Uni project with MultiWii

Andil · Post by **Andil** » Fri Oct 26, 2012 9:47 am

Hi guys, my name is Andil and I'm new here.I'm studying aerospace engineering in London.

I'm currently working on a project which is basically studying aircraft dynamics.I have a model glider and I need to record the motion of it,my supervisor suggest me to use the wii controller (sensors and accelerometes) and I will be using Multiwii to get some graphs for the analysis.

My question is :
Do I have to put the wii accelerometers on the plane?
Which arduino should I get?
is the arduino going to be set on the plane?

Thanks for your time,I still a little bit confused about it and I hope you guys can give me some tips.
Andil

PS.My next stage of the project is to make the plane RC with a nuncuck.

sirbow2 · Post by **sirbow2** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 7:12 am

gyoros atleast, but acc would be better.
uno, nano, etc
yes

you may just want to get a mpu6050(also supported by MWC) from ebay and do it that way. much easier.

crashlander · Post by **crashlander** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 10:55 am

Hello,
in your position I would probably get finished board with all sensors (eg. Crius AIO Pro), since this boards are basically Arduino (Uno/ProMini or Mega) with all sensors and necessary voltage and level converters. So the only task for you is to write necessary SW (or modify existing MWII). And in the end, price of finished board is probably lower than buying separate elements and combining them, only thing you should probably add to the price is some telemetry option (XBee, APC220, 3DRadio) to ground sample flight parameters.
But you can also search this forum since some time ago EOSBandi and (I think) Sebbi discused option to sample all sensors at full speed and save measurement on SD card....

Regards
Andrej

Andil · Post by **Andil** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 6:40 pm

Thanks a lot guys for your replies.
I still doing some research about it.Is it a big difference in price?because I have to use the wii's sensors and my uni budget is not very high.

For now I need to put the board on the plane and move it manually in order to see if I can get out some data on my laptop.
-So if the arduino+wii acc and gyro are going to be on the plane how can I communicate with them? Bluetooth?
-Multiwii works with the arduino software right?
-However if I get the crius aio pro,I dont need to get a wii controller or anything right?

Thanks in advance for any answers.
Regards

NikTheGreek · Post by **NikTheGreek** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 7:39 pm

I have a model glider and I need to record the motion of it

Do you want to just record the datas in some media OR you want real time recording/displaying the readings.
I'm asking because are two totally different options .

Andil · Post by **Andil** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 8:04 pm

NikTheGreek wrote:
I have a model glider and I need to record the motion of it

Do you want to just record the datas in some media OR you want real time recording/displaying the readings.
I'm asking because are two totally different options .

Either case would be good however my project involve a wind tunnel so the glider is going to be in it and real time data recording/displaying is what I really need.

sirbow2 · Post by **sirbow2** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 9:23 pm

i would think you could use blutooth at that range, and then use some program to save the serial data + display it (can the MWC GUI save it?)

Andil · Post by **Andil** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 11:55 pm

sirbow2 wrote:i would think you could use blutooth at that range, and then use some program to save the serial data + display it (can the MWC GUI save it?)

Thanks for the reply.
I was playing around with the MWC GUI on my laptop today,I cant see any save function(?),I think I could just print screen it,right?unless I need to log the data.
About the Bluetooth is it possible to use my laptop or do I need an android device?

NikTheGreek · Post by **NikTheGreek** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 9:52 am

Andil wrote:About the Bluetooth is it possible to use my laptop or do I need an android device?

Both

PatrikE · Post by **PatrikE** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 11:22 am

Win gui have logging functions.
http://code.google.com/p/mw-wingui/

Supports V2.1

Andil · Post by **Andil** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 11:48 am

NikTheGreek wrote:
Andil wrote:About the Bluetooth is it possible to use my laptop or do I need an android device?

Both

Good news,thanks.

PatrikE wrote:Win gui have logging functions.
http://code.google.com/p/mw-wingui/

Supports V2.1

Wow thanks a lot,I'm going to use Win gui from now on.Now I need to get the right arduino or board in order to do some bench test before going to the wind tunnel.
I just realize that software is made by EOSBandi nice

I'm going to put all you guys in my acknowledgement

NikTheGreek · Post by **NikTheGreek** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 1:50 pm

First of all , in order to buy /built the right Arduino board for your needs , you have to make a plan on what kind of sensors you will use , how you will make the transmittion from the in-plane board to your laptop...etc...
Once defined all this parameters we can suggest you the best - cheapest board you will need.

