QAV250 GAT (Guidance and Autonomy Testbed)
Parts list:
Core electronics
Error in diagram: The ESCs depicted are UAVCAN ESCs (the Pixhawk community's take on digital ESCs / answer to DShot). However, they are not available at the moment, thus are not implemented in the final build
Inspiration for this build came from a post I saw on RC groups. It is impressive that the QAV250 can acquire GPS and telemetry capability that is common to larger guidance boats. However, I envisaged several improvements, which I implemented in my build
Side view, showing the jumble of wires connecting all the electronics
Top view, showing the telemetry radio and GPS competing for space with the VTx
Bottom View: Note the ACSP power module is directly soldered onto the PDB
Flight performance:
The GAT performed superbly in altitude lock, position lock, and RTH, with minimal drift. However, a waypoint mission was cut short due to LiPo sag. (I was flying in subzero temperatures) A second flight tested the vehicle's acro / racing capabilities. It is reasonably inferior to a dedicated racing build, not least because of the incomplete development of the Pixracer in this aspect.
Next targets: Full waypoint mission, publishing flight video and flight logs.
To the community:
Is it pointless to equip mini-quads with guidance avionics ?
Is flashing a F4 Revo with ArduPilot / PX4 even possible as mentioned in the RCGroups post?
Anyone has experience flying Pixracer in a true racing built? How does one configure and tune such builds, and how do they perform?
Parts list:
Core electronics
- FC: AUAV Pixracer / PX4 / QGroundControl
- GPS: mRo GPS Neo-M8N+HMC5983 Compass
- Telemetry: 3DR 900MHz Telemetry radio
- Power Module: ACSP4 Power Module
- Battery: Turnigy Nano-Tech 1500 mAh / 1300 mAh (1500 in picture)
- Motor: EMax MT2204-2300kV
- ESC: FVT Littlebee Pro
- Props: Generic 5" props
- Camera: Lumenier CS-600
- VTx: ImmersionRC 600mW
Error in diagram: The ESCs depicted are UAVCAN ESCs (the Pixhawk community's take on digital ESCs / answer to DShot). However, they are not available at the moment, thus are not implemented in the final build
Inspiration for this build came from a post I saw on RC groups. It is impressive that the QAV250 can acquire GPS and telemetry capability that is common to larger guidance boats. However, I envisaged several improvements, which I implemented in my build
- Newer AUAV Pixracer replacing F4 Revo, whose guidance capabilities are underdeveloped after Openpilot dissolved
- Replace LEA-6H with Neo-M8N
- Adding FPV capability
Side view, showing the jumble of wires connecting all the electronics
Top view, showing the telemetry radio and GPS competing for space with the VTx
Bottom View: Note the ACSP power module is directly soldered onto the PDB
Flight performance:
The GAT performed superbly in altitude lock, position lock, and RTH, with minimal drift. However, a waypoint mission was cut short due to LiPo sag. (I was flying in subzero temperatures) A second flight tested the vehicle's acro / racing capabilities. It is reasonably inferior to a dedicated racing build, not least because of the incomplete development of the Pixracer in this aspect.
Next targets: Full waypoint mission, publishing flight video and flight logs.
To the community:
Is it pointless to equip mini-quads with guidance avionics ?
Is flashing a F4 Revo with ArduPilot / PX4 even possible as mentioned in the RCGroups post?
Anyone has experience flying Pixracer in a true racing built? How does one configure and tune such builds, and how do they perform?