FY31AP - Failsafe testing..... Futaba 6EX, erm what do i do to test it works?!?!

[Teamftp]

Simple question and one i should be able to answer really on my own but need a bit of backup before committing my Skywalker X8 to failsafe!!!

I have the FY31AP in the plane and have set the throttle on my Futaba 6ex at a safe cruising power. HOWEVER i want to test the whole return to home in failsafe thing. HOW DO I DO IT??? What is the best way. Do I just turn off the transmitter and hope for the best??! Will it "re-bind" itself when i turn it back on, especially at the flying club!??! EEEEEEEK scary stuff.... advise please.

Oh the RTH function of the FY31AP works great on the switch on the TX.

Thanks and any advise would be greatly appreciated before I try this.

[Teamftp]

are you able to monitor stick imput etc through the flight controller when the controller is connected to computer?

with the naza i check that when transmitter is turned of the failsafe shows that the switch position hs gone to failsafe
so in theory at least turning transmitter off is exactly the same as flipping the failsafe switch

Aitch :laugh:

Yeh tried that and it works fine....'ish!!

Another question. How does the FY31AP know the RX has gone into failsafe?!?! I am just thinking it is the same as not touching the sticks at all, i.e. not output to the servos?!?...well apart from the throttle. How can it tell that I have not just put it on 30% throttle and left the control surfaces alone?!?!

It is just not the "normal" thing to turn off your tranny when flying is it :laugh: :laugh:

SCARED!!! (?) (?)

[Coyote]

First test RTH manually by selecting it in flight first, just switch RTH on and see if it needs tweeting. If it's not acting properly you can simple switch RTH off by the tx.

Once you have it setup and aircraft returns to home you can then land and remove the prop. If your failsafe is setup correctly when you now turn your tx off, the propless motor will spin up to cruise speed and on your OSD display RTL will now appear because you have set both to activate on loss of tx link.

If the motor does not spin, or RTL does not appear when your tx is turned off then your failsafe is wrong

Your FY has no idea if your rx is failsafed, all that changes is RTH has ben switched on

[hase2]

Hi Simon,

the FY doesn't know, that the reciever is in failsafe.
When you define failsafe, you simply put the FY in RTH mode.

When for whateever reasons th eplane loses radio reception, the reciver tells (as you defined) the AP to come back home. The AP doesn't care, why you tell it to come home, it just executes the command.

Regards
Stefan

[Flyboysee]

Right, right and right!

I did more testing on the FY31AP this morning and to my satisfaction, it's RTH seems faultless. Depending on how the X8 cruises set your throttle in failsafe to whatever will keep it flying and slowly climbing - the EZ*2 this is about 55%. Not 100% in my opinion co's you might have a ballistic missile returning, tail wagging etc. The 31AP adjusts throttle (on ver 1.3) to keep altitude and I must say it does it very well, even in windy conditions when it needs more for downwind legs. I even tested it with my throttle at zero and it powered up, but only to about 30%, so I reckon if you set say 60% it will get you home.

Check also that when it arrives back home that it will go automatically in Auto Circle mode. On ver 1.3 it does a fig 8, quite tight right above your head.

Watch out for my new vid - busy uploading that shows all this. Unfortunately I never plugged in my audio cable on the receiver, or you would have heard the motor changes, but easily seen in amps drawn on the OSD.

Richard

[Teamftp]

THANKS EVER SO MUCH CHAPS!!!!

You see I should have known really that I clearly have to set the failsafe to turn RTH on.... I kind of presumed that maybe it would do it some other way. Over thinking on my part... dumb ass!!!

I will have a play about with it this afternoon and see what happen.

I will look forward to the video too!!!

THANKS!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D

[Teamftp]

ERM PROBLEM!!!

The Futaba 6EX 2.4ghz set is clearly pants!!!

It only lets you set the failsafe to channel 3 which is the throttle..... GIT!!!

So this means that if the model indeed goes in fail safe it WILL NOT turn on the RTH function of the FY31AP....
...any ideas on how to solve this or has anyone ever modded the 6EX?!!?

Cheers

[Coyote]

I dont think you can do much really. The 6EX is the weak link in your system. Maybe swap the RF board for a frsky or the likes that has a full failsafe option

[Teamftp]

I dont think you can do much really. The 6EX is the weak link in your system. Maybe swap the RF board for a frsky or the likes that has a full failsafe option

BUGGER..... more expense  :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[n00b@FPV]

take off your prop, plug it all in and get it working, turn off the radio, the motor should start up and the ailerons lock over, as if it was trying to go around you

nothing wrong with the 6 to get started with, if its a 2.4ghz you can 1km on a 35mhz its all up to how long your rx antenna is, not the best radio, try getting a ff9 or 10 modular, keep an eye out on the bmfa or ebay, pay with paypal incase its a nail, they go for around £80 to the £130 for a 9, around £200 to £250 for a ten.

Edit: just seen you post 3 posts ago, you could get a rc car failsafe, put it between the receiver and the switch lead on the fy , set the position you would like it to go to, press and hold the button and there you go, you can pick them up anywere for about £6

[tdmodels]

ERM PROBLEM!!!

The Futaba 6EX 2.4ghz set is clearly pants!!!

It only lets you set the failsafe to channel 3 which is the throttle..... GIT!!!

What about an inline failsafe module.  Basically plugged between the receiver and the servo (or FY31), it detects if there are loss of pulses.  When it does, it outputs its own pulses to whatever you set via the adjustment.

Try here...
http://www.active-robots.com/servosafem-servo-failsafe.html

Leave your 6EX controlling the throttle and just add one of these for controlling the RTL mode.

[Coyote]

Looks interesting, but wouldn't you need more than one so the al sees Ali elev rudder at mid sticks with Al on. If they arnt centred the so will follow the stick command

[Teamftp]

Looks interesting, but wouldn't you need more than one so the al sees Ali elev rudder at mid sticks with Al on. If they arnt centred the so will follow the stick command

No cos if the RTH function is initiated the FY31AP over rides all other commands... phew may have it sorted!!!

[Teamftp]

ERM PROBLEM!!!

The Futaba 6EX 2.4ghz set is clearly pants!!!

It only lets you set the failsafe to channel 3 which is the throttle..... GIT!!!

What about an inline failsafe module.  Basically plugged between the receiver and the servo (or FY31), it detects if there are loss of pulses.  When it does, it outputs its own pulses to whatever you set via the adjustment.

Try here...
http://www.active-robots.com/servosafem-servo-failsafe.html

Leave your 6EX controlling the throttle and just add one of these for controlling the RTL mode.

See I knew there would be something out there!!!!

THANKS and its ordered!

Cheaper than a new set of radio gear!!

[littleimp]

On the hitec aurora when setting failsafe you just set your transmitter sticks & switches to how you want when setting up failsafe and the receiver remebers this.

I set mine for 50% throttle and the rth switch in the active position.

But!!!!!!!!!!!! Remember to disconnect power at the aircraft before turning off transmitter. I know you should always do this but it is easy to forget. You can imagine the chaos if you don't remember!! Only done it the once and luckily the aircraft was in a test frame in my garden at the time and I wasn't near it. Scared the crap out of me with the 2 twinstar motors revving to 50% throttle in an instant. Flying hedge trimmers need respect!