NAZA M v2 Tuning?

[redjr]

I recently built an S500 using the DJI NAZA M v2 FC. I'm also using the S-BUS
connection on a X4R receiver with an X9D Taranis radio. I think I have
everything setup correctly and my gimbals and switches set properly. My issue
is with the start up of the quad. I'm using the 935KV Emax motors and 30amp
Platinum ESCs.

My issue is on startup. When I arm and start the motors only motor 4 starts. I
have to give it 'some'throttle' before the other 3 will spin up. And when they
do, I must keep the throttle above 50% to keep them running. I also noticed that
the throttle is not linear at all using Atti or GPS modes. In either of those
modes, when I give it enough throttle to finally takes off, it wants to lurch
upward very quickly without having much control of the stick. The motor speed
does not seem to be linear at all. With such big props (10.5") I would have
figured the motors would be much more 'graceful' allowing fairly even control
and gradual lift-off as I push the throttle forward. That doesn't seem to be
the case. How do I decrease the sensitivity of the gimbal and make the
responsiveness of the motors more smooth and uniform?

I'm waiting for bigger batteries to arrive, but these tests were done using a
2200mAh 11.1v 3S battery. Is that my problem? Do I need a battery with more
voltage (4S)? Is there an issue with my ESCs? Is there a way to tweak the NAZA flight
characteristics? I'm really going for a no non-sense approach and would simply
like easy and slow flights for video.

I'm very new to the hobby, and still finding my way around various flight
controllers, and thought the NAZA system with GPS would provide me with a better
flight experience. So far I haven't even managed to get off the ground with any
kind of reasonable control yet. So I'm not too impressed. I expected much more
from the NAZA. I'm not into racing, just want a similar flying experience as I
get with my Yuneec, Q500+. Is that possible with a homemade quad?

 

[RENOV8R]

The Naza-M is a great controller and easy to set up. Once done, you'll have a nice easy to control craft. The most important thing to get smooth linear control is to do the stick calibration. Go into the RC tab of your basic setup, you'll see the calibration button. Click on it and move all your sticks and switches in all directions so the Naza learns all their limits. Advanced calibration in the tools tab is also very important so your craft doesn't yaw and drift. Don't just sit it on the floor, get a spirit level and make sure your craft is perfectly level before calibration. Also, have you actually calibrated your ESCs?

 

[redjr]

Thanks. I have calibrated the sticks using the Assistant. I have not calibrated my ESCs. My mistake, but I thought you should be able to get some reasonable amount of control without calibrating them. I will research and figure how to do that. Have not done it before. I'm still learning.

 

[ringolong]

How to calibrate the escs.

Throttle stick up to 100%, power on the esc, and then lower the throttle stick to 0%. Should make a couple beeps signifying the calibration.

*** remove props before calibration***

 

[RENOV8R]

While you're at it, your Taranis should also be calibrated. Simple and necessary

 

[redjr]

While you're at it, your Taranis should also be calibrated. Simple and necessary

X9D has been calibrated. You should only have to do this once? I'm sure it's my ESCs. I'm going to make a throttle calibrator since I plan on more builds down the road. But, if your ESCs don't have a BEC you have to power your receiver with a lower power battery, or add an ext BEC to the calibrator jig.

What I've learned? Calibrate your ESCs before putting the whole quad together. Or keep the FC
easily accessable.

 

[RENOV8R]

X9D has been calibrated. You should only have to do this once? I'm sure it's my ESCs. I'm going to make a throttle calibrator since I plan on more builds down the road. But, if your ESCs don't have a BEC you have to power your receiver with a lower power battery, or add an ext BEC to the calibrator jig.

What I've learned? Calibrate your ESCs before putting the whole quad together. Or keep the FC
easily accessable.

Yes, it's easier to do before everything's together. But if your ESC leads reach your receiver and it's more accessible, you can always do them one at a time by plugging them into the channel throttle port. But like you said, only if they have a built-in BEC

 

[redjr]

Since I am so meticulous and anal, I'm still going slow on my builds so I can learn the order and best placement for everything. All quads are different. Especially the order of the electronics. I'm watching lots of videos and learning alot - from forums like this too!
And as you say, I will make my ESCs calibration an 'early-on' step in my workflow before they are installed. This has been a good discussion and set me on a well-informed path to better builds. Now I just need to get flying!

 

[RENOV8R]

Yep, take it slow and learn as you go. The first time your quad is up in the air and flying as planned is the ultimate rush. And the first time you hit the RTH switch is the ultimate in butt-clenching hahahaha

 

[redjr]

Yep, take it slow and learn as you go. The first time your quad is up in the air and flying as planned is the ultimate rush. And the first time you hit the RTH switch is the ultimate in butt-clenching hahahaha

Just calibrated my ESCs. I had to do a little dismantling, but nothings too serious. Once I had the top plate off, I snipped a couple cable ties for access to my motors. Calibrated them individually and they all started up smoothly. I did notice that in manual mode the motors seem to top out at a higher RPM, where in Atti and GPS mode they are slower. I suspect that is by design? Plan on giving it a test flight later this morning. Thanks for all the help.

