Glider control

[woodturner550]

Looking at building controller for a remote control glider.

First it has to be able to switch off control from the normal radio and take control of the servos (not the receiver, it has to have one switch available to tell the controller to turn the control back to the normal radio).

Second, has to have a tri-axis accelerometer to give lift reading and tilt of wings reading.

Third program to be able to recognize lift action of the plane caused by the thermals that are flown through.

Forth know how to take advantage of the up thermals.

Microcontroller PIC ????? Not sure yet. Low power consumption

This should be reasonably simple to do...... Famous last words


woodturner550

 

[shortbus=]

I don't know if you found this site but it has information you might find interesting; Charles River Radio Controllers - AOA Sensor Design, Construction and Adjustment

 

[woodturner550]

Very good information. In a glider the dynamics are not nearly as severe as a flying wing. This is because of the tail on a glider causes less force and much slower movement of the controlls needed to control the glider. But the articles you point to are very useful considering the speed of reaction and the need to have a controller AND servos that are fast enough to have the control and stability that is needed.

You see how a SIMPLE looking idea gets complicated real fast. But that is the fun of it.

Thanks,

woodturner550

 

[Oznog]

You will probably want a sensitive barometer to act as a variometer- determining rise/fall through change in baro pressure. And a 3D magnetic compass will not only detect heading, but pitch as well. This is handy because the accelerometers may have difficulty with accuracy when there's acceleration AND tilt involved. Due to difficulty in getting absolutes, a rate gyro, which accurately detects rotation in 1-3 axes, is often helpful in stabilizing the aircraft which requires fairly quick responses.

This is a quite a difficult project.

 

[Boncuk]

Hi,

you don't need any electronic equipment making your glider climb if it hits up-winds.

Just balance it 100% and it will start climbing until it gets out of sight.

I did that with a 3.5m wingspan free flight glider and never saw it again.

Boncuk