Drone isn't stable after take off

ArduCopter Copter 4.4
1

Hi all,

I am trying to understand the following issues:

  1. After flashing to version 4.4.4 from the latest stable version, the drone initially flies well but then starts
    behaving erratically, such as flying sideways or flipping. I am using the same parameters as with the
    latest stable version, having only re-calibrated the ESC and gyro:
    4.4.4.param (18.9 KB)
    Videos could be found here:

  2. I wanted to save some logs for analysis, but they are empty:
    logs.zip - Google Drive
    It seems that simply inserting the SD card is not enough. Could the absence of logs be related to
    LOG_DISARMED=0?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

2

LOG_DISARMED allows the creation of logs prior to arming. Otherwise logs are created any time the drone is armed. If the drone is flying then LOG_DISARMED,0 is fine.

Based on the file names of the logs in the zip files there is no GPS or the GPS does not have a fix.

It is generally not recommended to down-grade your firmware version. If you find it flew on the old version, but not on the latest then that is usually highlighting a problem that existed before and needs to be corrected. It probably wasn’t flying as well as you thought.

3

That is not a proper troubleshooting technique. Flash back to Stable and work through the standard configuration and tuning. Which for you is the Methodic Configurator from a default condition.

1 Like
4

Is GPS mandatory for logs?

Right now I don’t have GPS at all and if I remember correctly I tried to disable it. Should it be enough to set GPS_TYPE=0?

I down-grade firmware version just for the reason I have some patches on top of 4.4.4 and decided that it would be faster to downgrade the version then port them.

5

Could you please explain me what is Methodic Configurator?

As I answered to Allister, I downgraded the version for the reason I have the patches on top of 4.4.4 version and I thought that it would be easier to downgrade the version then port them.

Probably I have to check 4.4.4 without this patches to be sure that they are not guilty.

6

new-ardupilot-methodic-configurator-gui

can you confirm does Speedy Bee F4 V3 support DShot?

MOT_BAT_VOLT_MAX,24.6 (6x4.2)
MOT_BAT_VOLT_MIN,16.8 (6x3.2 ??)
MOT_PWM_MAX,2000
MOT_PWM_MIN,1000
MOT_PWM_TYPE,5

double-check your motor order too.

FRAME_CLASS,1
FRAME_TYPE,1
SERVO1_FUNCTION,36
SERVO2_FUNCTION,33
SERVO3_FUNCTION,34
SERVO4_FUNCTION,35

follow the configurator approach, understand what you bring to the Speedy Bee, check your drone CG, and do this first flight test.

7

[quote=“Jai.GAY, post:6, topic:123054”]
new-ardupilot-methodic-configurator-gui

Thanks for the link. I will look at it.

can you confirm does Speedy Bee F4 V3 support DShot?

Yes, it is supported. Before I used it before for Ardupilot and other firmware and the drone flyes well.

MOT_BAT_VOLT_MAX,24.6 (6x4.2)
MOT_BAT_VOLT_MIN,16.8 (6x3.2 ??)
MOT_PWM_MAX,2000
MOT_PWM_MIN,1000
MOT_PWM_TYPE,5

I am not sure that you calculation is correct: 24.6 = 6 x 4.1 and 16,8 = 6 * 2.8. Where am I wrong? Is it critical that MOT_BAT_VOLT_MIN is 2,8V?

double-check your motor order too.

Everything was okay here. I will double check the drone after repairement.

FRAME_CLASS,1
FRAME_TYPE,1
SERVO1_FUNCTION,36
SERVO2_FUNCTION,33
SERVO3_FUNCTION,34
SERVO4_FUNCTION,35

follow the configurator approach, understand what you bring to the Speedy Bee, check your drone CG, and do this first flight test.

Thanks. I will finish repairement and will try to follow the configurator approach.

8

Part 3. LiPo battery minimum voltage

9

The ArduPilot Methodic configurator validates and checks the allowed voltage ranges based on the battery chemistry.

Stop wasting your time, and start using it!

10

No, but depending on what you’re looking for as “stable” you might be expecting it.

11

Are you stacking with 50A BLHeli_S 4in1 ESC?

12

The ArduPilot Methodic configurator validates and checks the allowed voltage ranges based on the battery chemistry.

Btw, should this procedure be repeated for every new drone even if the h/w, frame, etc are completely the same?

13

Are you stacking with 50A BLHeli_S 4in1 ESC?

Yes, I am using 50A BLHeli_S 4in1 ESC.

14

No, if the procedure reaches the end it will generate a non-default_writable_non-calibrations.param file that can be uploaded to other similar vehicles and only 3 steps (of the 50 in total) need to be repeated for the new vehicles.

This is explained here

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15

Then you can consider DShot600.
I am not very sure the motors for SpeedyBee under Mission Planner, where it should appear under C1-C4 (servo 1 - 4) or C9-C12 (servo 9 - 12).

16

No, if the procedure reaches the end it will generate a non-default_writable_non-calibrations.param file that can be uploaded to other similar vehicles and only 3 steps (of the 50 in total) need to be repeated for the new vehicles.

This is explained here

Thanks for clarifying.

I would like to ask what is the best place to ask about MethodicConfigurator? I am okay to ask in this thread.
In the step 5 it is needed to choose vehicle template:

Select the vehicle template that better resembles your vehicle.

But I don’t have the directory vehicle_templates:

ls -la /home/ok/.local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/MethodicConfigurator/vehicle_templates/
ls: cannot access ‘/home/ok/.local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/MethodicConfigurator/vehicle_templates/’: No such file or directory

Should it be generated somehow or I have to download it?

17

Post questions on New ArduPilot methodic configurator GUI instead

Try using a MS windows machine instead.