UAV auto flight control

GPS mode

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[uvc-youtube id=”DMfcf69VIrM” width=”560″ height=”315″ autoplay=”0″ controls=”1″]  GPS mode also works as a safety feature.

The GPS Mode makes the PHANTOM a high tech, all-in-one small Quad Copter  designed for multi-rotor enthusiasts.

GPS mode and the Attitude mode are just two of the high tech features that the DJI Phantom radio controlled vehicle has.

The GPS mode on the DJI Phantom puts the brakes on when pulling back on the throttle, opposed to the attitude mode the UAV will coaster on down the same line of flight. This can be real safety feature that will stop the flying vehicle before it makes contact with obstacles, without the actions of the pilot that would be inevitable.

A another feature of the DJI Phantom is the IOC Mode, it is an innovative advantaged high tech feature in a UAV at this price level.

It is called the;  Intelligent Orientation Control modes, there is the Home Lock Mode, and the Course Lock Mode. This feature makes the flying UAV more simplified and easy, they are programmed software options that can be selected on or off, and they guide the flight control and the positioning from the GPS. 

The safety feature of the GPS mode.

The GPS mode particularly will save the UAV from involuntary damage, the potential damage can be from things like flying into trees, walls and other obstacles. Any one crash into a hard obstacle  can potentially damage rotors, landing gear or just be really inconvenient like getting the vehicle stuck up on a high tree branch.  It is made out of plastic after all, a light structure with the weight slightly increased with a on board camera.

The cruise of the Attitude Mode.

The Attitude Mode can be viewed as more like an air break that slows down the speed of the vehicle in the direction of travel, while keeping the same altitude.  The vehicle will also be affected by the force of wind in this mode, the vehicle will drift if it is being buffeted by a sizable wind force.  After reaching the 300 meter mark, the auto pilot program,  will activate and bring the vehicle to where the vehicle launched from.

Both the GPS mode and the Attitude Mode are very useful features that increase the safety factor and also the pleasure of flying damage free vehicle for as long as possible.

To see video demonstration of these features, click here.

 

DJI Phantom UAV, UAV Photography

UAV Photography

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[uvc-youtube id=”xbMe5GAkq_g” width=”560″ height=”315″ autoplay=”0″ controls=”1″] UAV Photography is becoming more useful for hobbyists.

For UAV Photography, visit http://nextwavedv.com for more news, reviews and training. We visit DJI Innovations to check out their Phantom Drone for UAV Photography.

This UAV Photography video is an intro to the DJI Phantom Quacopter, footage from the NAB 2013 trade show.

Which means the; National Association of Broadcasters advocates on behalf of America’s free, local radio and television stations and broadcast networks before Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the courts, for those that are from the outside, and don’t know much about the internal organizations of the USA.

UAV Photography has become more affordable.

The Digital Technology, Robotics industry and the AERO industry combine their knowledge to produce innovative products for the hobbyist and the small business market.
The DJI Phantom has many high tech features, it has its own GPS positioning system, attitude control, software flight controller, flight plans with own algorithm for understanding position and orientation and presetting governance to the flight plan.  The DJI company has a good reputation for designing quality flight controllers.

The extras needed for quality UAV Photography.

This DJI Phantom being reviewed has a GoPro Hero 3 digital camera attached to it, this is a multi purpose action camera designed for various action sports, it also has a vibration dampening for the specifically designed multi-axis camera gimbal, these items don’t come with the basic package, they need to be purchased as extra. Also the 4 rotor propeller guards to protect the propellers from stalling or damaging/getting damaged by accidental involuntarily bumping into an object.  There is a water proof housing available for the GoPro 3 camera, it is water proof down to 60 meters.  Not sure how water proof the Phantom Drone is if caught flying in a shower of rain.

What’s in the package:

  • Phantom Quadcopter.
  • Pre-balanced set of spare props.
  • Flight controller.
  • Battery charger.
  • One battery.

Extra add on’s.  To buy UAV visit this link.

  • Multi-axis Gimbal, fully integrated with smart software.
  • Vibration dampening for the gimbal.
  • GoPro Hero 3 digital camera.
  • Propeller guards.

Extras for on board flight experience, virtual flight visual goggles.

  • Fat Shark FPV System.  FOV 25 degree diagonal, full color VGA resolution LCD display.