How are your soldering skills ?

Andil · Post by **Andil** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 5:51 pm

NikTheGreek wrote:First of all , in order to buy /built the right Arduino board for your needs , you have to make a plan on what kind of sensors you will use , how you will make the transmittion from the in-plane board to your laptop...etc...
Once defined all this parameters we can suggest you the best - cheapest board you will need.
How are your soldering skills ?

Thanks for the reply.

I have done quite a lot of engineering stuff in the uni so my soldering skill are good.Tomorrow I'm getting a used wii mote so I can get from it the sensors.

Sensors I need: 3 acc + gyro from a wii controller(cant get the crius aio pro too expensive for me)
Trasmission : bluetooth maybe with a BT board(?)

why do I need the soldering?and do I need any kind of batteries for the arduino?

NikTheGreek · Post by **NikTheGreek** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 6:32 pm

why do I need the soldering?

Tomorrow I'm getting a used wii mote so I can get from it the sensors.

Thats why

do I need any kind of batteries for the arduino?

Yes.... usually 5Volt DC depending on your Arduino board

Andil · Post by **Andil** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 7:12 pm

Oh I see,I have full access to my uni lab so the soldering bit should take long.

I have been looking through the arduino boards and so far I understood that:

-If I get the mini and I will need also a sparkfun usb programmer and the 5V volt(would a battery 9v connector enough?)
-if I get the uno I just need a 5V connector plug (maybe?)
right?I need to decide quickly :S

PS.here the glider by the way

(not too sure where to put all the boards on :S)

air rider epo.PNG: The glider :); (45.07 KiB) Not downloaded yet

NikTheGreek · Post by **NikTheGreek** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 10:28 pm

If I get the mini and I will need also a sparkfun usb programmer and the 5V volt(would a battery 9v connector enough?)

Yes...

if I get the uno I just need a 5V connector plug (maybe?)

You will need something like this... http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-PCS-9V-2-5mm- ... 2576eb32cb
to power your board.

Don't forget that the two boards have different dimensions.
Buy the one that fit your needs.

Andil · Post by **Andil** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 12:15 pm

NikTheGreek wrote:
If I get the mini and I will need also a sparkfun usb programmer and the 5V volt(would a battery 9v connector enough?)

Yes...

if I get the uno I just need a 5V connector plug (maybe?)

You will need something like this... http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-PCS-9V-2-5mm- ... 2576eb32cb
to power your board.

Don't forget that the two boards have different dimensions.
Buy the one that fit your needs.

Thanks NikTheGreek.I will be getting the uno this week and start my bench test.
Nik how come you know so much about these boards,have you build already something like this?

About the BT connection..the wii mote has the BT already right?if I just use the circuit board and solder it on the arduino do I need to provide power on the wii board as well?
If I want to add a nunchuck and put some servos on the glider to make it RC will the arduino UNO enough for it?

NikTheGreek · Post by **NikTheGreek** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 6:16 pm

Nik how come you know so much about these boards,have you build already something like this?

Actually i'm building my one boards based on ATMEGA 328(Arduino IC).
I'm not that expert as you think , believe me , i m reading a lot of this forum and other similar , asking questions.

About the BT connection..the wii mote has the BT already right?

You can find more infos here http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wiimote

if I just use the circuit board and solder it on the arduino do I need to provide power on the wii board as well?

I dont know :oops:

If I want to add a nunchuck and put some servos on the glider to make it RC will the arduino UNO enough for it?

Yes

Nunchuck and all the sensors connected to the board through I2C protocol which means that you will need only two cables from your sensors to the UNO ( SCL - SDA ) in parallel.

Andil · Post by **Andil** » Wed Oct 31, 2012 10:46 am

Thanks a lot Nik.

In term of accelerometer and gyroscope accuracy, which one is better: the wii mote,the motion+ or the nunchuck? I was thinking about using the nunchuck acc and the motion plus gyro or maybe the wii mote acc.....hmmm I'm not really sure.I have seen than on the quadrocopter with the multiwii people are using the nunchuck and the motion plus just because of it size,right?

NikTheGreek · Post by **NikTheGreek** » Wed Oct 31, 2012 2:50 pm

In term of accelerometer and gyroscope accuracy, which one is better: the wii mote,the motion+ or the nunchuck? I was thinking about using the nunchuck acc and the motion plus gyro or maybe the wii mote acc.....hmmm I'm not really sure.I have seen than on the quadrocopter with the multiwii people are using the nunchuck and the motion plus just because of it size,right?

depending on the sensors each module has.
In my opinion the best approach is to define the type-brand of the sensors , read the datasheet and compare them.

