Autopilot on a Europa XS Tri-Gear

[trevpond]

Hi Guys,

I have been setting up my AP and have found that it is very unstable in anything but calm weather. Today there was plenty of cumulus around and the autopilot had the aircraft rocking like a pendulum with the Slip message showing on the top bar.

I have the Roll Torque set to 100, 30% Roll and can't work out if the Servo is man enough to do the job (SV32). Any help would be welcome.

regards


Trev :-/

 

[mmarien]

It may be trying too hard to stay on target. My Glasair rocked back and forth in smooth air with the default settings. I turned down the sensitivity on the roll axis and the rocking quit. Haven't tried really rough air.

 

[dynonsupport]

First, are we talking about roll or pitch?

Next, whenever the servos are slipping, they're not controlling the airplane. A bit of that is acceptable in turbulence, but if it's happening a lot, you may need to go up in servo size.

Next, if it's roll performance that's lacking (and you aren't slipping so much that that's the fundamental issue), have you tried the alternate roll control mode?

 

[trevpond]

Hi,

Do you mean bank angle as alternate, or degrees per sec.

I think that I need to turn down the sensitivity first before I think about changing the servo size. I will try that and let you know what happens.

best regards


Trev

 

[ploucandco]

Trev,

For the ROLL servo, I am using the following parameters for my monowheel Europa XS:

TORQUE=100%, SENSITIVITY=20, TRN RT LMT=0, BANK LIMIT=20

Working like a charm, even in light turbulences.

Kind regards, Jacques

 

[trevpond]

Thanks Jaques, I'll try those settings.

Trev

 

[trevpond]

Hi Jaques,

Tried the settings you gave me and used them but made the sensitivity 12. Worked perfectly even in turbulence and no rocking.

Thanks Mate,


Trev ;D

 

[ploucandco]

Hello Trev,

I am surprised that you needed to reduce sensitivity. I made plenty of tests and came to 20 in order to make sure that the autopilot to capturing all tracks without any zigzag. The only minor point is that, with the D10A, it overshoots the waypoints. With skyview, that should be no issue.
Anyway, even after the overshoot, the autopilot gets on track directly without any further zigzag.

By the way, what about your experience with the pitch axe? I found the sv32 limit and need to retrim at every turn or slight change in power setting.

Jacques.

 

[trevpond]

Hi Jaques,

I used 12 as it seemed about right and this proved to be the case - 20 was too sensitive and the aircraft rocked violently left to right with the servo slipping. At 12, it was as stable as a Boeing, held track perfectly and the turn anticipation with the curve made it pass directly over the waypoint. I routed turns up to 160 degrees and it got itself on track perfectly.

I haven't tried the pitch servo yet.

Cheers


Trev