Notice

The forum is in read only mode.

Feature suggestion, Servo test mode

Start
Prev
1
Next
End

Xermalk
Topic Author
Offline

20 Feb 2013 23:47 - 21 Feb 2013 00:28 #6653 by Xermalk

Feature suggestion, Servo test mode was created by Xermalk

So
I was wondering if its possible to implement a mode where the tx sends continuous channel input over a timeframe.
With configurable speed ,interval and intensity of the commands.

For example negative/positive pitch and right/left rudder for a helicopter.

This would let you do a bench test of your servos in a more realistic manner.

There would obviously have to be warnings before this mode activates, so that one does not have motors connected. Or having servos bind and burn out.

Edit: basically what im looking for is a pre-programmed macro of somesort that shakes all the servos at varying speeds and intensity for 5 minutes or so.

This would weed out the really bad servos before one takes of. And would also make for a decent test of servos after a crash.

Place a few helicopters next to eachother with this mode on and youd have a decent harlem shake video

Last edit: 21 Feb 2013 00:28 by Xermalk.

chuneault
Offline

21 Feb 2013 01:22 #6656 by chuneault

Replied by chuneault on topic Feature suggestion, Servo test mode

Very good idea !!

cmpang
Offline

21 Feb 2013 01:25 #6657 by cmpang

Replied by cmpang on topic Feature suggestion, Servo test mode

Xermalk wrote: So
I was wondering if its possible to implement a mode where the tx sends continuous channel input over a timeframe.
With configurable speed ,interval and intensity of the commands.

.

that was one of the few nice features in my aged Futaba FF9. With this, you can perform range check without other's help.

Set the FF9 in servo scan mode, let it stands and take your receiver to move around to see how far to go before servo gitter...

Hexperience
Offline

21 Feb 2013 02:11 #6660 by Hexperience

Replied by Hexperience on topic Feature suggestion, Servo test mode

Once PB moves the servo speed function so that it can be used in the mixer, then we can just program the mixer to do it.

I have a mix that does it now, but because the servo speed is not applied it just flips the channel back and forth about a million times a second... :0

There are 10 types of people in this world. Those that understand binary and those that don't.

Xermalk
Topic Author
Offline

24 Feb 2013 16:49 #6965 by Xermalk

Replied by Xermalk on topic Feature suggestion, Servo test mode

Hexperience wrote: Once PB moves the servo speed function so that it can be used in the mixer, then we can just program the mixer to do it.

I have a mix that does it now, but because the servo speed is not applied it just flips the channel back and forth about a million times a second... :0

Well well well, that would be perfect for testing those 0.00001s servos

Xermalk
Topic Author
Offline

20 Mar 2013 13:31 #7935 by Xermalk

Replied by Xermalk on topic Feature suggestion, Servo test mode

Found a video of how this feature looks like on another transimtter.

Xermalk
Topic Author
Offline

06 Jun 2013 17:40 #10646 by Xermalk

Replied by Xermalk on topic Feature suggestion, Servo test mode

Was the servo speed function ever moved?
I would really like to have this feature for testing the servos on my 450 build.

PhracturedBlue
Offline

07 Jun 2013 05:08 - 07 Jun 2013 05:11 #10663 by PhracturedBlue

Replied by PhracturedBlue on topic Feature suggestion, Servo test mode

Here's an example of an experimental 'delay' mixer I quickly coded up:

The mixer is a type (like replace, add, min, max) so it is only available as a 'Complex' mixer. It compares the Source to the calculated value (after applying scalar and curves) and then uses the offset as the 'speed' value. I need to think of a better way to do it, ideally without adding yet another variable to the mixer structure, but this shows that it is possible to code it into the mixer as we've discussed.

Last edit: 07 Jun 2013 05:11 by PhracturedBlue.

Xermalk
Topic Author
Offline

07 Jun 2013 07:52 - 07 Jun 2013 07:56 #10673 by Xermalk

Replied by Xermalk on topic Feature suggestion, Servo test mode

Nice, send me a pm and ill gladly test it out, if you have it ready in ~1 week.

Still waiting for a few parts so build is paused.

Last edit: 07 Jun 2013 07:56 by Xermalk.

