Learn how to program a Flight Controller

L Edge

Master member
If you going to design a NYGAD jet, especially if it is rudderless, programming a Flight Controller will be needed(no, a gyro will not suffice) and it takes awhile to understand the coding. Rather than crash some time consuming version you build or 3D printed, start with a UFO.

It is called an Ugly Flying Object which is a flat plate that is re-enforced to stay flat, has elevons, put 2 motors/props(minus a rudder or vertical surface) and go program it to fly with the Flight Controller. Crash(which you will) and it will cost very little to repair/replace the UFO.

I grew up on a KK2.1 Flight Controller and there are newer ones on the market. Hope a few respond on what is the latest and best to use on .


For instance, NYGAD exhaust designs (stealth) cause pitch problems as well as roll/yaw problems due to no rudders.

I would like to see a common FC one picked so this Flite Test site would then build a group who can help others in the future learn the code.

Hope someone could comment and suggest a FC that would be helpful to this site.
 

LitterBug

Techno Nut
Moderator
I have been using the Matek F405-wing for quite a few years. SpeedyBee has some more modern and cheaper versions out now with built in bluetooth/wifi for ease of configuring without cables. They can run the most common Flight control firmware (INAV, BetaFlight, Ardupilot) which gives you options as far as ease of use vs. customability. I prefer ardupilot myself with it's more complete and mature feature set, but it can be very overwhelming to noobs with the antiquated configurator and manual parameter tree configuation. An updated ardupulot configurator is supposedly on the horizon, but I have not seen it yet.

I've played with the KK2 on the bench but never flown one. I've also flown quite a bit using the lesser known dRonin firmware which has not been developed for quite a few years. I still use it with my Bicopers and most of my other MultiRotors.

My FC enabled wing thread where I have been playing is here: https://forum.flitetest.com/index.p...upilot-flight-fc-enabled-wingy-thingys.53689/
 
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L Edge

Master member
Are there any particular mixes, planes, UFO's you would like example configs for?


One other Dynamic FC and firmware would be @NickRehm 's Drehm Flight https://github.com/nickrehm/dRehmFlight . I have all the hardware but have not done anything with the firmware.

I attacked my first attempt of Fc's by using a flat plate.
Watched videos of PID"S and the only way to actually understand them is to do them. Then you program it and release the UFO and your dream's crashes. You know the exercise-program,fly,crash(hey, it's not a plane, it's a piece of foam you can glue, tape and use again, not a plane). Then one day, hey it actually flies.

So if FT has mentors to assist and everyone has the same model(UFO), explaining his/her error will let that person gain enough to try their specific model with the hope of success. The KK2.1 only mentor now is the booklet, and the one point I missed after 11 years, I found that all I had to do was change a P value on the motor and I can move forward.

Wish Nick would make some comments to this idea.