cross channel flight attempt

[brian]

Hi Tom,
I got a Gluon from Alex at UMT.
We want to fly a Bleriot from Wales to Ireland to commemorate a flight made 100 years ago on the 22Apr.
It was the first flight into Ireland.
The distance is 100km.
We just now have the model ready and flight tested.
It is 4 channel ; Elev ,ail ,rud and throttle (saito gas engine).
We have fuel and battery duration tested and proven.

We now have only a little time to set up the gluon and learn to use it.
Are you able to answer some (some stupid) questions in the next few days to help us.
It will have to be a steep learning curve.

The model flies just like a high wing trainer.

I understand that the tx should have no mix's, and why.

We will be using 2 tx"s on 35mH- one for take off and one for landing.is this ok ???

Why no servos reversed ???
We have aileron reversed as is - due to install limitations.

Can we programme the landing site as "home' instead of the take off site.

Regards.

Brian

[Tom]

Hi Brain,

What a nice project!

I suppose you will use the 35MHz receiver using PWM inputs? This shouldn't be a problem (if it works without the gluonpilot). Just make sure that the failsafe positions are set to "autopilot" mode.

You can easily reverse the servo's in gluonconfig.

I would propose to use only absolute coordinates on this flight. The home position is only used for relative coordinates, so the home position shouldn't pose any problems.

Best regards,

Tom

[brian]

Hi Tom,
Thanks for the reply.
I will get to setting up the gluon tomorrow/Wed and Thurs.
Weather looks good for flying for the last half of the week.
I will post the questions as soon as I can as I go through the setting up and bench testing - this is all very new for us.

We will be using the PWM inputs. We got the leads from Alex with the unit.
The rec, will be a multiplex DS IPD PPM unit. I normally do not 'activate' the failsafe mode on these.
I assume when you say 'set the failsafes to autopilot' you mean in the gluon ?

We just need to get it working (properly of course) and completing flights with 4 or 5 absolute w-points and circling or loitering at the last one - for testing - and then for the flight itself.

Regards.

Brian

[lukasz]

Brian, can you share some details regarding the platform itself?

How are you handling vibrations from the gas engine?

[brian]

Hi Lukasz,
It's a artf stand off scale model of the Bleriot xi - supplied by ; http://www.3seebees.com
63 in wingspan using wing warp for aileron - per the original plane.
1200cc gas tank - Saito using 250cc/hr.
The original flight was made by a guy called Denys Corbett Wilson.
It/he crash landed 0.7 km from where our club site is located.

I have the engine soft mounted- very soft - but that is one of my concerns.
I am mounting the gluon this evening.
I looked at suspending it on 4 rubber bands but think it might behave like a trampoline, so I am going to 'float' it on four 20mm x 10mm blocks of soft foam set up to lock in the board so as to soft mount it and keep it stable at the same time.


Tom;
-How many mA/hr for the gluon - just the gluon ??
-Which is best/easiest for me (a novice at this) to use ; gluon ground control or gluonconfig ?? What is the difference. Which is best/easiest to learn/use for this project ??.
-Does the GPS sensor (locosys have a front/back and or a left /right orientation requirement??

Open to all suggestions/help/guidance !!

Regards

Brian.

[Tom]

Hi Brian,

As lukasz suggests, vibration will be a problem for the stabilization system. Make sure you test stabilized mode enough

- I don't know the exact power consumption of the gluon, but I'll measure it. Don't forget to disable the OSD if you have it on the extension board: it uses a lot of power
- Use the default settings and alter them step by step using gluonconfig (and the FTDI cable). You can launch gluonconfig from the ground control station.
- The GPS sensor should only be facing up

You should program the failsafe of your receiver, to make sure the autopilot stays activated when there is no signal.

[brian]

Hi Tom,
Yes I will set the failsafe as req'd to work.
Re the vibrations ; what are the main concerns ?? high frequency ? low frequency ? magnitude ? etc.

Brian

[brian]

Hi Tom,
I think that I can deal with the vibrations ok - we'll see.

In config,, what is the main difference between basic and full ???
Which should I use for this project.

Brian

[Tom]

Hi Brian,

Using easyconfig you can change the basic settings in a "live" manner. Good for the first basic configuration or some in-flight PID tuning. You can start off with the basic configuration and move on the gluonconfig if you feel the need for further tuning.

All the other (more advanced) settings should be done using the full gluonconfig.

Best regards,

Tom

[brian]

Hi Tom,
Well we have today completed 4 autonomous flights.
Probably need some fine tuning.
I need advice on setting PID values.
It was quite windy ,a gusty wind, but it dealt with it quite well.
A Bleriot is not the best designed airplane to start with anyway.
It is fair to say that the Gluon flew it as good as a 'club' rc pilot.

Vibration not a problem.
I will describe in more detail, at a later date, that what I did - for now it seems to work.

Brian