 

[RENOV8R]

Yes, that's normal. Two totally different throttle curves. manual is straight linear whereas GPS/Attitude is designed so the curve flattens out at midthrottle for easier hover. Hope your test flight goes well

 

[redjr]

Yes, it went well. At least for my flying abilities! I took it out again today, and the conditions were not that great for flying. It was a beautiful, blue-sky day, but the wind was kicking up a bit. I took it up several times, let it hover, and then sent it out about 100 yards from base. I then hit the failsafe switch and had it set to RTH. It climbed a bit and then was fighting the wind as it flew back and started to descend. You could see it struggling with the wind gusts as it rocked back and forth, but finally came all the way down about 5' from where it took off. I was impressed. I did this a couple of times just to see how it would respond. By then my 4000mAh was going and I called it a day. I have a couple larger batteries coming for more uptime.

The next thing I'd like to add is some telemetry displayed on the X9D. Not sure what it can display, or if I have to go to some video display system?

 

[RENOV8R]

I have the DJI iOSD mini. Made for the Naza, small, light and very easy to install. But I'm talking about display on a separate monitor. But it's pretty important, if only to know the satellite status of your GPS

 

[redjr]

I can't seem to get control of my new build. I've been using GPS mode for all my test flights. For some reason I simply can't get the quad to hover after lift-off. It wants to go in reverse and accelerate upwards right away. I've checked and double-checked my placement and prop spin orientation. All is correct. So far, I've gone through 1 pair of landing skids, 2 arms and I'm running out of spare parts. It wants to do things faster than I can react to! I'm a pretty poor pilot right now. I don't know if the erratic behavior of my drone is me or the drone, or some setting I have wrong - either in the software or my X9D. Pulls hair out and I don't have much.

I do have a question about Assistant. When calibrating the elevator it shows as a horizontal slider withe center position. So, when I push the right stick forward(or up), how should the software slider move? To the left or right?

 

[ringolong]

1. Lower your attitude gains for less responsiveness.
2. Reverse is caused by the radio or Naza configuration/calibration
3. If it is moving up then I think it is your barometer causing this. Is the flight controller in the prop wash?
4. It should move the way you are moving your sticks.

 

[RENOV8R]

In the tools tab, have you done the advanced calibration, not just the basic? Have you also done the compass calibration? Only asking because you've had successful flights in your prior post

 

[redjr]

In the tools tab, have you done the advanced calibration, not just the basic? Have you also done the compass calibration? Only asking because you've had successful flights in your prior post

I wish I could remember what I did on that semi-successful flight. Regarding compass calibration....I still need to do that, but I thought hovering was a function of the barometer? GPS and compass seems to be working, because on that first flight it did RTH. However, lately I haven't made it that far again!

Unfortunately, I don't have any large fields that are not in use after I get home from work, so that's a limiting factor for me at this stage. My home is in the middle of the woods, with no level ground anywhere outside. So it makes trial and error testing very tricky. I'm going out for another flight tonight provided the ball field is not taken.

Regarding calibration of Elevator(pitch)... When you move the stick forward, should you observe in the software a positive value or negative value. I was watching a video the other day on the Pixhawk FC (I have that one too), and while I know they are different FCs, when you push the stick forward with that system, the value actually should fall into the negative territory. It's not the same with the NAZA? I've tried it both ways on my NAZA and the quad immediately wants to move backwards and climb on takeoff. What do I need to set in the software to get a very low, but beyond the take-off threshold thrust(prop speed) just to hover a few feet off the ground at max - just for testing the controls without it (or me) hyper-ventilating over its erratic behavior?

I truly do want to get one of these things to fly properly!!

 

[RENOV8R]

Do you have your flight modes set up correctly on a switch, because it almost sounds to me that you are in rate mode. In GPS or ATT, your quad should hover perfectly at 50% stick. And yes, if you move your stick forward you should see a positive value in your SW. If not, you need to reverse the channel in your transmitter/controller/radio. Just out of curiosity, what are your basic gain settings?

 

[redjr]

I did change the vertical gain to 80%. I have set my flight modes on a switch on my Taranis and I see it change in the software when I move the switch. I have been using GPS mode exclusively for my testing - assuming that's it's working correctly. I even wait until all flashes are green on the status LED. I can't see how many satellites are linked, but everything is green.

Maybe something else is going on with my radio too. Yesterday I noticed that the normal way the sticks need to be (both lower left) was not arming it on my bench. I took it outside and tried it without props and still nothing until.... I tried lower-left on the left stick and upper-right on the right stick. Low and behold it armed and the motors spun up! Now what would cause that?! Would that be an indirect consequence of reversing the Elevator action? I have since changed the direction of the Elevator stick back, but not tested. "Scratches head even more'.

See my settings below.

Maybe I'll just throw this entire drone in the trash and start over. Just kidding.

 

[RENOV8R]

1) in the basic tab, you need to go into the mounting tab and enter your GPS location in relation to the Naza
2) In the RC tab, do the stick calibration
Hopefully that'll help

Also, I just noticed something and maybe someone who uses a Taranis can chime in, but how the heck is your throttle min at -1000?