I dont really know where to post this but the jet guys seem to be on the leading edge when it comes to technology. Has anyone visited this site and checked out their product. It looks interesting, light , simple and maybe inexpensive..... http://www.micropilot.com/ It gives me way to many ideas both good and bad......whatcha think......

Go to the UAV forum on RC Groups. Lots of info on good autopilots, navigators, payloads and system integration. Micropilot seems to rank way down. Apparently easy to get to work on a .40 trainer, anything more complex = issues.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=238

I've been working with a group at NASA Langley that has been evaluating the Micropilot autopilots. They are pretty good, and are very small. However, like all of the autopilots we've worked with, it takes quite a bit of tuning the gains in the PID control loops to get the unit to fly the airplane well. In addition, the IMU in the Micropilot (the part that generates the attitude information), which is based on only accelerometers and gyros and can be subject to "tumbling" - with predictable results in the air. Thus far, the Langley folks have the Micropilot flying a Kingcat pretty well - you just have to be careful what manuvers you do before you turn it on...

I'm not sure about the current prices, or how much the 1028 might be discounted, but two years ago when I looked at them, the 2028 was a $5k unit - not exactly inexpensive...

My students and I have actually developed an autopilot system that the folks at NASA Langley are evaluating for their use. It uses IR sensors to generate attitude information and thus, can't be "tumbled." We have the system developed to the point where it can fly a prop plane very well and we are currently tuning it in our DV8R. Three weeks ago we completed a flight with 7 minutes of uninterrupted automous control. We did the flight at the NASA Wallops Island Flight Facility and parts of the circuits were several thousand feet out over the Atlantic Ocean. Makes you value the reliability of the old Jetcat P-80...

BTW, we are also testing the Piccolo II autopilot from Cloudcap Technology. It seems to be a bit easier to setup, but its not anywhere nearly as flexible as the Micropilot (typical tradeoff) and its a $10k - $15k unit if I recall correctly.

What's really interesting is that there's only $500 to maybe $1000 or so of hardware in these units - what you are paying for is the development of the software (and there is A LOT).

Bob

Exactly what the Langley guys have seen. Also, the groups that fly in the AUVSI Student UAV Competition are given a Micropilot 2028 (if they want it) free to use in the competition and almost every group that does, flys a Sig Kadet...

Bob

I'm deeply involved in a UAV project at the moment (4m span jet/prop hybrid) and I can tell you that the guidance system can be as sophisticated or as rudimentary as you like -- depending on needs.

The system I've built uses GPS for way-point navigation, IR sensors for stabilization, barometric and ultrasonic for altitude (including approach/landing) and doppler radar for collision avoidance.

We're hoping to have our third prototype (the first 4m one, the others were 1.6m and 2m) operational before Christmas. It's not exactly a "small" craft, having a maximum all-up flying weight of 100Kg and a designed top speed of around 375mph.

There's surprisingly *little* model aircraft technology in this larger craft -- most of it has been designed and built in-house.

so what are you guys using these for? This is ssome good info coming out....

Ours is being developed for, among other things, use as a backup to the safety pilot for a NASA research vehicle...

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_38...tm.htm#3893904

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_24...tm.htm#2488072

Bob

We have been designing and building small low cost prototypes for different US firms since 2000 - Most projects last 3 to 6 months and are mostly aimed at rapid prototyping to determine feasibility. We also support the local Tucson, AZ Pima College in the AUVSI - they are just at level 1 starting in to autonomy. http://www.ejf.com/History/UAV-UGV-Projects/index.html

--RW