Cheerson CX-OF low cost optical flow sensor testing

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Another OF module option:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33005508643.html

It has a fourth pin ‘Y’:

From Aliexpress page:

Special note about Y pin:
①This pin is the yaw mode selection port. It is active low and defaults to high (normal mode) at startup.
②When the drone is in yaw motion, it is recommended to pull down the Y pin to make the module enter yaw mode.
③When the sensor is not in yaw motion, pull the Y pin high to put the module into normal mode.
④If the module does not turn on yaw mode during yaw motion, it may cause jitter and drift. It can be improved after turning on the yaw mode.
⑤If the module is in yaw mode when the drone is not in yaw motion, the linearity of the module data may be deteriorated.
⑥ If you are not understand the above content, please ignore the Y pin，just think of it as nonexistent.

Do someone understand how could it be used with Ardupilot?

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:joy::joy:

So I guess they have implemented a rotation compensation method that we can use if needed. It might be fun to test if someone is keen to patch EKF-OF… :nerd_face:

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165

I have exactly that module and I have not connected Y. When I am rotating yaw the quadcopter has drift. How could I use it?

I also read this in the mission planner’s messages section.

08/03/2020 19:15:33: EKF2 IMU0 is using optical flow
08/03/2020 19:15:33: EKF2 IMU0 has stopped aiding
08/03/2020 19:15:28: EKF2 IMU0 is using optical flow
08/03/2020 19:15:28: EKF2 IMU0 has stopped aiding

and so on … looped. Normal behavior?
Thank you

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I have cheerson cx-of
i have problem
wifi controller always disconneted
can anybody help me please

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hi all,

can anyone tell me if my output is correct? thanks! :slight_smile:

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ThoneFlow-3901UY - Mount and Wiring
Protocol compatible with cx-of
Buy from Seeed: https://www.seeedstudio.com/ThoneFlow-3901U-UART-Serial-Version-PMW3901-Optical-Flow-Sensor-p-4040.html

ThoneFlow-3901UY - Mount and Wiring
ThoneFlow-3901UY - Mount and Wiring1280×1920 621 KB

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Cool, I hope Seeedstufio will have a better availability than AliExpress

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it looks the same as aliexpress with the y pin for yaw mode. I can’t get good stability just with that sensor on my 3 "quad. I’m waiting for the VL53L1X to use it together with this sensor

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Hi Alberto,

Does the VL53L1X sensor works with the ArduCopter firmware?

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Yes it does, but take note that thes type of sensors are for indoor use only as they easily get blinded by sunlight

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Thanks. Can this be connected via UART? Or just I2C?
Kakute F7 has only 1 SDA/SCL port and it is intended for the GPS/Mag on my copter. I’m planning on buying the TFmini, but it’s too big and heavy for my micro Copter.

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It is I2C so you connect many devices as I2C is a bus

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with VL0 I get bad lidar health with VL1 I don’t know why I still have to get from aliexpress :slight_smile: however according to the wiki it should go

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Oh… many devices, with different addresses… the VL do have the same address and it can be changed but not permanently **

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arducopter already has several i2c addresses for different lidars. Correct?

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Generally, each family has a different address and most of I2C lidar can have their address permanently changed but not the VL53

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Would you mind sharing your gains and hardware used on your 3" setup?

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Hi, these are my settings for optical flow only (no lidar fc nano v6). With these settings I am getting good results in low light (sunset) or in indoor flights, but in full sunlight the optical flow sensor seems to be ignored. Can anyone indicate on which parameters to modify to have a good functioning in both light situations? Thanks!

optical flow setting
optical flow setting1518×454 175 KB

optical flow setting 2
optical flow setting 2731×208 31.5 KB

my sensor is:

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I’m assuming you are on Arducopter 4.0.3 right?

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Yes, arducopter 4.0.3 3" quad

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