[NSRCA-discussion] Flight Coach Hardware

Mon Aug 15 15:23:37 AKDT 2022

Wayne

I experimented with one I have on the bench and can't duplicate your problem. Suggest downloading and installing the param file from the Flight Coach site.http://www.flightcoach.org then setup - controller configuration - download parameters. In MP "Load from file" and write. Give that a try and let me know if it helps. 

As I noted in earlier post, it's important to have a good USB cable. Some that are intended just for charging something tend to be problematic. 

Earl 

>     On 08/15/2022 4:57 PM Wayne Galligan <wcgalligan at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
>     Trying to calibrate mine today.  Keeps failing on the left calibrate.  Tried multiple different cables, all same results.  Any thoughts or how do reset the unit?
> 
> 
>     Wayne G
> 
> 
>     Sent from Mail https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986 for Windows
> 
> 
>     From: EARL HAURY via NSRCA-discussion mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
>     Sent: Monday, August 15, 2022 9:06 AM
>     To: Vicente Bortone mailto:vincebrc at gmail.com ; General pattern discussion mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org ; Andrew Palmer mailto:f3akiwi at gmail.com
>     Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Flight Coach Hardware
> 
> 
>     A big thank you to the Flight Coach Team for recognizing the opportunity to use available hardware, developing a plotter to display the data, and the effort to document the process. Great work and a super tool for pattern! As Andrew mentions, setting up a system with random hardware can be a challenge. All the info is available, but does take some study.
> 
>      
> 
>      I've been using the Pixhawk with excellent results for over a year. I put together a system using a Matek F405W board with moderate success (after a lot of work). I've been using the Pathfinder for a couple of months, it works extremely well and requires very little effort to set up. As lots of folks appear to be buying the Pathfinder since the Nats, I thought I'd share some experience and specific info to add to Andrew's overall view of the systems possible. 
> 
>      
> 
>     There are some things to understand. Mission Planner (MP) is an app that provides the tool for calibrating the Pathfinder. Download it to a PC, go to "Install Firmware" and install "Plane". This sets MP for airplane operations. Plug the Pathfinder into the PC USB port and click "Connect". Sometimes this fails! If so, first check that the USB cable is tightly plugged into the Pathfinder, the case can limit the depth some cables can be inserted giving a poor connection. (This can also cause a disconnect during calibration.) Make sure the USB cable is of good quality. Ardupilot FAQ provides more info if connecting doesn't work. I've had no problems with 2 Pathfinders.
> 
>      
> 
>     When connected, select "Config" in MP, then "Full Parameter List". Note that the Flight Coach parameter file is pre-loaded in Pathfinder. Scroll down to "Arming_req", change the 0 to a 1, and click "Write Parameters". (The device must be disarmed to program.) Click "Setup", "Mandatory Hardware", then complete the "Accel Calibrate", "Level Calibrate", and "Compass Calibrate" steps on the bench. The latter requires moving the unit through a range of motions which will advance a bar graph, this may take more than one try until it's accepted. Reboot, reconnect, return to "Arming Req" and reset to 0! Click "Data" and the artificial horizon will respond to pitch. roll, yaw movements of the device. The map will display compass heading and gps sats acquired. Expect 6-9 indoors, 14-20 outdoors. Set-up is complete, install the Pathfinder in and airplane, install a Micro SD card (I use SP Elite 32mB), and fly. 
> 
>      
> 
>     Flight Plotter (FP) is needed to view the results. It opens in your browser, the link is listed on the Pathfinder document. Connect the SD card from flights to PC. Open FP, click "Load BIN", find the desired flight BIN file on the SD card and click. Click "Select Schedule", for those flying AMA schedules select P23 which will provide grids & box lines. The maneuver names will be wrong but that doesn't affect viewing. Enter the field coordinates (copy origin if your field isn't yet in database), then "Submit". The flight will open in the plotter. Select desired viewing perspective and click through each maneuver. The green +- buttons lengthen / shorten individual maneuvers. "Settings" provides for changing ribbon width, airplane, size & speed. "Views" (green button top left) provides 3 views of airplane attitude which coincide with airplane flying through ribbon. The ribbon is "track" and the views are "attitude". 
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>      
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>     Flight Coach is a great tool which can be humbling! I've compared my scores from meets with FC, interesting how the "harder judges" tend to correlate to errors observed in FC. 
> 
>      
> 
>     Earl
> 
>      
> 
>     On 08/15/2022 7:41 AM Vicente Bortone via NSRCA-discussion <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org> wrote:
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>         > > 
> > 
> > 
> >         Thanks Andrew.  I will try to follow your instructions and advise.  
> > 
> > 
> >         Vicente “Vince” Bortone 
> > 
> > 
> >         On Sun, Aug 14, 2022 at 6:17 PM Andrew Palmer via NSRCA-discussion <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org > wrote:
> > 
> >             > > > 
> > >             Getting the Flight Coach system up and running can be a bit daunting - especially if you are not familiar with the use of flight control boards.
> > > 
> > >             Having said that, if you spend a bit of time doing some reading, it is not so bad.....Flight Coach compatible log files can be produced by any flight control board which can run Ardupilot firmware. Ardupilot (specifically ArduPlane - the plane version of the firmware) is able to write log files that contain a nice fusion of GPS and accelerometer data that Flight Coach uses to create the ribbon plots.
> > > 
> > >             In broad terms you need:
> > >             1. Ardupilot compatible flight control board
> > >             2. SD logger (most simple is if it is built into the flight control board)
> > >             3. GPS and Compass - again, most simple is if these are included in the same unit
> > >             4. Power supply (simplest is if the flight control board is compatible with direct 2s LiPo/LiFe voltage)
> > >             5. Micro SD card
> > > 
> > >             You will need a computer to install the ArduPlane firmware, and do the required configuration steps.
> > > 
> > >             You can use any combination of hardware you wish - so long as it is Ardupilot compatible. So the Ardupilot website is a great place to do research on hardware.
> > > 
> > >             You will need to load the ArduPlane firmware on the flight control board... again, this is covered on the Ardupilot website.
> > > 
> > >             You then need to wire everything up and do a couple of calibrations - again, the Ardupilot website is of help here.
> > > 
> > >             Finally, you need to set some parameters to enable the correct log file to be produced - the Flight Coach website has info on this.
> > > 
> > >             With the current chip shortages, finding hardware is not so straight forward! There are a few ideas on the Flight Coach website, but of course many other possibilities. We have found the logs are of equal quality regardless of your hardware choices - so cheap stuff is fine!
> > > 
> > >             BTW, at Flight Coach we don’t sell anything. And we have made all the code available to everyone. We hope this system can be used by all. We have previously (and may again) ask for donations to help cover the website costs - but that is it 😊
> > > 
> > >             Andrew Palmer, NZ
> > >             Flight Coach
> > >             F3A Zone Pro
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > >             _______________________________________________
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> > >             NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org mailto:NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
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> > > 
> > >         > > 
> >         --
> > 
> >         Vicente "Vince" Bortone
> > 
> >         NSRCA 1140.  Be Proud to show your NSRCA #
> > 
> >     > 
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