2022/10/02 Work Session/Flight Test Updates

Owned by Megan Spee
Last updated: 2022-10-04
5 min read

Objectives

  • Build/fly an upgraded ver of Judie (Judie 2 AKA Big Judie)

  • Airtime on Spare (quad)

  • Airtime on Judie 1

 

During work session (12-2, construction of Judie 2): what changed since Judie 1

  • Added a ton of electronics

    • Holybro Pixhawk 5X Autopilot

    • PM02D Power Module

    • Power Distribution Board

    • LED Strips

    • U-blox NEO-M8N gps

    • RFD-900X Telemetry

    • RMRC 1.3 GHZ VTX - Stock Antenna

    • GoPro Hero 7

    • FPV camera

  • Thicker wing profile (1/8” thicker? → andy help)

  • Rudder (Not connected for flight)

  • Differential thrust in place of rudder

  • still 10x4.5 props

  • Ground station

    • Two tripods separated 20m to minimize interference

    • RFD900X and 2.4 GHz RC receiver on one tripod

    • 1.3GHz video receiver (stock antenna) with 5.8GHz relay on another tripod

    • See setup diagram for details (will make this soon)

 

Results/conclusions below

 

Considerations for next test flight

  • Must have visual observers, with two-way communication with pilot along entire flight path. There should not be an instance where we cannot clearly see the drone (tc can rules)

  • Put registration number on Judie / Judie 2

  • HAM Licence for 1.3GHz transmission?

 

Judie 2!

Judie 2 Launch

During Judie 2 flight - Mission Planner and FPV

Judie 2 landing

 

In flight videos+ launch, Judie 1

 

Judie 1 Landing

Spare (quad)

 

Results + Conclusions

Crash results:

  1. Spare

    1. broken motor mounts (2)

  2. Judie 1

    1. broken nose, damaged fuselage

    2. broken propellers (2)

    3. broken motor mounts (2)

unfortunately no footage of judie 1 crashing :((

 

General flight test conclusions:

  1. Judie 2 works

    1. Pixhawk completely integrated with Judie.

      1. Configuration, calibration, and verification of GPS/Compasses/Voltage/Current/Barometers/etc

      2. Stabilization functionality tuned and tested functioning

      3. Autonomous functionality tuned and tested functioning

        1. following waypoints, loitering, etc.

    2. FPV camera works - 1.3ghz downlink rebroadcasted on 5.8ghz relay

      1. no signal breakup at 1+km

      2. limiting factor in this test was the 5.8ghz relay.

    3. RFD900x downlink in-flight tested working

      1. signal strength remains at 99% at 1+km

    4. Measured flight time of Big Judie - 22min on single 6s 5000mah lipo

      1. Capable of carrying 2 flight batteries without significant weight increase (noseweight was needed to correct for CG)

    5. Cruising speed measured for Big Judie - capable of at least 70km/h

  2. First time flying is dangerous

    1. spare controls were handed over, there were numerous times where we were in undesirable decisions.

      1. multiple situations where the wind pushed the frame very far away.

      2. multiple situations where users were trying to maintain altitude, but also putting stick inputs while doing that, then losing reference frame of the drone.

      3. one or two situations where spare almost crashed straight into the ground

      4. one or two situations where we were hitting alt limits.

      5. no easy way for operator to take control of spare when in a sketchy situation.

    2. Spare is very nimble, and still a good test frame.

 

To do next flight test:

  1. Judie 2 telemetry range test! (5 km+)

  2. Test Phoenix

  3. Nucleo control on Judie 1

 

 

 

PHOTO/VIDEO DUMP