L Edge
Legendary member
@LitterBug , do you have any video with your flying wing doing the full bit of flight for takeoff to landing? Evaluating the transition of vtol's out/in?
LitterBug's dRonin / iNav / Aura5 / ArduPilot / *Flight FC enabled Wingy Thingys
- Thread starter LitterBug
- Start date
Not yet....
I have a few options from the flying wing standpoint. FT Dart is FC ready. It would be a fun one. My previous one I built from the short lived FT kit version,
would launch vertical out of my hand with no toss and was <250g. Thing was crazy fun and maneuverable.
There are the 3D printed ones I have with the dual motor variant which would be an interesting test. I needed some micro BECs to finish those and RMRC just got some Matek ones in that are perfect.
There are a handful of other bigger 3D printed ones I have thought about too.
My buddy shot this of me landing my Stratosurfer FPV in a stiff crosswind in Fly By Wire A mode. If you crank the volume you can hear it hit the tall grass at the start of the runway after diving in to the field. I have the most experience with Ardupilot flying the StratoSurfers. That was my original. I am on #2 now after a FrSky radio failsafe mishap during auto launch. #1 may show up in combat one day. #3 is still unbuilt in a box.
Have some 21700 Li-Ion cells to build some endurance packs for them.
This is footage from StratoSurfer #2 with Walksnail FPV, RAW and unstabilized. The feed is the remote DVR in my goggles, not from the plane, and without the OSD. Most likely Fly By Wire A mode. Still need to maiden the walksnail head tracking/gimble setup that is ready to go.
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Been busy getting things Flight ready. My latest endeavor will be a "stock" AR-Wing Classic
Build specs
Plane: Sonic Model AR-Wing Classic PNP bone stock
FC: Diatone Mamba F722 Wing
Firmware: INAV 9.0.1
RX: RadioMaster RP4TD-M 2.4Ghz Diversity ELRS mini
FPV: Walksnail Avatar HD Pro
Initially no GPS, but it would be super simple to just plug one in.
Build specs
Plane: Sonic Model AR-Wing Classic PNP bone stock
FC: Diatone Mamba F722 Wing
Firmware: INAV 9.0.1
RX: RadioMaster RP4TD-M 2.4Ghz Diversity ELRS mini
FPV: Walksnail Avatar HD Pro
Initially no GPS, but it would be super simple to just plug one in.
Upgrades and updates for StratoSurfer#2 now that the weather is breaking.
This is my favorie FPV cruiser
ArduPilot to the latest release V4.3.1 --> V4.6.3
RX switch from FrSky R9 to ELRS. Elimnate the outdated/unsupported protocol and module. Looking at dual band Xross Gemini options. (915M/2.4G). Probably go with the XR4. I picked up a RadioMaster Nomad module to play with the latest/greatest ELRS options.
The Headtracking/Gimbal will finally be tested on the bird
New powerpod on with a better more efficient motor, or just the motor SunnySky X2212 KV2450 V3
Test fitting using some 21700 Battery packs for weight and CG changes
Other Misc...
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Motor does not want to come out of the pod, so that just means I get to clean things up a bunch. My Original Generation motor from StratoSurfer #1 is an unknown brand B2212 KV2200. Replacing with SunnySky X2212 KV2450 V3. Will replace the massively over long motor/ESC wires with just the right length and will mount the ESC IN the motor pod where it will get cooling. Not that I severely push this thing, but it will make it so much cleaner and dump some weight.
The old pod will be used in StratoSurfer #1 for combat/abuse. It will C U @ FF '26!
Weather windy, rainy stormy today. Been accumulating tons of FCs over the years as well as planes. This is just the FCs/RXes not already in planes. Getting on the latest ELRS 4.0.1, , RXes soldered/crimped up for things still on "classic" protocols. Also learning about ELRS Backpack which will allow wireless connection from my TX(es) to a tablet/laptop for configuration/navigation WITHOUT any additional hardware. This will come in handy with the Matek F405-Wing missing the USB plug, and other planes I had added Bluetooth modules to. Fixed the broken power on my Squirrel cage cooling fan to keep my Walksnail VTXes from overheating on the ground. Too many to list, and so many to finally get in the air. More details for individual plane projects as they are completed and flown.