This set up can be a practical solution for someone starting out with their interest in UAV Photography, a “starting block” if you like, to discover the challenges and the joys of UAV Photography.

Helicopter autorotation

Helicopter auto rotation

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[uvc-youtube id=”k7u8m0Qpn38″ width=”560″ height=”315″ autoplay=”0″ controls=”1″] Helicopter auto rotation can be a life saver.

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What happens if the motor of a helicopter dies in mid flight, is that the end of the story for the pilot and the chopper?  Apparently not if the pilot knows how to pull of the auto rotation maneuver, and if the blades are still intact.  The falling helicopter will have a strong current of air flowing through the rotor blades which makes them turn according to the tilt/pitch of the blades, the competent pilot will set the pitch of the blades so that the rotor will spin rapidly like a windmill during the free fall, and at a appropriate point before impact the cool headed pilot will reset the pitch of the blades, using the kinetic energy of the rotor system to his advantage, to work the rotors to push against (thrust) the flow of air and therefore slowing the free falling helicopter to a sustainable landing.

Helicopter auto rotation has been tried and proven many times with success.

The auto rotation mechanical maneuver has  prevented many crashes, close calls and disasters,  instead of free falling like a rock out of the sky, a cool headed competent pilot can work the tilt of the blades to his advantage, using the kinetic energy of the rotor system to ensure a smooth soft landing and live on to tell the story.

Helicopter auto rotation is not for the faint heartened.

It can be the worst scenario for a passenger of a helicopter or inexperienced pilot. Flying high up in the air with the up lift of the rotors working hard to keep the high technical hunk of metals airborne, when suddenly the motors revs slow down and stop completely.  Then it is a sense and a squeeze feeling in the bottom of the stomach, when the gravity takes hold of the chopper and sends it down towards Terra fir-ma.   Yikes!…. going into the damage control, and to get immediate grip on the fall , it has to be second nature to be able to come out of it alive.

Precession

Gyroscopic precession

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[uvc-youtube id=”eTjGTxSevHE” width=”560″ height=”315″ autoplay=”0″ controls=”1″] Gyroscopic precession is a technical term used for the energy transfer.

I would appreciate it if you share this by clicking here: http://on.fb.me/GyroCopter I apologize for the ads.

Gyroscopic precession. Acts on 90 degree of that of the applied force.  Force applied, and it takes affect at 90 degree to that of the applied force.  That’s why helicopter blades work at 90 degree out of phase.

Gyroscopic precession.

Precession is a change in the orientation of the rotational axis of a rotating body. It can be defined as a change in direction of the rotation axis in which the second Euler angle (nutation) is constant. In physics, there are two types of precession: torque-free and torque-induced. -wikipedia.

Torque-free precession (gyroscopic precession).

Torque-free precession occurs when the axis of rotation differs slightly from an axis about which the object can rotate stably: a maximum or minimum principal axis.

Torque-induced precession (gyroscopic precession) is the phenomenon in which the axis of a spinning object (e.g., a part of a gyroscope) “wobbles” when a torque is applied to it, which causes a distribution of force around the acted axis. The phenomenon is commonly seen in a spinning toy top, but all rotating objects can undergo precession.

The engineering of the helicopter rotor are very complex, the blades are manipulated to pitch mechanically and consistently by the controls of the pilot.

Complicated chopper manouvers

Cyclic/collective pitch mixing

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[uvc-youtube id=”d2mITQ53kr8″ width=”560″ height=”315″ autoplay=”0″ controls=”1″] Cyclic/collective pitch mixing is a mix bag of tricks.

I would appreciate it if you share this by clicking here: http://on.fb.me/UpsideDownChopper .

Can helicopter fly upside down, and how do the rotor blades adjust to the directional force of gravity.  These questions and much more on this chopper wizard video.

Used in radio-controlled helicopters, Cyclic/collective pitch mixing (CCPM) reduces mechanical complexity and increases precision of control of the helicopter rotor‘s swashplate.

Conventional model helicopters use three independent servos to manipulate the swashplate. All three servos are used in varying amounts (i.e.: mixed) to tilt the swashplate forward and aft (longitudinal cyclic), varying the aircraft pitch, left and right (lateral cyclic), varying the roll.

To reduce the mechanical complexity of the helicopter, a CCPM system mixes the control inputs using software (usually running on the transmitter) and typically uses three interdependent servos to control the swashplate, with three linkages arranged around the swashplate at 120° intervals (there is a variation that uses 140° + 140° + 80° intervals). In addition to lower mechanical complexity, the interdependent servos share the workload. –wikipedia.

