Any comments about the Spartan AP-2000i flight stabiliser

[Menno]

For your camera shutter, I highly recommend using your trainer switch as it is spring loaded.

That wouldn't happen to be the switch next to throttle hold??

Don't ask how I know :mrgreen:

Menno

[dreslism]

For your camera shutter, I highly recommend using your trainer switch as it is spring loaded.

That wouldn't happen to be the switch next to throttle hold??

Don't ask how I know :mrgreen:

Menno

Yes Menno, it is. Right next to it on the 9CAP, I think it is on the other side of Tx on the 9CHP.

I am guessing you know the same way I know. :wink:

I found out on climb out from takeoff one day. It was quite some time ago, and now that I know REAL good where it is, I have never had to find out again! :D

[Hyde]

hey guys - i have all the AP2000i stuff but don't have it installed yet. i have a feeling it's gonna be a nightmare. the main question i have right now is:

i want to update the firmware. i have the unit sitting in front of me (not installed in the heli). how can i power it on in order to update the firmware before installing it in the copter? i don't see anywhere on the AP2000i for a battery or power input. i would like to just plug a spare battery into it and plug it into the computer to update the firmware. is this possible?

[lakespinner2]

Hyde, I tried that just yesterday as I'm installing it today. I had the unit and battery here by the pc. I just plugged a battery into one of the rx channel slots (elevator or aileron) to power up the unit, which worked fine. However, it immediately told me there was no RX signal coming in and I couldn't seem to get past it without hooking up a RX. There's probably a way to do it but I finally decided I'll just bring the entire heli to the PC when I get it all installed and then I can turn on the rx and tx.

I've just gone thru two cups of coffee trying to program a slider lever and a switch on a 9303 to activate the new cal function. I may need something stronger before this is over. :lol: I can't wait to try it.

[dreslism]

Yes, it just gets power from the servo channels.

Lakespinner2, could you not get into the loader menu? I know it always sits there saying no Rx signal, but I *thought* if you did the steps to get you to the loadr menu that it would be OK?

Hyde, many people make it a nightmare when installing the ap2000i. I myself did until I realized one thing, and this is the same thing I see people doing over and over and over again.

It has inputs for aileron, elevator, pitch which come from your Rx.

It has 3 outputs called servo 1, servo 2 and servo 3. Those 3 outputs do NOT correspond to the inputs. Most people think since the inputs order was ail, elev, then pitch, that servo1 output must be ail, servo2 output must be elev and servo 3 output must be pitch. They don't, the 3 outputs correspond to the graphical layout of the swash from the manual.

Look at the graphical layouts of the swashes in the manual, and see the servo placements and numbering of the servos. Match them up to your layout and then plug the servos into the correct servo number output.

For example, look in the manual for SR-3 (standard 120) swash. Servo 1 actually ends up being your elevator servo.

Once you realize this, it is easy to set it up.

Or better yet, tell us what heli and radio you have and I bet we can tell you what to hook up and how to set it up. :D

[GGoodrum]

I've just gone thru two cups of coffee trying to program a slider lever and a switch on a 9303 to activate the new cal function. I may need something stronger before this is over. :lol: I can't wait to try it.

Ha! Child's play next to this #@$% 14MZ! :bomb: I somehow managed it with the Logo 10 model, but now I'm trying to do the same for the one in my QJ-8. Maybe I can run Scott's instructions for his 9C through the Google translator...

-- Gary

[dreslism]

Maybe I can run Scott's instructions for his 9C through the Google translator...

-- Gary

Oh c'mon now! It may have gotten a little wordy, but it was not that bad. :D

He specifically asked about his setup with his gain knob and all so I tried to put it exactly as what he should do.

Just reset your gain using your gain channel end points so your slider shows 0% on the ap2000i to 100%.

Program a mix that has master channel as gain, and slave channel as gain and put it on a switch. Flip the switch so the mix is active, then adjust the high endpoint rate of the mix until you see the ap2000i shows cal, then done.

Do it right in front of the ap2000i powered up, so you can see your results.

Should take 1 minute to do that.

:shock: :shock: :shock:

[GGoodrum]

No, your instructions are quite clear. :) What I was refering to was your excelent instructions on how to actually program the mix and assigning it to the switch with your 9C. You have NO idea how complex this is on a 14MZ! :D There are an ungodly number of options to do this sort of thing, even down to assigning expo to how fast it changes. You can put in delays, slow the servo rates and mix this with a bunch of other program mixes. What is daunting is just trying to figure out doing the simple mix you did on your 9C. The manual is not any help, whatsoever. It just talks about all the options I just described.

I did this once, so I know it can be done...

-- Gary

[Tonystott]

I just bought 9303 on eBay and the manuals are in Japanese! Luckily I was able to download the English manuals, but the stretch from the 6102 is preety huge... I haven't got an AP2000i yet, which is probably just as well :)

[Angelos]

I am very pleased to see so many happy AP-2000i customers here! Maybe I should print and frame this thread to keep me motivated :D


I had the unit and battery here by the pc. I just plugged a battery into one of the rx channel slots (elevator or aileron) to power up the unit, which worked fine. However, it immediately told me there was no RX signal coming in and I couldn't seem to get past it without hooking up a RX.


The user guide explains a second way of activating the firmware loader:

...the firmware loader can be forcibly invoked by holding down the “Menu Up” and “Decrement” buttons while powering on the AP-2000i.

Also you can get passed the "NoSignal" message by pressing the Decrement (-) button. This is added to assist me with development work so I don’t have to switch on the TX all the time and it was therefore not documented.

-Angelos

[rkeith2]

Angelos -

Have the intertia sensors made it thru r&d and ready for release yet?

[lakespinner2]

Thanks for the info Angelos. I'll give the Decrement (-) button a try this evening. :noteworthy I should have all the wiring back where it belongs by then.

I have managed to get the cal function programming accomplished with the 9303 by using a flight mode switch. To Cal: put it in Idle Up 2 for a second to 'cal' then back to IU1 for normal flight. Gain is on the right slider. It's not my first choice of the switch to use but it's OK until I can come up with something better. Since there's no 3D flying involved it should be ok.

We need a Finless AP2000 video for about a half dozen radios, each with multiple switch and mixing options. :mrgreen:

.

[MarkWebber]

I'd be glad to do setup vid for these...just send me your equipment :wink:

[Angelos]

Have the intertia sensors made it thru r&d and ready for release yet?

It has been really hard to find time to work on it. Here is the deal. The original code which was aimed for the May release is hovering the helicopter fine but in fast banked turns the yaw movement was interacting with pitch (nose pitching up/down depending on direction of turn). Trying to solve this opened a can of worms. I have finally figured it out and last week I had some very good progress. Simulating the moves on the ground works well but it is now a lot more computationally intensive and it will need some optimisations before I can get it on the airborne system.

-Angelos

[Nate Dogg]

great update! thanks for all your hard work! :noteworthy

[Hyde]

thanks for the update!

[GGoodrum]

Angelos --

The inertial stuff sounds promising, but don't forget the altitude hold function. :D

Like I said, with the new addition of the new cal function, I think we are there for attitude control. The inertial stuff will be a nice addition, but if I had a vote, I'd put the altitude hold function at a higher priority. :)

Thanks again for the fantastic level of support you are providing here.

-- Gary