PhracturedBlue
Offline

07 Jun 2013 17:24 #10695 by PhracturedBlue

Replied by PhracturedBlue on topic Feature suggestion, Servo test mode

I have an implementation I'm happy with now.
When you set the mux-type to 'delay' the curve actually represents time for the servo to go from 0-100%.
So the typical use would be to have the 1st mixer define the expected value, and the 2nd mixer to apply a delay using a 'fixed' curve type (using 'scalar' to define the amount of delay). you could have non-linear delay as well if you are so inclined.

The question I have is how slow should it be?
typical servos can complete a 0-100% sweep in 0.1 to 0.2 seconds.
We have a total of 100 steps available.
Currently I am using 1 step = 0.1 second. So on a 0.1s servo, a value of '1' would have no effect, a value of '2' would be half speed, a value of '10' would take 1 second to go from 0-100%, and a value of '100' would take 10 seconds to go from 0-100%

There are other algorithms, but this one seems to make the most sense to me, so the question is really: What is the finest granularity you want control at? Is 1/10sec fine enough for 0-100% or should we go finer (at the cost of the slowest sweep)?

Xermalk
Topic Author
Offline

07 Jun 2013 17:35 #10696 by Xermalk

Replied by Xermalk on topic Feature suggestion, Servo test mode

Well, it is going to be used for stress testing the servos, and some of the top fbl servos are very very fast. Even clone servos can have speeds of 0.07s.

Could the granularity be written so we can have a modifier for it in the ini file or something? That would be the best from all viewpoints.

PhracturedBlue
Offline

07 Jun 2013 18:51 #10697 by PhracturedBlue

Replied by PhracturedBlue on topic Feature suggestion, Servo test mode

I think that will be overkill. I've set it to 5sec 0-100. This looks like it will cover all uses (fyi, I believe the most common usage is actually for landing gear with a standard servo).

Xermalk
Topic Author
Offline

07 Jun 2013 19:58 #10701 by Xermalk

Replied by Xermalk on topic Feature suggestion, Servo test mode

Yeah, that's the most likely use.

Though any test you can do on the bench is one less risk of failure in the air.

Running the servos on the bench for 5-10 minutes and then checking so they aren't hot. Is a good way to minimize failures.

You could also do a poor mans brownout test by running the servos and motor at full speed. Obviously without any blades and strapped down to something robust.

PhracturedBlue
Offline

08 Jun 2013 02:56 - 08 Jun 2013 02:56 #10704 by PhracturedBlue

Replied by PhracturedBlue on topic Feature suggestion, Servo test mode

I have checked in support for slow mixers now. Here is a example that shows a channel sweep using 1 virtual channel (3 mixers) and the output channel (2 mixers) There may be even better solutions, but this showcases the new capabilities.

FYI, I will likely remove support for the limits-based speed before the next release

Last edit: 08 Jun 2013 02:56 by PhracturedBlue.

Hexperience
Offline

11 Jun 2013 17:41 - 11 Jun 2013 17:42 #10797 by Hexperience

Replied by Hexperience on topic Feature suggestion, Servo test mode

I tried to load this in the devo12 emu, but it freezes at startup.
Using my emu build from the latest deviation.

There are 10 types of people in this world. Those that understand binary and those that don't.

Last edit: 11 Jun 2013 17:42 by Hexperience.

PhracturedBlue
Offline

11 Jun 2013 17:51 #10799 by PhracturedBlue

Replied by PhracturedBlue on topic Feature suggestion, Servo test mode

Works fine for me in 0f23fad098e0

Hexperience
Offline

11 Jun 2013 18:31 #10805 by Hexperience

Replied by Hexperience on topic Feature suggestion, Servo test mode

My bad... I guess my clone of the repo was not clean... sorry.

There are 10 types of people in this world. Those that understand binary and those that don't.

myxiplx
Offline

10 Jul 2013 05:38 #12161 by myxiplx

Replied by myxiplx on topic Feature suggestion, Servo test mode

Question, could this be used to program a soft start in the TX?

I may not need it, but I've just read a thread with tips about reducing startup wobble, and one piece of advice was to spool up at 0 pitch, using idle up and a soft start.

I have a nitro heli, so no ESC, but I'm wondering if I could program my own soft start. Would adding this delay setting to my idle up throttle mix work?

Start
Prev
1
Next
End

Time to create page: 0.399 seconds

Force desktop display

Notice

Feature suggestion, Servo test mode

Attachments: