[Autosail] Ardupilot and sensors

[Trevor McKee]

+1 slack...

But Will, I'm having an issue - you sent the request to autosail at hacklab.to
but I believe we need to be invited individually by e-mail address... maybe
grab the subscriber list from hacklab's mailman and invite those?

On Thu, Jul 7, 2016 at 11:44 AM, Emma Bluemke <emmabluemke at gmail.com> wrote:

> Slack is an awesome platform for team project management, not sure if
> everyone's tried it before?
> It really streamlines everything and allows really convenient document
> retrieval from older messages, as well as convenient categorization.
>
> Emma
>
> On Thu, Jul 7, 2016 at 11:34 AM, Trevor McKee <trevordmckee at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Sorry I missed the meeting.
>>
>> ...do we have any plans for any sort of project management system
>> thingey?  I use trello at work, may be useful in theory?  or a portion of
>> hacklab wiki?
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Jul 7, 2016 at 11:32 AM, Alan Majer <alanmajer at hotmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Just a quick update on some of my To-Dos. Forgive me if I repeat info
>>> that others have already shared.
>>>
>>> *Ardupilot*:
>>> This thing has gone through a lot of iterations since I last looked at
>>> it. Seems like it's a choice between the newer but expensive Pixhawk, and
>>> the older arduino mega version that's cheaper but gets good reviews.
>>>
>>> The newest version, the Pixhawk, looks awesome (400Hz updates or
>>> something), but it's kinda expensive too at $200. It's also out of Stock:
>>> <https://store.3dr.com/products/3dr-pixhawk>
>>> <https://store.3dr.com/products/3dr-pixhawk>
>>> https://store.3dr.com/products/3dr-pixhawk
>>> Robotshop does have in stock (and I usually get their stuff in a week or
>>> so after an order):
>>> http://www.robotshop.com/ca/en/3dr-px4-pixhawk-advanced-autopilot.html
>>> There are much cheaper knockoffs on ebay (if we order now, probably take
>>> 4-5 weeks):
>>>
>>> http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pixhawk-PX4-V2-4-8-32Bit-Flight-Controller-NEO-M8N-GPS-Power-Module-Multicopter-/272240662408
>>> <http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pixhawk-PX4-V2-4-8-32Bit-Flight-Controller-NEO-M8N-GPS-Power-Module-Multicopter-/272240662408?hash=item3f62ced788:g:NjAAAOSw-4BXYQhc>
>>>
>>>
>>> Seems to be some discussion about 3DR signing their units in a way that
>>> locks you into their ecosystem causing interoperability issues. I haven't
>>> looked at this enough to know what's going on, just seems like a minor red
>>> flag to check out before we commit to Pixhawk.
>>>
>>> On the other hand, the slightly older version Ardupilot Mega (APM 2.8)
>>> still seems to be an interesting option (rated very highly but slower at
>>> 100hz... though this is a sailboat mind you). Although it's tougher to
>>> source, it seems that a lot of the most likely sources don't sell it, so
>>> hard to get a local copy. These guys are supposed to be makers of the
>>> official board but show out of stock:
>>>
>>> <https://www.unmannedtechshop.co.uk/ardupilot-mega-autopilot-kit-apm-2-8/>
>>> https://www.unmannedtechshop.co.uk/ardupilot-mega-autopilot-kit-apm-2-8/
>>> Hobby King looks like it has one though:
>>>
>>> <http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__56052__HKPilot_Mega_2_7_Flight_Controller_USB_GYRO_ACC_MAG_BARO.html>
>>> http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__56052__HKPilot_Mega_2_7_Flight_Controller_USB_GYRO_ACC_MAG_BARO.html
>>>
>>> As can be expected, the clone market is alive and well (some of these
>>> can ship via DHL to get it in a week):
>>>
>>> <http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20160707063654&origin=y&SearchText=ardupilot+mega>
>>> http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20160707063654&origin=y&SearchText=ardupilot+mega
>>>
>>> Also, sadly, I cannot find my old ardupilot (nor the GPS) that I had
>>> with it. It may have got consumed in another project or lent out to one. So
>>> look like we will need to purchase one either way.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *Sensors:*Wind speed sensor. Yes, most of the weather monitoring stuff
>>> is pretty big, and around $100. But works well in very low wind speeds.
>>>
>>> Some options:
>>>  - weather vane atop of a cheap *rotation encoder* or *Potentiometer*.
>>> Not super accurate and probably has a bit of friction, but dirt cheap.
>>> Might be good enough, might be worth a test considering the price is right.
>>>  - Quality *encoder *with absolute position:
>>> http://www.usdigital.com/products/ma3   This one gives great accuracy.
>>> Not cheap at $60, but might be worth it.
>>>  - Then there's a bunch of traditional weather stuff.. both ultrasonic
>>> and weather vanes. This kit from sparkfun might be interesting (if a little
>>> big):
>>> <https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8942>
>>> https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8942
>>>
>>> Also, in watching some RC sailing videos, I think a normal weather vane
>>> may act weird at some of the sharper angles. We might want to consider some
>>> kind of weighted pendulum to keep it level.
>>>
>>> I also have a lot of other sensors kicking around... accelerometer,
>>> barometric, compass etc. We can figure out what we need. Stress sensor on
>>> the mast might be interesting. I've played with strain gauges a little
>>> (ones inside the wii) and they are pretty cool, but I seem to remember them
>>> drifting and calibration being an issue.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *Weights:*
>>> Yes, I found the lead diving weights we could use if we want to melt
>>> down and cast exactly how we want it. Or if we don't care about the shape
>>> and need a quick and dirty solution i have lots of other heavy brass and
>>> steel pieces too (some are cylinders that'd be easy to put a nose on). If
>>> we are even less picky (or want to test specific weights before casting) I
>>> have some iron barbell weights that we could pretty much use as is if we
>>> attached them to some kind of steel/aluminum flat.
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>
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