Cheers!
LitterBug
Modifying the StratoSurfer F405-Wing FC config for latest release and swapping serial ports and RC channels around to support ELRS.
RC5 <==> RC6 swap for arming and OSD screen selection. Sticking with ELRS arming on channel 5 even though it is not necissary on V4.0 and above. I also enable a stobe on servo6 when armed so needed to update the PWM channel of the strobe to point to the correct arming channel.
Removed the switch and slider config I had set for pan control. May add it back at some point if the headtracking doesn't "pan" out. (bwah ha ha haaaa)
Moved the bluetooth module from Serial1 to Serial 3. Keeping it for now. May switch to ELRS Backpack later after more testing.
Moved RCin from FrSky on Serial6 to ELRS on Serial1. Needed Hardware/DMA serial port for ELRS.
Recalibrated RC inputs after switching radio protocol.
Still need to make a harness from Camera power out to JST input on the headtracking gimbal. Already had Walksnail on this bird.
Serial 1 - ELRS
Serial 3 - Bluetooth
Serial 4 - GPS
Serial 5 - Displayport OSD
Servo1 - Motor
Servo3 - Elevator
Servo4 - Rudder
Servo5 - Ailerons
Servo8 - Strobe
Made backup of config
RC5 <==> RC6 swap for arming and OSD screen selection. Sticking with ELRS arming on channel 5 even though it is not necissary on V4.0 and above. I also enable a stobe on servo6 when armed so needed to update the PWM channel of the strobe to point to the correct arming channel.
Removed the switch and slider config I had set for pan control. May add it back at some point if the headtracking doesn't "pan" out. (bwah ha ha haaaa)
Moved the bluetooth module from Serial1 to Serial 3. Keeping it for now. May switch to ELRS Backpack later after more testing.
Moved RCin from FrSky on Serial6 to ELRS on Serial1. Needed Hardware/DMA serial port for ELRS.
Recalibrated RC inputs after switching radio protocol.
Still need to make a harness from Camera power out to JST input on the headtracking gimbal. Already had Walksnail on this bird.
Serial 1 - ELRS
Serial 3 - Bluetooth
Serial 4 - GPS
Serial 5 - Displayport OSD
Servo1 - Motor
Servo3 - Elevator
Servo4 - Rudder
Servo5 - Ailerons
Servo8 - Strobe
Made backup of config
Got the Stratosurfer up LOS today and validated the A) new motor/power pod, B) New ELRS setup, C) New GPS (swapped out today) D) New Gimbal setup (same FPV camera) E) Updated EdgeTX version/settings F) Latest ArduPilot Release/settings G) All flight modes including RTH working
Things that failed:
Yappu Telemetry script not seeing data although all telemetry is coming through the ELRS link.
Had wrong gender power plug from the FC to the Gimbal. Fortunately was able to make do with a y-cable off something else
Launched in a mode with little elevator authority. Fortunately was able to get enough speed sliding across the field to take off anyway.
Tape on strobe came loose. Should have used new tape when transferring from the old power pod.
User error on FPV goggles.
Things that failed:
Yappu Telemetry script not seeing data although all telemetry is coming through the ELRS link.
Had wrong gender power plug from the FC to the Gimbal. Fortunately was able to make do with a y-cable off something else
Launched in a mode with little elevator authority. Fortunately was able to get enough speed sliding across the field to take off anyway.
Tape on strobe came loose. Should have used new tape when transferring from the old power pod.
User error on FPV goggles.
Yappu telemetry script was not working due to the passthrough settings not being set for the RC Input Options.
A simple checkmark in the "Use passthrough for CRSF telemetry" box fixed it.
So now I'll get all the automated audio callouts and nice telemetry screen on my radio
A simple checkmark in the "Use passthrough for CRSF telemetry" box fixed it.
So now I'll get all the automated audio callouts and nice telemetry screen on my radio
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