Transforming a 2$ hand-thrown foam glider into an RC Airplane.
I recently discovered this foam glider kit on a toy store while I was travelling. As soon as my eyes saw it, I thought "Why not add a motor and make it fly?" and thus, this project was born. Who would've thought it would take this much effort!
Available as BOM.csv
Might change later on, Depending upon prices and availability.
Done in KiCAD: Schematics folder
Since there is no PCB (these are all components wired/soldered together), there are no PCB files.
However, you can still open the schematics in KiCAD, by:
- Opening KiCAD
- Clicking File (top left) >> Open Project
- Navigating to the the repository's saved destination,
- Opening /schematics directory
- Selecting the file
test.kicad_pro
This will open the schematics in KiCAD for easier viewing!
In progress: Firmware folder
Please see the readme inside the firmware folder for more info on firmware.
Design files (.step, .dxf are available in the /design directory)
Yes, this was designed in paint. I'm sorry.
"cog" is short for Centre Of Gravity
see: https://rcplanes.online/index5.htm
- The control linkages have not been included as they can only be finalized during the build process.
- The ailerons and elevators will be cut out from the foam wings and taped to the airframe after a 45deg cut so that they can fold up and down to some extent.
- I will be using a vertical mount made of hard cardboard / cutout plastic which will be fixed via a music wire to the servo arm. The mounts will be glued to the ailerons and elevators.
CAD Model Credits (GrabCAD.com):
- Radio Receiver-to-MCU data transfer
- MCU can control the servos (responsible for controlling the aileron and elevator), the brushless motor
- MCU can access IMU data (gyro, accelerometer)
- Calibration of values that we actually receive from the components / that actually make the components work
- Stabilization of the aircraft when no updates are received from the transmitter using IMU data to get smooth and stable flight
These goals will not be possible without physical possession of the required components, hence will be done after I receive the components.
- look into connector types for battery discharge (specs say xt90 but im skeptical of that)
- look into battery charging
- Optimunn/mp92plus: Really cool MPU9250 (MPU6500) driver for Raspberry pi pico (RP2040) using I2C or SPI.
- https://rcplanes.online/design.htm
- https://rcplanes.online/index2.htm
- https://rcplanes.online/index5.htm
- https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/voltage-dividers/all
- https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopic.php?t=209958
- https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopic.php?t=285083
- https://www.homemade-circuits.com/how-to-make-logic-gates-using-transistors/
- https://talk.dallasmakerspace.org/t/raspberry-pi-pico-sbus-code-help/79375
- https://docs.micropython.org/en/latest/rp2/quickref.html#quick-reference-for-the-rp2
- https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopic.php?t=88572
- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/mpu6500-6dof-spi-not-working/552645/6
- https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/microcontrollers/c_sdk.html
- https://pip-assets.raspberrypi.com/categories/610-raspberry-pi-pico/documents/RP-008276-DS-1-getting-started-with-pico.pdf
- https://pip-assets.raspberrypi.com/categories/609-microcontroller-boards/documents/RP-009085-KB-1-raspberry-pi-pico-c-sdk.pdf
- https://uwarg-docs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/efs/pages/2238283817/SBUS+Protocol
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqLUHj7nJhI
- https://www.w3schools.com/c/index.php
- https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopic.php?t=306053
- https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopic.php?t=339740
- https://www.circuitden.com/blog/16
- https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopic.php?t=370038
- https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/pico-sdk/hardware.html#group_hardware_pwm_1pwm_example
- https://www.kpower.com/insight_driver/7471.html/
- https://www.hackster.io/milkgolium/controlling-a-pwm-brushless-esc-with-raspberry-pi-pico-b2d4bb
- https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopic.php?t=320933
- https://github.com/micropython/micropython/blob/d42cba0d22cac812cc5a12f4670010b45932eafa/ports/rp2/machine_spi.c#L42-L46