First quadcopter (With a Raspberry Pi)

yata

yata

Member
Hi :)

I have never built a quadcopter before, and I had planed to built one this summer. So first, I just want to have all the materials ready.

I came here because I prefer to have the least possible error.

I want to use my Raspberry Pi for this quadcopter, even if it's not the best choice : I am doing this for fun.
I already have the Sense Hat for the gyroscope.
The Raspberry pin has 3.3 V. And I am not sure if it's all right with the ESC I choose.

So please, review the materials I plan to use, and tell me if I miss something.

ESC :
Q Brain 4 x 20A Brushless Quadcopter ESC 2-4S 3A SBEC
Q Brain 4 x 25A Brushless Quadcopter ESC

Props : Hobbyking™ Propeller 10x4.5 Red (CW) (4pcs) and Hobbyking™ Propeller 10x4.5 Red White (CCW) (4pcs)

Motors (x 4) :
NTM Prop Drive 28-30 800KV / 270W Brushless Motor
(or you have a better idea ? - I don't really want a powerful quadcopter, but I one day I want to add a camera, it should be able to handle the weight)

Radio :
Hobby King 2.4Ghz 4Ch Tx & Rx V2 (Mode 2)
Turnigy TGY-i6 AFHDS Transmitter and 6CH Receiver (Mode 2)

Frame : Turnigy H.A.L. (Heavy Aerial Lift) Quadcopter Frame 585mm

Battery and charger :
ZIPPY Compact 4000mAh 3S 25C Lipo Pack
or
ZIPPY Compact 5000mAh 3S 25C Lipo Pack

??? :D

This might be a stupid question but do I need something else to fix the props to the motors, and the motors to the frame ? o_O

Thank you in advance :)

(sorry if my English is not perfect... :D)
 
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If you're going to get the Q-brain I suggest the 25 amp, you could go with bigger props though I might suggest another motor as the NTM series has been a little famous for bearing problems and other small failures.

As for running the flight controller directly off a Pi; it won't work. You will need an arduino to go between, and I would suggest that if you're set on using a Pi that the Arduino made ALL of the stabilization decisions as there is going to be way too much latency between the Pi and arduino for the Pi to make the decisions and the Rasberry Pi will at some point hang because it is not made for such low level decisions.



If possible you can make your higher level decisions (like go right, go forward and ect) on the Pi whether they are influenced by object tracking on open CV or something else, then send that to the arduino via serial monitor.


However you do this I suggest that you get a KK2.1.5 flight controller to do your initial hardware test with. Once you start trying to write your custom code AND addres the hundreds of hardware problems you will have or suspect that you have it will become impossible to troubleshoot.

See picture for example:
5475176_700b.jpg




There is also the option to have a very simple flight controller be used solely for stabilization and have the arduino translate the higher level decisions from the Pi.
 
Get a 6 channel radio with an LCD. You need the 5th channel to allow you to change between flight modes. I would also recommend you get your props in 2 colors so your fronts contrast from the backs. Really helps for orientation.
 
Ok thanks.

So I will first build my quadcopter with this KK2.1.5 flight controller and then I will do it by using the Pi + Adruino.

GJH105775 said:
[...] and have the arduino translate the higher level decisions from the Pi.
Click to expand...
To start, it could be easier yes. In this case, we only use the adruino for translating the Pi decisions ? The Pi isn't able to "talk" by himself with a flight controller ?

I guess this is the right radio : Turnigy TGY-i6 AFHDS Transmitter and 6CH Receiver (Mode 2)
I will also buy my props in two colors.

Are the Turnigy motor better ?
Turnigy D2836/9 950KV Brushless Outrunner Motor or Turnigy L2215J-900 Brushless Motor (200w)
 
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yata said:
Ok thanks.

So I will first build my quadcopter with this KK2.1.5 flight controller and then I will do it by using the Pi + Adruino.


To start, it could be easier yes. In this case, we only use the adruino for translating the Pi decisions ? The Pi isn't able to "talk" by himself with a flight controller ?

I guess this is the right radio : Turnigy TGY-i6 AFHDS Transmitter and 6CH Receiver (Mode 2)
I will also buy my props in two colors.

Are the Turnigy motor better ?
Turnigy D2836/9 950KV Brushless Outrunner Motor or Turnigy L2215J-900 Brushless Motor (200w)
Click to expand...
The raspberry Pi is just a single boards computer. The flight controller would need PWM in, while the Pi could only do a serial connection, the arduino could mix the input from the Pi and the receiver then send that data as control info the the flight controller.


Or if you could get a flight controller working on your arduino you could save a step.
 
GJH105775 said:
The raspberry Pi is just a single boards computer. The flight controller would need PWM in, while the Pi could only do a serial connection, the arduino could mix the input from the Pi and the receiver then send that data as control info the the flight controller.
Click to expand...

I think that if if I use the Adafruit 16-Channel 12-bit PWM/Servo Driver - I2C interface - the Pi is able to do PWM connections :) It will be easier, and smaller.

I also found some battery :
ZIPPY Compact 4000mAh 3S 25C Lipo Pack
or
ZIPPY Compact 5000mAh 3S 25C Lipo Pack

I think that the 5000mAh is better ? In addition, this battery is not too heavy.
 
yata said:
I think that if if I use the Adafruit 16-Channel 12-bit PWM/Servo Driver - I2C interface - the Pi is able to do PWM connections :) It will be easier, and smaller.