In Multi wii we are using MP+Nunchuck , to be honest i dont know why but i'm sure that the guys that started this project know exactly what they are doing !!!

I think that the best option for you is the one mentioned above because you can find help and ready to work code here.

Andil · Post by **Andil** » Fri Nov 02, 2012 6:57 pm

Ok Nik.I will get those.....erm whats the name of the cable to connects different PCBs?jumpers?beacuse I think I need those cables.

NikTheGreek · Post by **NikTheGreek** » Fri Nov 02, 2012 9:29 pm

You mean something like ...http://www.ebay.com/itm/10pcs-New-20cm- ... 43ae84a501

Andil · Post by **Andil** » Tue Nov 06, 2012 12:31 pm

yea Nik,thanks do I really need that btw?or is i possible to use the cables from their circuit boards?
By the way I just received my Arduino Uno so I'm now ready to start my bench test

I found this website about how to connect all the boards... http://translate.google.at/translate?u= ... =&ie=UTF-8

NikTheGreek · Post by **NikTheGreek** » Tue Nov 06, 2012 5:20 pm

do I really need that btw?or is i possible to use the cables from their circuit boards?

Not really....you can always solder the connection using simple cables

By the way I just received my Arduino Uno so I'm now ready to start my bench test

Great news...Welcome to the CLUB !!!!

I found this website about how to connect all the boards... http://translate.google.at/translate?u= ... =&ie=UTF-8

Seems to be OK..but remember that you can find a lot of informations about your project in MultiWii site ...and of course HERE !!!

Andil · Post by **Andil** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 1:37 pm

NikTheGreek wrote:
do I really need that btw?or is i possible to use the cables from their circuit boards?

Not really....you can always solder the connection using simple cables

By the way I just received my Arduino Uno so I'm now ready to start my bench test

Great news...Welcome to the CLUB !!!!

I found this website about how to connect all the boards... http://translate.google.at/translate?u= ... =&ie=UTF-8

Seems to be OK..but remember that you can find a lot of informations about your project in MultiWii site ...and of course HERE !!!

loled

Thanks Nik.

Now I have all the bits and I can start putting all thos PCBs together.....I have a rough idea how to do that but I'm still a little bit worried :S

anyways.....if I'm going to use the MWii WinGui do I have to upload the sketch code on the arduino right(.pde file right) ??but I can't find it in the folder

....do I have to use the one from Multiwii??

NikTheGreek · Post by **NikTheGreek** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 5:50 pm

do I have to upload the sketch code on the arduino right

Go there and download tha latest ARDUINO version 1.0.2 http://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/software

then go here to download the latest MultiWii dev version r1240 (2012/10/31)..... http://code.google.com/p/multiwii/downl ... p&can=2&q=
Unzip ..etc.... and upload the files from the MultiWii folder to microcontroller using the Arduino IDE you downloaded earlier.
The 2nd folder is MultiWiiConf where the GUI located...

Simple

Andil · Post by **Andil** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 10:39 am

ok,I've got that but I'm using MW wingui which is different from the Multiwii.The sketch/code that I have to upload on the arduino is it from the MultiWii config(the .pde file)?

Thats the only thing....and also when I upload the .pde on arduino,I heard that I have to modify the code according to the settings of the quadrocopter, so because I'm not using any motor should I configure my arduino as a copter?

One of my classmates told that I should use a breadboard because it simpler he says....

NikTheGreek · Post by **NikTheGreek** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 11:43 am

The sketch/code that I have to upload on the arduino is it from the MultiWii config(the .pde file)?

In the downloaded folder there are two subfolders
MultiWii and MultiWiiConf.
Open the first one and double click at the MultiWii file. Arduino IDE will open with all files in different tabs.

I heard that I have to modify the code according to the settings of the quadrocopter,

Right... Go to the config.h tab and make your changes according your hardware.
Read carefully the notes in every #define and you will understand what you do.

Remember that
//#define ........ means that this setting is not used
OR change to
#define ...... to use this setting.

One of my classmates told that I should use a breadboard because it simpler he says....

He is right.. breadboard can make things easier most of the times while you are doing tests but is not mandatory in your case.

