AP2000i inertial sensor

[SeaHawk]

anyone know the current status of the interial sensor for the AP2000? Need to get my Christmas list started :wink:

[Hyde]

it's not coming out






...fast enough :(

[Routybouty]

Anyone know if they may throw in that 3rd axis in it? :shock:

[SeaHawk]

who said it's not coming out?

[MarkWebber]

Seahawk

He added the 'fast enough' part as an 'anticipation poke' I think :)
Kinda suprised me too cuz I haven't heard anything suggesting that.

[loewermx]

I too am very intrested in the sensor also. Hey Mark Webber, rattle a few cages for us. :lol:

[swatpilot]

I want to know also

[MarkWebber]

Hey Mark Webber, rattle a few cages for us.

I hear ya! While patiences is not one of my stronger virtues, I do know from what Angelos does tell me that they are very busy over there. With firmware updates, product development, product manufacturing, shipping, customer service, etc....I think they're working pretty hard for us. That's why I try to field as many questions as I can so they can keep working on all those other things. :D

[GGoodrum]

Is Angelos still working on the auto-cal software update we talked about a couple of months ago?

I too am really looking forward to the inertial sensor upgrade. Then I think we will have a real alternative to the $10k Carvec system, at a fraction of the cost.

I'm still very happy with the three IR-based AP-2000i units I have now. :)

-- Gary

[MLaBoyteaux]

Yeah, Angelos posted in another thread the upcoming software update will allow calibration AND he's working on altitude hold with an external altitude sensor!

I could see with a governor and altitude sensor, all the AP-2000 would need to do is tweak the collective to hold altitude.

[Angelos]

I could see with a governor and altitude sensor, all the AP-2000 would need to do is tweak the collective to hold altitude.

Exactly!

Is Angelos still working on the auto-cal software update we talked about a couple of months ago?

Almost done. I was updating the user guide yesterday and will be completing testing this week.

-Angelos

[GGoodrum]

Great news, especially the altitude hold feature! :noteworthy

I'm in the middle of testing a new mount that I've been helping Andrey (Askman...) do that allows full 360 degree continuous pans. Basically, the helicopter stays still, and landing gear/camera mount assembly rotates underneath it. The AP-2000i does a very good job of holding the attitude steady, once "cal'd", but we've been looking for adding an altitude hold capability. Adding the altitude hold and auto-cal features is going to make this complete! :) My goal has been to be able to have the sort of capability to hold the helicopter in one spot long enough to do 360 degree pans, like the Carvec system, but without promising my first born male to get it. (Actually, now that he's 18, and knows everything, they can have him... :D)

The main reason for the rotating mount, as opposed to simply doing piros, is that the AP-2000i does a great job holding the attitude, as long as the heading doesn't change. The other advantage to doing the rotating mount is I've actually been able to program the radio to totally automate the whole process. With a single switch change the mount will rotate 360 degrees at the rate that will allow your camera's continuous shoot mode to take the required number of pictures for the lens you ae using in order to ensure proper overlap for the stitching program. This has taken sometime to perfect, but we are very close now. Perfect pans, everytime. :)

Anyway, glad to hear the auot-cal and altitude functions are coming. I can't wait to try them.

-- Gary

[Angelos]

Gary,
I've done panoramic shots almost the same way. I have a switch to trigger the camera and the same switch also adds an offset mix on the rudder channel. The nice thing is that HH gyros maintain constant angular velocity and the photo overlap is very predictable and repetitive. However my old camera could take over 5 shots per second in the continues mode which allowed the helicopter to spin fairly fast… under 2 seconds per revolution. I would leave it pirouetting for at least 3 turns which always gave me enough images to stitch.
-Angelos

[GGoodrum]

With my A640 and the add-on wide angle lens adapter I need about 10 images to get proper coverage. The continuos shoot rate is limited by the speed of the memory card you are using. With the one I have in there now, it takes about 1.5 per second so one revolution needs to be completed in 6-7 seconds. Doing this using the AP-2000i to hold the heli still is a lot easier. The AP-2000i also lets me do this with a smaller model, like the Logo 10, at higher altitudes and a bit farther away.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to both upgrades. Can't wait to see how they "pan" out. ;)

-- Gary

[Wenlock]

You keep the camera spinning while you're shooting? :shock: I presume you're using fairly fast shutter speeds to prevent the images blurring?

[GGoodrum]

Yeah the shutter spped seems more than fast enough. Remember, you are outside in the daylight.

[dreslism]

Alright Gary,


Any from the heli with the full auto setup yet, or still ground testing?

You've had enough time to play, post one up. :)

[GGoodrum]

Sorry, no pics yet. We've made a series of changes, trying to get things optimized for as many setups as possible. I've also been busy with several other things as well, and it's a ***** trying to get everything done.

Here's a shot of the latest version - 1:

http://www.tppacks.com/photos/PanLG-01.jpg

I still need to do a couple more things, but I'll try and get it in the air before the end of the week.

-- Gary

[dreslism]

I could see with a governor and altitude sensor, all the AP-2000 would need to do is tweak the collective to hold altitude.

Exactly!

Is Angelos still working on the auto-cal software update we talked about a couple of months ago?

Almost done. I was updating the user guide yesterday and will be completing testing this week.

-Angelos

Angelos, I am looking forward to the altitude hold also. Can you let us know how this will hook into our system?

I don't see anymore inputs into the ap2000i for the altitude sensor.
Do you have some new splitter cable to take 2 inputs into the device?

Just curious and anxious to see.

Thanks