ESC calibration without RC

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1

Hello,

This is my first post here so sorry if I have done something wrong.

Mission Planner 1.3.24 with Logitech 3D Pro Joystick.
Firmware: AC 3.2.1
ESC: BULL TEC Multicopter Brushless ESC 30A 2S - 6S Lipo Opto

I don’t have RC and I would like to calibrate ESC, because motors don’t start simultaneously and they also don’t turn off simultaneously.

I tried to do all at one calibration but I couldn’t complete 7th step because it is not possible to connect Mission Planner with joystick when Pixhawk is in ESC calibration mode.

I also tried pixhawk.org/firmware/apps/esc_calib with TeraTerm but when I connect Pixhawk with sd Card some strange symbols appear and when I connect without sd card everything seems to be ok but in “help” there is no such command as esc_calib.

Third try was esc_calib in MissionPlanner terminal but it also didn’t work.

I found something here
github.com/diydrones/ardupilot/issues/899
github.com/PX4/Firmware/blob/ma … sc_calib.c
but i don’t know how it can help me.

After those tries is even worse because motors start to spin only with maximum throttle.

Thanks

2

I know it’s probably not the reply you were looking for, but this is my opinion. You should never rely upon your telemetry and joystick combination as the only method of control. If your telemetry radios become disconnected, you now have no way to control your copter. I highly recommend getting at least a cheap radio to use such as the HobbyKing HK6S. (link below)

Now to answer your question. Not to discourage you, but you say you don’t have a remote controller. If this is the case, you should first become confident at flying your copter completely in stabilise mode. When the autopilot fails, locks up etc., it is up to you to manually bring it down safely. If you can’t manually bring it down, you are endangering the safety of yourself and anyone around you.

The other thing is, you don’t want your expensive copter going down because you lost your telemetry connection or your cheap transmitter went into failsafe. It is worth investing in a decent transmitter such as a Turnigy 9XR with an Orange or FrSky Module or a FrSky Taranis. I’m not saying the joystick option is bad, I think it’s a cool idea. I just think you should also have a standard remote control as a backup method of control. Hope I could help!

Here is a list of remote control gear in best quality to least quality.
FrSky Taranis (my favourite, my main controller)
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__45028__FrSky_2_4GHz_ACCST_TARANIS_X9D_and_X8R_Combo_Digital_Telemetry_Radio_System_Mode_2_New_Battery.html

Turnigy 9XR with FrSky Module (you can use the same receivers if you upgrade to a taranis)
Remote Control http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/_31544__Turnigy_9XR_Transmitter_Mode_2_No_Module.html
FrSky Module http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__41609__FrSky_XJT_2_4Ghz_Combo_Pack_for_JR_w_Telemetry_Module_X8R_8_16Ch_S_BUS_ACCST_Telemetry_Receiver.html

Turnigy 9XR with Orange Module (you can use the same receivers if you upgrade to a spektrum)
Remote Control http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/_31544__Turnigy_9XR_Transmitter_Mode_2_No_Module.html
Orange Module http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/_24656__OrangeRX_DSMX_DSM2_Compatible_2_4Ghz_Transmitter_Module_JR_Turnigy_compatible.html
Orange Receiver (need to use CPPM mode)
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__46632__OrangeRx_R615X_DSM2_DSMX_Compatible_6Ch_2_4GHz_Receiver_w_CPPM.html

HK6S http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/_47080__HobbyKing_HK6S_2_4Ghz_FHSS_6Ch_Tx_Rx_White_Mode_2.html

3

I’m also in the same boat. We don’t want to do anything too complicated, just fly the quad copter to a specific location, loiter, and have it come back. The primary focus of our project is to do this autonomously, so using an RC isn’t much of an option. The copter will be tethered and in an environment where nobody would get injured. There would also be the ground station computer close by at all times. With this in mind, is it possible to fly without an RC? If so, how do we get from pre-calibration to flight? Every autopilot software I’ve tried requires the RC calibration.

I’ve seen this example: hackaday.com/2014/06/20/autonomo … n-popping/

Which uses a Pixhawk that communicates autonomously with an Odroid. Even with an Odroid, how would we bypass the configuration/calibration?

Thank you in advance for any input.

4

There is something called automatic esc calibration in Firmware AC3.3-rc3, but I have not tested it yet.
The code looks like it might work :slight_smile: https://github.com/diydrones/ardupilot/commit/b2238b7c8a391351d6c09cf7ffbaad80396d4b37

5

Hey did you ever figure out how to use that script in the last post? Or a method to achieve the desired result? I am trying to accomplish the same right now.