Derek's ECHO 290 FPV Quad Resurrected

[Derek]

Config.png (103.13 KiB) Viewed 3151 times

Here is the Config Tab. I'm on the RX_PARALLEL_PWM and Spektrum1024. Other than that, everything is below this is inactive or unselected.

PID Tuning.png (52.6 KiB) Viewed 3151 times

Here's the PID's. I've not made any attempt to make changes because I don't know what changes to make and even if I did make changes, I probably wouldn't know what to look for after a change, lol.

[Stambo]

Were you flying self level Derek?
If so drop the level P down to at least half.
Otherwise we need to look further.
What ESCs are you using?
Any vibrations?

[Derek]

Nope...not flying self level. I have the first flight mode as POS 1 on my AUX1 switch. That is my take off mode. Horizon is set for POS 2. Angle is set for POS 3.

The ESC's are 20amp Afro ESC's flashed with BLheli.

As for vibrations...I just can't see where there would be any vibrations. The bolts to the motor are very snug and locktited. The nuts from the tube clamps are tight. The screws that hold the Naze in place are very snug. The bolts that hold the FPV cam and the FPV cam guard are tight and locktited. All loose wires are ziptied down. Prop nuts are tight (double checked). I just don't know.

[Stambo]

Perhaps try it in self level, drop that P down to 4 or so though.
Maybe check in the receiver tab that you have not set your RC rate too high, it is sort of like dual rate.
1.00 is default, if you set it to 0.80 you will tame it down heaps.

[Derek]

What will dropping the P down to 4 make the quad do? I just don't understand what happens to the quad when you raise and lower the PID's.

I just dropped the P for Level down to 4. I'll try to fly it on my next day off.

I just checked the RC Rate, in the Receiver Tab. It's at 0.90 right now.

[danhampson]

The best way to check for vibes is to connect to clean flight with the flight pack connected, props off of course.
Go to the motor tab and check the run motors tab (bottom right) and then raise the numbered sliders and observe the graphs (top right). Each should be raised on its own to see if there are vibes from an individual motor.
To be honest though with the betaflight pid filters you would need massive vibes to cause the issues your having. I've flown after a crash (1 blade missing from a trip blade prop) and it still flew, a bit shaky but it flew.

[Stambo]

Too high P makes the quad twitchy and difficult to control.
Dan makes a good point, perhaps Betaflight would be worth a shot.
As far as testing for vibes is concerned, I do almost the same as Dan suggests but I tie the quad down and leave the props on.
That way you check the whole assembly.

[Derek]

Very cool, guys! I appreciate the help. I'm working tonight and tomorrow night. I'll do a "vibe check" on my next days off.

[Graham Lawrie]

+1 on Dan:) It should fly straight off factory settings?

[Derek]

OH WOW! I just connected the quad to Cleanflight, went to the motors tab and began checking each motor for vibrations. Motors 1, 2, and 4 (with props off) seemed to spin freely, quietly, and smoothly. Motor 3....well, not so much, lol. Cleanflight was showing mad vibrations when motor 3 was spinning. I have spare motors so I'll get this one replaced and we'll see what happens.

[KevG]

Some nice tools in these newer version Derek. Nice one mate.

[danhampson]

That could be the cause of your issues.

[Derek]

OK, I got the "bad vibe" motor replaced, soldered, installed, and then started up the motors in Cleanflight and all 4 motors are smooth smooth smooth. Let's hope that solves the problem. I won't know until tomorrow. It's bedtime.

[Graham Lawrie]

Nice one Derek:) Suns out here:) time to fly:)

[Derek]

I finally got a chance to do a bit of test hovering with the quad. Today is my birthday and I was gifted with some odd behavior. In Acro Mode, the quad wants to roll to the right all the time. Horizon and Angle modes seem to be good. The other problem is that I have no throttle above mid stick. There is enough thrust to lift the quad off the ground and hover around but there is nothing above mid stick. I've calibrated the esc's...twice using the following procedure:

In the Motors tab, check the box to allow the motors to spin. I raised the Master Throttle slider to the top. Plug in the battery (fully charged). After a series of beeps, I drop the Master Throttle slider to the bottom...there is a new series of beeps. That should do it, right?

Config Tab.png (71.96 KiB) Viewed 3094 times

Here is a pic of the Config Tab that shows where my throttle end points are set. Also, in the Receiver Tab, each channel bottoms out within 3 points of 1000, mid range of 1500, and max's out within 4 points of 2000, as instructed.

What do you guys think?

[Stambo]

Go to the receiver tab and check that everything is working like it should.

[Derek]

Yep...everything in the Receiver tab is moving as it should. Down to 1000, up to 2000, centers around 1500.

[Stambo]

I dunno Derek, what have you done now?
I'll have to have a think about it.

[Derek]

I dunno what I've done now, lol!

The only thing that I can think to do is to order a new Naze32 board and try that. At $24.99 for a new board, it's not gonna "break the bank" to order a new board. This is the same Naze board that was in the heaviest of my two quad crashes. it's also the same Naze board that was on my previous "lightweight" build that flew like crap. It almost sounds like a new Naze is being requested....perhaps even demanded, lol.

[Stambo]

When did you last do a firmware upgrade?