I also found some battery :
ZIPPY Compact 4000mAh 3S 25C Lipo Pack
or
ZIPPY Compact 5000mAh 3S 25C Lipo Pack

I think that the 5000mAh is better ? In addition, this battery is not too heavy.
Click to expand...
You can test it, if the latency is a little too high you could then move to an Arduino.

You're going to be adding more weight, so in general 2 smaller batteries (to switch-out in the field) is better than one bigger battery. So if you get the 4000mAh you can make up for the lost flight time by getting two of your smaller batteries if you need that flight time as the bigger battery puts you closer to your max takeoff weight, which means you will not have as much room for electronics.

Also you might do yourself a favor and get some batteries with XT-60 connectors. Or if you're willing and have some soldering experience you could cut those off and solder some on, but nodoby likes soldering battery leads when you don't have to hahaha
 
yata said:
Ok thanks, so if I understand correctly, it's better to have 2 small batteries and then I will connect them to the ESC with a XT60 Harness for 2 Packs in Parallel ?

Is this a good battery ? Turnigy 2450mAh 3S 30C Lipo
I am not sure if it is a problem to have 147A (2.450 * 30 * 2) ? The motors need less than 100 A, and the ESC is also max 25 A.
Maybe it's better to have a lighter battery, like this one : ZIPPY Compact 2200mAh S 25C ?
Click to expand...
Not what I meant hahaha. 2 batteries that you can land and change off as you are not carrying all of that weight around which makes you less maneuverable and shortens your flight time.
 
yata said:
Ok haha, sorry I misunderstand :D
Click to expand...
Also I don't know about the local laws for Switzerland, but I believe that you should be fine under a certain weight (it was like 30 kg or 50 kg I don't remember for sure) and as long as you are not flying over people, but you might want to check into your local laws before buying the RF equipment. Some countries limit the wattage output of signals in different bands.
 
Interesting stuff. By the way is hobby king the only place to get stuff? or is because it's cheaper or safer or faster? noticed it's mostly where all things quadcopter decend from.
 
Brian coinmaker said:
Interesting stuff. By the way is hobby king the only place to get stuff? or is because it's cheaper or safer or faster? noticed it's mostly where all things quadcopter decend from.
Click to expand...
They may be a bit cheaper, but really they just have such a large stock haha. If you need t they probably have something that will work.
 
Hi :)

Sorry if I haven't respond earlier, I didn't have much time for this project during the past few weeks.

GJH105775 said:
Also I don't know about the local laws for Switzerland, but I believe that you should be fine under a certain weight (it was like 30 kg or 50 kg I don't remember for sure) and as long as you are not flying over people, but you might want to check into your local laws before buying the RF equipment. Some countries limit the wattage output of signals in different bands.
Click to expand...

Thank you, I will check this informations.

I will soon order all the materials, so to sum up, is this list correct ? I just want a functional quadcopter, I will see after for the Pi implementation.


ESC :
Q Brain 4 x 25A Brushless Quadcopter ESC

Props :
HobbyKing Slowfly Propeller 10x4.5 Black
HobbyKing Slowfly Propeller 10x4.5 Blue

Motors (x 4) :
Turnigy D2836/9 950KV Brushless Outrunner Motor

Radio :
Turnigy TGY-i6 AFHDS Transmitter and 6CH Receiver (Mode 2)

Frame :
Turnigy H.A.L. (Heavy Aerial Lift) Quadcopter Frame 585mm

Battery and charger :
Turnigy nano-tech 4000mah 3S 25~50C Lipo Pack
Turnigy Accucell-6 50W 6A Balancer/Charger
Power Supply 60W 12V 5A

Connectors : Nylon XT60 Connectors Male/Female

Flight controller : Hobbyking KK2.1.5

Thanks :)
 
yata said:
Hi :)

Sorry if I haven't respond earlier, I didn't have much time for this project during the past few weeks.



Thank you, I will check this informations.

I will soon order all the materials, so to sum up, is this list correct ? I just want a functional quadcopter, I will see after for the Pi implementation.


ESC :
Q Brain 4 x 25A Brushless Quadcopter ESC

Props :
HobbyKing Slowfly Propeller 10x4.5 Black
HobbyKing Slowfly Propeller 10x4.5 Blue

Motors (x 4) :
Turnigy D2836/9 950KV Brushless Outrunner Motor

Radio :
Turnigy TGY-i6 AFHDS Transmitter and 6CH Receiver (Mode 2)

Frame :
Turnigy H.A.L. (Heavy Aerial Lift) Quadcopter Frame 585mm

Battery and charger :
Turnigy nano-tech 4000mah 3S 25~50C Lipo Pack
Turnigy Accucell-6 50W 6A Balancer/Charger
Power Supply 60W 12V 5A

Connectors : Nylon XT60 Connectors Male/Female

Flight controller : Hobbyking KK2.1.5

Thanks :)
Click to expand...
Looks good, though I'd get some little nicer motors. Dealing with cheap parts is a really hard task hahaha. Most
 
What do you mean by "nicer" ? It's a motor with more RPM and thrust ? Or it's about the quality ?
I am also limited with the max 25A from the ESC. I still found this one, if it's better ? : Turnigy D3530/14 1100KV
 
yata said:
What do you mean by "nicer" ? It's a motor with more RPM and thrust ? Or it's about the quality ?
I am also limited with the max 25A from the ESC. I still found this one, if it's better ? : Turnigy D3530/14 1100KV
Click to expand...
No, the low KV is better for what you are doing, I just meant quality. Something like Multistar 980kv or Turnigy Aerodrive
 
Ok so let's go for this Multistar 980kv ! :)

Thanks for all your help. I will come back in few months to show you the result :D
 
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