Cyclic/collective pitch mixing is a great challenge, in mastering a radio controlled helicopter.

 

Helicopter control

3 types of chopper control

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[uvc-youtube id=”MaB4k1SgfUg” width=”560″ height=”315″ autoplay=”0″ controls=”1″] 3 types of chopper control for starters.

Tweet @SmarterYouTube . I would appreciate it if you share this by clicking here: http://on.fb.me/ChopperPhysics2 . Trust me, there’s more to Chopper Physics…

Helicopter and flight control, there are 3 types of chopper control:

  • Collective (Up & Down).  The amount of bite of the rotor blades.
  • Cyclic (Pitch & Roll).  Change of the tilt in the blades on every rotation.
  • Antitorque (Yaw). Rear rotor.
Helicopter rotor physics

Helicopter rotor physics

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[uvc-youtube id=”WdEWzqsfeHM” width=”560″ height=”315″ autoplay=”0″ controls=”1″] Helicopter rotor physics is really interesting.

Tweet @SmarterYouTube . I would appreciate it if you share this by clicking here: http://on.fb.me/ChopperPhysics . Trust me, there’s more to Chopper Physics …

The rotors of a helicopter have very complicated mechanics so that it has complete control of the 3 dimensional flight path.  How does a helicopter get lift and how does the pilot control the platform up or down.  Here are some videos that explain the physics and the mechanics of the helicopter rotors.

Helicopter rotor physics.

A helicopter main rotor or rotor system is the combination of a rotary wing and a control system that generates the aerodynamic lift force that supports the weight of the helicopter, and the thrust that counteracts aerodynamic drag in forward flight. – Wikipedia.

History of the Helicopter rotor physics.

The use of a rotor for vertical flight has existed since 400 BC in the form of the bamboo-copter, an ancient Chinese toy.[1][2] The bamboo-copter is spun by rolling a stick attached to a rotor. The spinning creates lift, and the toy flies when released. – Wikipedia.

Physics of rotors

Gyroscopic precession

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[uvc-youtube id=”ty9QSiVC2g0″ width=”560″ height=”315″ autoplay=”0″ controls=”1″]

NOTE: This video will appear in a playlist on Smarter Every Day hence the references to Veritasium. Destin does lots of cool science stuff – check out his channel.

There several types of engines that give lift and power the aerial platforms that can house a camera, two of them use propellers.  i though it would be interesting to learn a bit about the laws of physics behind the mechanics.  Here are some common terms used to describe the action of the physics.

Precession is a change in the orientation of the rotational axis of a rotating body. It can be defined as a change in direction of the rotation axis in which the second Euler angle (nutation) is constant. In physics, there are two types of precession: torque-free and torque-induced. -wikipedia.

Torque-free precession occurs when the axis of rotation differs slightly from an axis about which the object can rotate stably: a maximum or minimum principal axis.

Torque-induced precession (gyroscopic precession) is the phenomenon in which the axis of a spinning object (e.g., a part of a gyroscope) “wobbles” when a torque is applied to it, which causes a distribution of force around the acted axis.

3 dimensional images

Camera drone images

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[uvc-youtube id=”1k3WtwiUfNQ” width=”560″ height=”315″ autoplay=”0″ controls=”1″]  Camera drone images are becoming more common.

Hello there, last summer we got the Sony CX740 to film with from our multirotors, its been a lot of fun and the camera has brought us lots of joy!

Camera drone images will increase with affordable new technologies.

The possibilities increase enormously for creativity in the 3 dimensional freedom of flight, Camera drone images from many angles then become more three dimensional when a camera can fly up into the sky by a robotic drone.

The freedom of 3 dimensional viewing through space.

Camera drone images open up a new way to view familiar landscapes that were previously flat and two dimensional.  If the new drone technology can create a smooth controlled flight through the air so that the  camera images are captured clearly with natural colors, contrasts and variations of aperture and shutter speeds.

New Innovative technology can make Camera drone images affordable.

New technologies in the robotic aided flight for cameras can improve creativity if the quality of images are pleasantly surprising, camera mounted drone can really boost creativity and bring in new way to view the 3 dimensional planet,  the view which previously was only available for the birds of the sky and angels.

 

 

Innovative Technology