's the gyro...
Would you believe that the thing actually has a MECHANICAL gyro?
It even whines. Tilt it 20 degrees and it wobbles and loses control.
Do I have anything to gain by going for solid-state?
(I'm assuming that if it gets a 20degree tilt while flying it's probably about to crash anyhow... )
Then there's the 'ducted fan' design.
It may look like it, but it isn't really ducted fans. The rotors are mounted so that they end up at the top of, or slightly over the edge of the ducts, and there's almost .5" clearance between the edge of the blade and the ducts.
Whether or not building real ducts will give an efficiency boost to counter the weight of real ducts is another question.
Guess the first I need to do is to find out how the motor-speed is controlled and an easy way to replicate it.
(All 4 rotors have their own independently controlled motor)
Edit: fixed the link..
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Don't visit my new website...
Post Edited (Gadgetman) : 12/6/2006 7:00:45 PM GMT
Comments
It's probably MAXed out as it is.
** Post Edit **· My Verti-Bird, which didn't really fly, though the propellor did generate lift, came with a hook for picking-up an "astronaut" and a "space capsule" (supplied), but nothing like that is offerred as Accessories (ergo my doubt/s) for this XUFO.
Post Edited (PJ Allen) : 12/7/2006 12:19:00 AM GMT
crgwbr
P.S. Definatly go with a Peizo (solid state) Gyro. Look Here.
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NerdMaster
For
Life
It flies...
But it's bl@@dy impossible to 'zero out' the tendency to rotate one way or the other.
I assume that the big gaps in the 'ducts' is to protect the propellers when it impacts something and the foam deforms.
Going for a lighter Li-po battery and getting a Piezo gyro should give me the lifting capacity to carry a Propeller and ultrasonics.
(I hope)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-kdbO4kE54
This is probably a prototype (no protective foam) -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ncSlcNSKIc
Maybe you can live on edge and go without that and carry some payload (??)
Search for Silverlit and/or XUFO and you'll find loads of videos.
Post Edited (PJ Allen) : 12/7/2006 12:08:58 PM GMT
I did try something, though...
I took the old Li-ion battery from my Simens M50 phone (3.6V/650mAH), taped it to the top of the X-UFO and tried to take off.
I managed to, at about 3/4 of full power, but were a bit 'sluggish' to control, and dropped like a rock when I dropped the power to 1/2...
I guess it may not need a new battery-pack immediately.
I think the one shown flying without foam has been 'modified' by the owner. Or maybe just been in one crash too many...
I may remove some of the foam, but not all, as it will be needed to support REAL ducts.
I'm also thinking of setting up some sort of jig to balance the propellers, as I suspect that they haven't been balanced properly from the factory. but that's for later.
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·
Gadgetman, what is the weight of the·cell phone battery you used?
·
Replacing the gyro (with piezo gyro), removing the excess foam, and upgrading the battery should give more lifting power.·But do you think the XUFO has the ability to carry sensors·or even a CMUcam after these modifications?
·
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That is about the same as the Ping sensor weighs, so you see why I want to increase the lift...
I need at least one ultrasonic sensor, pointing forward(It will mean having to periodically rotate the X-UFO clockwise/anticlockwise to scan around), to enable it to navigate a course, and preferably one pointing down to keep it at a safe altitude.
And unless it's possible to have forward-looking sensors placed in the middle(will rotor-wash interfere?) and periodically tilt it down, I need it to carry at least two.
One tip...
Get extra rotor-blades...
Sure, there are 4 spares in the box, but they won't last very long if you fly it like I do...
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Don't visit my new website...
I haven't had much time to tinker with this thing, but I have now ordered a few bits:
IMU 5 Degrees of Freedom
This 2gram breakout board(fully populated for $109) contains a 2-axis(X/Y) gyroscope, and a 3-axis(X/Y/Z) accelerometer.
That will take 2 - 5 AD inputs on a Propeller
Infrared Emitters & Detectors
(Sold in Emitter/Detector pairs for $0.95) I ordered 6 of those...
These will be used as crude proximity detectors, at least in the beginning.
(Maybe I'll try Ultrasonics later)
One will be on the bottom, to help maintain a safe clearance from the ground, and at least one along the rim for detecting objects before it bumps into them.
I may add more along the rim, later, and one may end up on the top, which is useful for indoor flying...
As for AD, there's a simple ADC in Assembler in this thread:
http://forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=25&m=159341&g=160497
It's probably not the most accurate, but it should do.
(I hope)
It can be modified to let one COG do 2 ADC operations, which should be helpful as I'll be needing at least 4 AD inputs in the beginning(Gyro and bottom/forward IR), and will be adding onto that as I learn to control the beast.
I still need to buy the 0603(or whatever size I think I can manage) components for the ADs, but those I can get from a more local supplier.
Ultrasonics is shelved for the time being, but if I were to add it, a set of Maxbotix EZ1, at a claimed weight of 4.3grams each, would be a strong possibility.
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Don't visit my new website...
http://x-ufo.totallytrygve.com
For those who are just as bored, there's even an RSS-feed...
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Don't visit my new website...