In order to open GUI
go to the MultiWiiConf folder
Open the subfolder that corresponds in your system and double click the MultiWiiConf file.
In my case because i use Win XP i choose application.windows32 folder

Forgive me if i'm not able to give you accurate answers but i'm facing the language problem .... sorry :oops:

Andil · Post by **Andil** » Tue Nov 13, 2012 9:55 am

Nik you are A BIG help for me.I understand now.I post some pics soon when I get all the hardware set and connected.

EDIT:
I have changed some settings in the config.h but now when I upload it, its gives me errors in the Sensor tab!Do I have to go through all the tabs?

EDIT2:
I'm going to work with the technician of the electronics lab of my uni today.
I'm following the connection diagrams on the multiwii website and this tutorial:
http://aeroquad.com/showthread.php?1658 ... h-AeroQuad

The technician said that my soldering skill are not enough for this kind of electronics :/

Andil · Post by **Andil** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 7:44 pm

Nik what SDA and SCL stand for?

NikTheGreek · Post by **NikTheGreek** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:52 pm

Take a look here http://www.robot-electronics.co.uk/acat ... orial.html

Andil · Post by **Andil** » Tue Nov 27, 2012 6:44 pm

Thanks...today I manage to do the soldering with the technician,but we were not sure about the connections between the wm+ and the arduino uno.

-why do I have to connect the gnd to the pin12?
-there are 7 pins on the wm+ why in the connection diagram it shows 6?are the first two pins soldered for the gnd?

NikTheGreek · Post by **NikTheGreek** » Tue Nov 27, 2012 8:17 pm

-why do I have to connect the gnd to the pin12?

NOT THE GND....you must connect the +V of the wii

used for reset

-there are 7 pins on the wm+ why in the connection diagram it shows 6?are the first two pins soldered for the gnd?

I never had an original sensor ... i always use "fake" ones
so i assume that two of the pins are GND

To be sure Google it in Images and search for "wii motion plus pinout" ... i'm sure that you will find your board and the pinout

Andil · Post by **Andil** » Tue Nov 27, 2012 10:02 pm

Oh I see,lucky that I didn't try to connect the wm+ to the uno......btw I found from an italian blog that the v+ should not be connected to the pin 12 but to the 3.3v it cause problems he said.They spot that on the arduino forum.

so can you confirm this:
1-GND (both or just one?) > GND
2-GND
3-SDA > A5
4-NOT USED
5-SCL > A4
6-Vcc > 3.3v
7-NOT USED

We checked all the pins with the voltmeter and other instruments.Thanks a lot Nik

NikTheGreek · Post by **NikTheGreek** » Tue Nov 27, 2012 10:41 pm

I found from an italian blog that the v+ should not be connected to the pin 12 but to the 3.3v it cause problems he said.They spot that on the arduino forum.

In my "fake" wmp i tested both ways and i faced no problem at all.

Andil · Post by **Andil** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:08 am

Nik,its not working.... I2C errors are negative and very high,what should I do?

NikTheGreek · Post by **NikTheGreek** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:25 am

What do you mean ?
What is not working ?

Andil · Post by **Andil** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 1:09 am

When I move the wmp and the nunchuck....the Multiwii doesnt read anything and the I2C transfer rate is negative and very high.
On the plot I can only see the Z line going up and thats it. :S

PatrikE · Post by **PatrikE** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 7:12 am

I use 5v VCC on my WMP.
Try to enable i2c pullups in the config.

Andil · Post by **Andil** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 5:35 pm

PatrikE wrote:I use 5v VCC on my WMP.
Try to enable i2c pullups in the config.

Still not working patrik,any other suggestions?
check the attachment.

UPDATE:
Its working now, the data lines were on the wrong place(A4,A5) not too sure why as I was following the connection diagram provided on this website :/
THANKS a lot Nik and Patrik for helping me to reach this stage of my project.

Next is: Is it possible to install a bluetooth shield on the arduino?

NikTheGreek · Post by **NikTheGreek** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 1:10 pm

Next is: Is it possible to install a bluetooth shield on the arduino?

Yes it is... but i dont know how

Open a new topic in >>> Connecting elements.

Andil · Post by **Andil** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 2:10 pm

Nik,is it possible to extract the data one by one from the logger in the multiwin gui?

NikTheGreek · Post by **NikTheGreek** » Sun Jan 06, 2013 10:21 pm

I dont know

PatrikE · Post by **PatrikE** » Sun Jan 06, 2013 11:10 pm

I think the logfile is saved as commaseparated file of some sort.

Andil · Post by **Andil** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 5:05 pm

Thanks PatrikE I found it.