Announcing ArduCopter, the merger of the ArduPilot and AeroQuad projects!
Chris Anderson
DIY Drones
May 24, 2010
I'm pleased to announce that we've joined forces with the other Arduino-based powerhouse in the aerial robotics world, the AeroQuad [ http://aeroquad.com/content.php ] quadcopter team, to extend the ArduPilot platform to whirlybirds of all kinds. The project, called ArduCopter, will use the ArduPilotMega and IMU shield hardware along with a low-cost custom platform that will be available commercially to provide a full quad UAV with both stabilization and GPS waypoint navigation. It builds on the awesome work of Jose Julio in ArduPilot quad development [ http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/arduimu-quadcopter-part-iii ], with the excellent full-systems integration of the AeroQuad team. We expect that first code and hardware will be available this summer.
Another team is also extending this to traditional helis, starting with the Trex 450 heli (and its equivalents), which should be ready for release this fall. Along with Blimpduino, this should make for 100% coverage of all aerial robotics platforms on the Arduino platform, with shared libraries and ground stations across projects. Go Arduino!
We'll be setting up a proper microsite here, along with dedicated tab, for the project in the next few days.
If you haven't already seen this preview of what the ArduPilot/ArduIMU combo can do with quads, check this out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3FyJZbtSBk
And here's the impressive work of the AeroQuad team:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO5yU8zNtR0
Here's the announcement [ http://aeroquad.com/showthread.php?466-ArduCopter-The-Full-Featured-UAV-Multicopter
] from the AeroQuad team:
ArduCopter - The Full Featured UAV Multicopter!
Hey guys, as many of you know the AeroQuad has teamed up with DIY Drones on developing a very full featured multicopter! Chris from DIY Drones has proposed the name of this new effort to be called the ArduCopter! It will be based on the ArduPilot Pro Mega (APM) and the APM sensor board currently nicknamed the Oil Pan. Here's an initial feature list and software road map. Please chime in! Your input is valuable! I'll keep updating this front page until we agree on the first version of the ArduCopter's capabilities.
ArduCopter Feature List
- 6 Degree of Freedom IMU stabilized control
- Gyro stabilized flight mode enabling acrobatics (loops and barrel rolls)
- GPS for position hold
- Magnetometer for heading determination
- Barometer for altitude hold
- IR sensor integration for obstacle avoidance
- Sonar sensor for automated takeoff and landing capability
- Automated waypoint navigation
- Motor control using low cost standard PWM Electronics Speed Controllers (ESC's)
- On board flight telemetery data storage
- Mounted camera stabilization capability
- Wireless command & telemetry for long distance communication
- Capability to fly in "+", "x", hexa and octo configurations
- Battery level detection
- User configurable LED flight pattern
- Capability to use any R/C receiver
- ArduCopter Configuration and Ground Control Software
- Realtime graphs of flight data
- GUI for configuration of PID and other flight parameters
- On Screen Display integration
- Waypoint programming using Google Maps
- Mixertable view to auto configure "+", "x", hexa and octo configurations
Software Roadmap
- Initial baseline using Jose Julio's v3 software
- Provides absolute angle PID flight control
- Obstacle avoidance
- Waypoint navigation
- Generalize basic ArduCopter functions (ie. Separate PPM receiver input and motor control functions into separate libraries. Allows future coding of PWM vs. I2C ESC's)
- Emphasis on developing new capability into easy to use C++ libraries
- Integrate user defined EEPROM storage capability
- Develop/optimize AeroQuad serial real-time command/telemetry for ArduCopter
- Integrate AeroQuad Configurator for external software configuration of ArduCopter
- Rename Configurator to Ground Control Station and integrate graphical programming of waypoint navigation
- Integrate AeroQuad rate PID control
- Integrate mixertable configuration for multicopter configurations
- Integrate AeroQuad camera stabilization
- Integrate I2C motor control
- Develop capability to wirelessly control ArduCopter directly from Ground Control Station (USB joystick controller from laptop or through waypoint programming)
10:30am
By Peter Seddon [ http://diydrones.com/profile/PeterSeddon ]
May 24, 2010
Can it be extended to hex and octo variants?
Peter
1:21pm
By Chris Anderson
May 24, 2010
@Peter. Yes, the plan is to support all rotary platforms, including hex and octo, as well as coax. But we're starting with quads, and then standard helis...
1:34pm
By Bob Hern [ http://diydrones.com/profile/BobHern ]
May 24, 2010
any even estimation on the cost of the seutp?
3:08pm
By Chris Anderson
May 24, 2010
I see no reason why the whole package can't be in the $350 (USD) range.
7:28pm
By Eric [ http://diydrones.com/profile/Eric766 ]
May 24, 2010
There has been a lot of discussion about helicopters and IMU state-estimation issues... Is the proposed 450 setup going to include different sensors / algorithms than the about-to-be-released version?
Sorry, I know it's early...
9:24pm
By Chris Anderson
May 24, 2010
The heli project is being done by experienced heli autopilot engineers (not quad guys ;-)). It's still early days, so please be patient until we have more to announce.
9:26pm
Copyright 2010 http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/announcing-arducopter-the