Maker, developers, and hobbyists who enjoy constructing projects using the Arduino platform may be interested in an Arduino quadcopter called Comelicottero. This innovative project has been constructed using an Arduino Yun development board, which is known for its versatility and ease of use in wireless communication projects.
Wireless Communication and Control
Communication to fly the Arduino quadcopter relies on wireless communication, which is a critical aspect of its design. To provide the best results, the Bridge library, which is commonly used for communication between the microcontroller and the Linux processor on the Arduino Yun, was replaced with an efficient Python script running on OpenWRT-Yun. This change significantly enhances the responsiveness and reliability of the communication system, ensuring smoother and more precise control of the quadcopter.
Design and Stability
Watch the video below to learn more about the quadcopter that was created by Simone Castellani, a Master in Computer Science at the Universita’ degli Studi of Milan, Italy. The design of Comelicottero is particularly noteworthy for its stability and control mechanisms.
“The idea was to build a drone able to be controlled through WiFi from any PC, tablet, or smartphone. Comelicottero is equipped with an accelerometer and a gyroscope for stability, obtained by a PID-based control system. Since the Servo library is too slow for the quadcopter dynamics, a hardware PWM was implemented to obtain a 400Hz PWM signal.”
The use of an accelerometer and gyroscope is crucial for maintaining the stability of the quadcopter during flight. These sensors provide real-time data on the orientation and movement of the drone, which is processed by the PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) control system to make continuous adjustments. This ensures that the quadcopter remains stable and responds accurately to control inputs.
Hardware and Software Integration
One of the challenges in building a quadcopter is the integration of hardware and software components. In the case of Comelicottero, the Arduino Yun development board serves as the central hub, coordinating the inputs from the sensors and the control commands from the user. The decision to implement a hardware PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal at 400Hz was driven by the need for faster and more precise control of the motors, which is essential for the dynamic movements of a quadcopter.
The use of WiFi for control adds another layer of complexity and flexibility. By enabling control from any PC, tablet, or smartphone, the project opens up numerous possibilities for remote operation and automation. This makes Comelicottero not just a hobby project, but a potential platform for further research and development in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Jump over to the Adafruit blog via the link below for more information and instructions.
Source: Arduino Blog
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