I just bought an used incomplete Wingtra in a tophographic equipment auction.
It doesnt have ground station and some parts missing.
It looks all avionics are in place.
My plan is recover it and fly for.fun with full Ardupilot/missionplanner setup.
I tried to connect to my laptop succesfully but there are some parameters with errors or nonexistent.
I guess this is.because Wingtra uses Open Source Hardware but with closed software..
So now i need to reflash the software and start again.
I have experience setting up fixed wings and multirotor but this is my first time with vtol
Im doing this as a hobby, dont want to put the wingtra at work again. Maybe will be a nice fpv plane.
There are 2 missing parts. Tha tail and the nose cover.
The Wingtra does have PX4 firmware. You will need to install Arduplane on the FC and configure the settings in Arduplane from scratch. Or has anyone already operated the Wingtra with Ardupilot?
In my opinion, choosing a tail-sitter as your first VTOL aircraft is challenging, since tail-sitters are among the most difficult types to adjust.
Interesting - that avionics bay is not “Wingtra”… looks like someone has already removed the wingtra autopilot and co-compute unit and hacked a pi and generic flight controller in there.
Hi Rolf thanks for the input.
I feel confident with this proyect. Im proficient RadioControl Pilot and im used to go step by step with caution. Like challenges.
I managed to acces to full.parameter list via MP and saved pId’s and sensors calibrations saved in the FC. Maybe can be used as a guide for the first setup (comparing and overwriting).
Some.parameters has diferent names like flight modes others are not recognized by MP. I think this is because the closed source wingtra pilot software they use.
When connected to MP.it showed right orientation in the Horyzon and battery voltage. And tried to.Arm but refuses because error codes. That is the reason i think is better to start from.scratch and add the parameters i actually saved.
One of my concerns is where the CG has to be located. Since i need to build the tail Nose and batteries, sure it will move from the optimal position. I can guess that tailsitters like this are very sensitive due lack of fusselage.
Hi Tegwin
I think the avionics are built by Wingtra, when conected to Mission Planner with my rfd900 hardwired, (the one already installed never conected maybe is custom programed) MP.showed an installer o program ID i dont remember the specific name, but the #id number matched the serial number the UAV has in the wing. Seems to be pixracer. I wonder for what is the raspberry board intended for, maybe companion computer. Unluckily im not familiarized with those boards, maybe is time to do it.
Thats really interesting. Must be a very early model. All the Mk1 wingtras I have seen have the compute, flight controller and coms systems all integrated into a “wingtra” branded single module.
Im triyng to redesign the missing vertical stabilizer. This is only i have for reference.
Im thinking to print in 3d with an inserted cf tube triangle shaped reinforcement.
Im wondering the weight in order to maintain proper CG.
I think this might help: GitHub - robustini/eXploraVTOL: eXplora Tailsitter VTOL. But I’m also finding this RPI and the general disorganization strange. Well, it was a great find, I would have a lot of fun trying to restore it! Good luck!
It seems the final.weight will be around 350 grs. I hope someone can feedback me about the original tail weight to try to adjust it. CG is critical in this kind of airframe.
