pan-tilt mount

Help & Support Robot Parts
1

Can anybody suggest me which sensors and electronic components
I have to order to make a pan-tilt mount gyro stabilized?

2

Hi aleksey85,

First of all, you need to know what will be attached to the Pan&Tilt system as it will impact the hardware to choose.
There is a software called MultiWii that can handle stabilisation based on a Servo system, that could maybe be use here.

MultiWii is an Arduino Project so it can be use free. We can guide you to use it.
Here is a video of stabilisation based on MultiWii.

Give us more details, so we can suggest you some parts.

3

Good day,

Here are more explanations which I gave in other forum topic-
I’m a seaman. Frequently we use a wi-fi connection from our vessel to shore-based stations provided free wi-fi signal.
Sometimes that stations are located quite far from our vessel, or our vessel is at anchor far away from shore and in this circumstances we still have to get wi-fi.
For this purpose I use a strong “directional” antenna. It can get a signal over rather long distances, but it should be always pointed strictly at the station, otherwise the wi-fi signal will be lost.
But, as you know, vessels roll because of waves and also turn because of sea currents; these force me to change the antenna’s direction all the times!
I made an antenna bracket with servos to operate the antenna’s direction by remote control.
(see video, attached link- youtube.com/watch?v=PFSG_X6 … =autoshare ).

Now I’d like to make it keep a set direction automatically as horizontally 180° as vertically 45°. As I understand I have to use gyro sensor for that?

So, I’d like to ask your good advice which sensors and parts I have to order? And how to connect it with my servos to get my project able?
Hope You understood my idea)

With best regards,

Mr. Oleksii Buteiko.

4

Mr. Oleksii,

We got you on that now. You can use a simple board that is made for MultiWii and only use the Gimbal (Pan&Tilt) option inside.

The video we linked to previously is one of my own builds and is stabilized with two RC servos and a board like the one I’m talking about.
MWC MultiWii Flight Controller for UAV (Arduino Compatible)

This board come without any pins soldered to it, so you need to add them.
3x40 - Right Angle or 3x40 - Strait

To explain a bit; this controller is an Arduino Compatible board that was created to control UAVs/Drones.
It features a gyro and an accelerometer on board.

It is compatible with the MultiWii project that is free and Open Source and that project includes a pan & tilt option in the code.
We can help you configure the MultiWii to achieve this stabilization.

The board use the free Arduino software to load the code to it.
Arduino IDE Download page

The servos will be directly connected to pin A0 and A1 on the board.
It will need to be powered from an external 6V source on any of the Positive and Negative pins (They are all connected on the board together) and it will power your servo as well as the board itself.

:slight_smile:

5

That looks like exactly what I need!
But still have some questions: is “MWC MultiWii Flight Controller” comes with any connections diagram? or to which pins connect power supply? I can’t understud it from pictures.

With regards!

6

It does not come with wiring diagram, but we can help.
The board can be powered by any 3 pins connection of the board.

Which servos are you using, what it will need to power ?

7

Servos-
RDS3115 Metal gear digital servo arduino -
http://i01.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v1/968121403_1/Free-shipping-metal-gear-digital-servo-for-DIY-RDS-3115-arduino-servo-robot-15KG-CM.jpg_350x350.jpg

& (maybe) - Titanium Gear XQ-S4120D http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTAwWDUwMA==/$(KGrHqYOKpME5kKiPF+iBOknESMTSQ~~60_35.JPG

Both require [font=arial][size=4]4.8v - 8.5v power supply.[/size][/font]

8

May I supply MWC MultiWii Flight Controller by “Wall Adapter Power Supply 7.5VDC 1A” or it strictly require 6V?

9

There is no specification about the highest voltage that can be applied to the board.
It might be Ok with 7-8VDC but this has to be tested.

10

Good day!
Now I’ve received “MWC MultiWii Flight Controller”!
Can You, please, explaine me how to install & setup it on my laptop?
I had download arduino application & all folders from “documentation” link on page with MWC MultiWii Flight Controller. What to do now?)

11

Aleksey,

Perfect. We are preparing a blog post that will provide all the steps needed to get that working.
We feel that others could benefit from knowing how to do it as well.

As soon as we put it live, we will link to it here as well.

All the best,

12

Very good! Hope it is will be soon! Because I have to leave my home for voyage after this weekend.
Many thanks to You!

13

Hi Aleksey,

You can take a look at it now that it’s on our blog. Just follow this link.
How To use MultiWii as Servo Gimbal Stabilizer

Of course, if you have any questions you can ask them in the blog or here.

All the best,

14

[font=Arial][size=2]Hi!
Many thanks for link to blog! Now it’s works!
[/size][/font]

[size=2]But I need to change it from tilt to -swing horizontally.
As You can see on image- enable first servo to keep direction.
Is it possible to do?

[/size]
[size=2]And one more question - is there any possibility to increase “[highlight=#f8f8f8]Maximum value for the ROLL servo” ?[/highlight][/size]
[font=Arial][/font]https://www.robotshop.com/blog/en/files/Arduino-IDE-MultiWiiConf-Gimbal-300x176.png[font=Arial][size=2]
[highlight=#f8f8f8]
[/highlight][/size][/font]
[font=Arial][size=2][highlight=#f8f8f8]There is only 2000 (as maximum) in settings. But I need more.[/highlight][/size][/font]
[font=Arial][size=2][highlight=#f8f8f8]
[/highlight][/size][/font]
[font=Arial][size=2][highlight=#f8f8f8]With regards![/highlight][/size][/font]

15

Hi Aleksey,

I did a quick modification to the MulitWii code to change the ROLL axis sensor interpretation to the YAW axis.
That mean that now the servo connected to A1 will react to changes in the flat rotation of the board, giving you stabilization horizontally. (hope it’s what you need)

MultiWii don’t allow to go over 2000, you could use a 180deg servo stretcher.
We tried it very briefly here and it does work.

Post a video if you can, we would like to see it moving.

All the best,
MultiWii_Gimbal_Roll Hack.zip (153 KB)

16

Hi DiaLFonZo,
Thanks a lot for Your assistance! This is what I need!
Here You can see how it works now-


Only remeins to put 180deg servo stretcher[font=Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][highlight=#fbfbfb].[/highlight][/font]
[font=Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][highlight=#fbfbfb]
[/highlight][/font]
[font=Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][highlight=#fbfbfb]But now I meet problem with board-[/highlight][/font]
[font=Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][highlight=#fbfbfb]when I power it by battery or other power supply (5-7,4V) leds flashing dark & servos dosen’t move.[/highlight][/font]
[font=Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][highlight=#fbfbfb]And only when I connect USB it commence working properly. See it on video-[/highlight][/font]

Saw You such problem before? If so, how to fix it?

17

Look good, nice to see it moving.

Do you have a voltmeter at home ?
You can take it and probe between the GND and 3.3V (Label under the board) as well as the GND and 5V.

18

Unfortunately I haven’t voltmeter now.
Later will try as per your advise.
Now I see that it’s ‘dragging’ in the flat rotation of the board. Seems that only accelerometer in use (not gyro).
But for my project it’s necessary to keep direction in horizon during slow motion…

19

This is true, only the Gyroscope is acting on the horizontal axis.
An Accelerometer cannot get positioning on that axis, to get that it need a Magnetometer.