MultiWii

Intro

MultiWii is a general purpose software to control model RC flying multicopters, helicopters and wings. It is available as Open Source Software [1] under the GPL licence [2].

www.MultiWii.com [3]

The MultiWiiCopter is a open source software project aiming to provide the brain of a RC controlled multi rotor flying platform. It is compatible with several hardware boards and sensors.

The first and most famous setup is the association of a Wii Motion Plus and a Arduino pro mini board.

List of supported features:

   multi Rotor type
       BICOPTER
       TRICOPTER
       QUAD +
       QUAD X
       HEX Y6
       HEX FLAT +
       HEX FLAT X
       OCTO X8
       OCTO FLAT +
       OCTO FLAT X 
   Gimbal
       when associated with an accelerometer, MultiWii is able to drive 2 servos for PITCH and ROLL gimbal system adjustment
       the gimbal can also be ajdusted via 2 RC channels 
   Camera trigger output
       a servo output can be dedicated to trigger a camera button. A servo travel pattern is defined in this case 
   GUI:
       Coded with processing, java core: Linux/MAC/PC compatible, USB connection
       exhaustive parameter configuration
       graphical visualization of sensors, motors and RC signal

   Flight mode:
       one of the following mode
           angle velocity driven (accro mode)
           absolute angle driven (level mode) 
       optional mode, compatible with the 2 previous one
           altitude assisted mode (baro mode, compatible with the 2 previous mode)
           head lock assisted mode (magneto mode)

   Hardware compatibility
       receiver
           any standard receiver with a minimum of 4 RC channels
           any PPM sum receiver 
       servo
           up to 4 any standard 50Hz servos can be used 
       motor ESCs
           up to 8 standard ESC can be used, boosted with a 488Hz refresh rate 
       sensors
           3 MEMS Gyro
               2x IDG-650, 1x ISZ-650 (genuine Wii Motion Plus)
               ITG3200 
           3 MEMS Acc (optional)
               LIS3L02AL (genuine Nunchuk)
               BMA020
               BMA180 
           3 MEMS magnetometer (optional)
               HMC5883
               HMC5843 
           1 MEMS barometer (optional)
               BMP085 
   LCD for configuration of every parameters on the field
       any Sparkfun serial 9600 baud LCD 2x16 characters
       TEXTSTAR LCD 2x16 characters, with its 4 buttons supported

General

Multiwii can use various hardware combinations but was initially developed to support Nintendo Wii gyroscopes and accelerometers on a tricopter. We can find these sensors in the extensions of the Nintendo WiiMote: Wii Motion Plus and Wii Nunchuck. The achieved stability is excellent for FPV and allows any kind of acrobatics and support multiples flight modes.