Ohohia - The Pacific-Crossing Attempt
This is a journal of my progress toward my goal of flying a model airplane from Hawaii to California. The inspiration for this project originally came from the Aerosonde, which is not technically a model airplane, but my desire to do this was really driven by the STAR team. They succeeded at flying a model airplane across the Atlantic! It was merely proof that it can be done.
Links
Resources
- Robotics Connection
- Spark Fun Electronics
- Paparazzi UAV
- Smart-Fly
- Open-Source Auto-Pilot
- FMA Co-Pilot
- SuperCircuits
- DMU 6X IMU
- Rotomotion IMUs
archives
- 08/01/2003 - 09/01/2003
- 09/01/2003 - 10/01/2003
- 12/01/2003 - 01/01/2004
- 05/01/2004 - 06/01/2004
- 08/01/2005 - 09/01/2005
Note that entries appear in reverse chronological order
Sunday, August 17, 2003
Inventory and Test Planning
I have obtained a couple of '386 computers with a PC/104 platform that I will be using for initial testing and development of the flight system. Hopefully, I can find something smaller & lighter when the time comes to put a system together for the actual aircraft.
I will be performing initial tests of RC4 hopefully at the end of this month if I can find and fix this bug I am having with the BasicX-24 module. For some reason, I am unable to get COM3 to talk to RC4 at 19200 bps.
The early tests will consist of gathering data. With RC4 in the loop, I will be able to sample the R/C signals sent to it from the ground so that I can analyze the servo position data to determine the flight parameters for the aircraft. I will be doing my initial tests with my Eagle II.
Currently, I have the '386 computer (with a flash disk), the BasicX-24 module, and RC4 to work with. I am researching available IMUs (inertial measurement units) now in hopes of finding something off-the-shelf that is small, lightweight, and reasonably accurate (and, preferably, has some way to periodically calibrate it in flight based on other data from the GPS, etc.). But the GPS is a ways off. I first have to get the basics down for stabilizing the aircraft, then I can think about navigation.
Testing will progress through the following [preliminary] phases:
Engine and alternator enhancements will be implemented and tested in parallel to the above plan, with implementation details addressed as necessary.
I will be performing initial tests of RC4 hopefully at the end of this month if I can find and fix this bug I am having with the BasicX-24 module. For some reason, I am unable to get COM3 to talk to RC4 at 19200 bps.
The early tests will consist of gathering data. With RC4 in the loop, I will be able to sample the R/C signals sent to it from the ground so that I can analyze the servo position data to determine the flight parameters for the aircraft. I will be doing my initial tests with my Eagle II.
Currently, I have the '386 computer (with a flash disk), the BasicX-24 module, and RC4 to work with. I am researching available IMUs (inertial measurement units) now in hopes of finding something off-the-shelf that is small, lightweight, and reasonably accurate (and, preferably, has some way to periodically calibrate it in flight based on other data from the GPS, etc.). But the GPS is a ways off. I first have to get the basics down for stabilizing the aircraft, then I can think about navigation.
Testing will progress through the following [preliminary] phases:
- Phase I - Test RC4 functionality & usability
- Phase II - Record and play back a simple flight maneuver
- Phase III - Extensive data gathering with IMU & other sensors installed
- Phase IV - Data analysis & initial design of flight control software
- Phase V - Develop flight control & navigation software & firmware
- Phase VI - Autonomous flight tests
- Phase VII - Long-distance autonomous flight tests
- Phase VIII - Cross the Pacific
Engine and alternator enhancements will be implemented and tested in parallel to the above plan, with implementation details addressed as necessary.
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