Autonomous Blade CX2 Helicopter Navigates Hallway

The second video of U.S. Naval Academy project to create an autonomous micro aerial vehicle capable of flying indoors. The helicopter uses a PIC microcontroller along with ultrasonic and infrared range sensors to detect the floor and walls.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• MAV
• micro
• aerial
• vehicle
• blade
• cx2
• helicopter
• autonomous
• navigate
• navigation
• indoor
• uav
• unmanned
• aircraft
• PIC

[rcguy4373]

so where you at with this project now?

[amoney59]

@rcguy4373 I'm in flight school now and I haven't worked on this project any further. Some students at USNA continued the project in 2009, and I believe they added the ability for the helo to turn 90 degrees down new hallways!

[openrobotics]

Hi!

How do you measure helicopters roll and pitch to hold it in a vertical poisition?

[amoney59]

The Blade cx2 is great because it's a coaxial helicopter. The two blades and flybar make it inherently stable - you don't have to worry about it pitching or rolling while the blades are rotating (assuming no other controls are given). However, it does have a gyro to detect yaw.

[js21392]

thats great, the only question i have is how did u increase the weight of the heli and have it not affect thecontrol and mobility???

[amoney59]

We first determined that the Blade could carry about 55g of extra weight. The parts we added are VERY lightweight - less than 25g of additional weight. The helicopter is still very agile.

[arg13415]

hahaha under $50, this is why military research should be done in house, rather then by outsourcing...

These guys are brilliant

[NightFlyyer]

Absolutely Fabulous! 5 Stars! I spent some time with UAV design after 33 years in Marine Corps Aviation and still am involved. I have forwarded your video to a few engineers. I commend you for your work and your military duty.

(Did you ever see my USS Midway Tribute Video?)

Best regards <<<x)))

[BennettLogan23]

guy at 1:50 was like dude Thats BADASS!

[fernando13e]

Now do that with a Raptor 90 hehehe, great work guys!

[RStephenLegge]

great project, I am sure you got an A and are on the greater things. I am trying to do the same thing, and have figured out how to deal with the range sensors for the horizontal to control the pitch and roll servos. My question is: how did you tap into the dual motor coaxial electronics to allow you to control the altitude? I know this comment is very late and you probably are not even monitoring anymore, but if you are, please let me know. thanks

[msghazi]

This is a much better way to go than when I tried this in college. My team decided to use a standard RC helicopter (ie all controls mimic those in a life size helicopter). We had 11 weeks to complete the project, and failed pretty utterly. Your helicopter takes much of the annoying aspects of actually flying a helicopter away from the code you write, so that you can focus more on control. Well done. Now all it needs are a couple 20mm cannons.

[Veo77]

Can you list all the components that you used?

[Iljadinovits]

Like a Helicomand, but much more better.

[rcguy4373]

@amoney59 To bad you were not able to work at this. I have made a lot of break throughs on this. I've made alot of money on this idea And im working on ai.There's not much more i can say about it though. Good luck in flight training.

[CrazyHeliDude]

Really great stuff Amoney, I like the vid. keep up the great work, 5 stars