Octocopter, AIO Pro Flight Controller A2212 Motors

by mr_fid

35K35233

Intro: Octocopter, AIO Pro Flight Controller A2212 Motors

Simple and relatively cheap Octocopter using All in One Pro multiwii Flight Controller. So after the successful build of my Hexcopter I decided to try an Octocopter. This would be built using the same construction of the hex (and quad) and would also use the same motors, esc’s and propellers. I like to keep it simple and it also means I only have to worry about one spare for all the models as they all use the same bits. A2212 13T 1000KV brushless motors, 30Amp basic Hobby Power (simple) ESC's, and 10" 4.5 propellers.

STEP 1: Design and Mechanical Build

So to start with I drew out a basic design and worked out the minimum dimensions needed for propeller clearance then looking at the sizes of fibreglass sheet I could get choose 12" * 18" as a good starting point. This fibreglass sheet was squared of and then the corners marked out for the tube mounts. This design uses 4 off 600mm 12mm diameter carbon tube and I was able to buy this cut to length from eBay. The motor mounts I choose were a plastic type which requires the tube to be drilled at each end whilst not hard to do the clamp type are a lot more convenient but 10 times the price.

So you can see in one of the pictures the holes for the mount are drilled 5mm from the side and 6mm from the adjacent edge and spaced 28mm apart. The corner hole is shared with the other clamp. Once you have all the holes drilled you can position the clamps and the tubes (with the motor mounts) and true up all the tubes with reference to the edge of the fibreglass sheet.

STEP 2: Wiring

I then decided to screw in place the motors and do all the wiring. The power wiring was done firstly in pairs for each corner then the pairs were joined to make one side with a dean’s plug for the battery and the same on the other side. And the last connections were made from each side to a power distribution board to allow both sides to be connected together and allow other items to pick up power conveniently.

STEP 3: Flight Controller

When it came to mounting the "All in one Pro" flight control board I decided the correct place was in the middle and that mounting the board on rubber absorbers would be a good idea. so I firstly cut a spare piece of PCB fibre glass board and shaped it to a doughnut then marked out and drilled the 4 holes that would hold the flight board, then with the doughnut in place I drilled through the board into the main board and temporarily screwed the board down whilst I then drilled the 8 holes through both plates to fit the rubber mounts. Once happy with the drilled holes and with an arrow to show the front (and top) the plates were unscrewed and the rubbers fitted and Fight control board screwed on top with small spacers.

STEP 4: Add Batteries and Go Flying!

Then I choose to fit the batteries on either side, to allow the Velcro strap to go through the main plate I drilled and then slotted a hole using a 3mm diamond drill bit. Connect all the wires as per the multiwii website and that is it! Well not quite!! when I first finished this I fitted two batteries and gave it a try in the garden, all seemed ok but when you tried to take off it would fight against it's self? And eventually be on the floor seemingly struggling to take of. It was also most like it didn't have enough power to take off? Anyway to cut I long story short I had to play with the PID settings and then managed to get it to fly. Currently it’s "SO PLANTED" it almost jumps back to horizontal!

After playing with this model for a while I can report it has loads of power and if given some good stick input will disappear upwards!

Also worth noting whilst I was having a good (aggressive) fly around one of the propellers failed and I was very easily able to bring the model down to the ground, in theory the model should fly with two motors failed, but I wouldn’t like to try it!


34 Comments

JoeS30 8 years ago

Nice job, it even looks pretty cool! Damn you, you've gone and added another project to my list :P

I just have to ask.... Since it can carry about 1.5kg, have you tried loading it up with 1.5kg of lipos and time the flight?

Also, how much flight time do you get out of the batteries you've shown?

mr_fid 8 years ago

I will have to get back to you on this question, I am waiting for some more motor mounts, which hopefully will be here to fly again at the weekend

JoeS30 8 years ago

I'll accept that :)

BTW, I am very new to quads I have a little hubsan x4 and a 250 racer. I purchased these assembled. How hard is it/ what is involved in the set up of your flight controller and tx/rx. I have seen bits of the process and the bird is always hooked up to the computer and they are programming the settings, to be honest it looks kind of daunting.

hint: a flight video would be cool to see it in action. :)

mr_fid 8 years ago

That's a good question, with a very long answer!!!

I use Multiwii, either the basic board or the ALL IN ONE PRO board, this flight controller is programmed using the Arduino programming environment, you can then also do a bit more configuring and checking with the GUI that comes with the Multiwii software. To explain in more detail you connect the flight control board (FC) to a computer and using the Arduino environment you tell the FC what type of copter it is i.e quad +, quad X, hex, so on. you tell it what sensors it has and if you have gps ect. Then once you have configured the FC you load up the GUI and check everything is working, you check the travel of each channel to the transmitter stick and reverse channels as required. Once you have done that you can then give it a go, and if you need you can make more adjustments to the parameters via Bluetooth to a android tablet. other systems work in a similar way, using a different programmer or GUI. If you are worried by this then maybe a good step would be to try out a KK 2.1.5 control board which has a little LCD which allows you to change everything locally.

Hope that helps there is a lot of information out there!

JoeS30 8 years ago

Wow, that is a fair amount to take in at once. I think until I am hands on with the electronics and a guide doc or video it is still going to seem a little abstract. lol. I am more a hands on type of guy, trying to picture what i'm doing before hand is somewhat limited. But it does make sense.

thanks

JoeS30 8 years ago

BTW, I found this nice video on youtube showing the set-up of the kk2.1.5 mentioned above. If you were ever nervous to set up one of these watch this!

Big thanks to mr_fid for the build ideas in this 'ible and the point in the direction of the kk2.1.5. I have no reason to hold back on starting my own project now. All I have left is to decide on this octa monster, or his sexy hexy :)

https://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-lightweight-Hexacopter-A2212-motors-30AMP-E/

mr_fid 8 years ago

Glad to help.

The KK board is very good to get you started and will teach you all the basics. Once you have got used to it you may want to go further. And what you cant do with the KK is add GPS and run way points ect. (I haven't got that far yet!)

I managed to do a video and work out the time. 7.5 minutes on just one 3000mAh lipo.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ys_I-_ORL-M

mr_fid 8 years ago

No not with this set up. I have not looked into control by android phone I would think its possible but wouldn't have a clue.

seancath 8 years ago

Love it, do you have a list of the parts you used and an overall cost?

mr_fid 8 years ago

Hello

motors/esc's/propeller's = £68

flight controller = £22

Fibreglass sheet = £13.28

Carbon Tubes = £31.75

Clamps = £8

motor mounts = £ 6.12

Which makes just short of £150

providing you have the batteries, receiver and transmitter

rf 8 years ago

How much does it weigh?

mr_fid 8 years ago

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, (I missed this post)

I just put it on the scales and it is a few grams short of 1.5Kg that is without the batteries, I have 3000mAh and 5000mAh batteries and can put them on individually or in pairs.

3000mAh = 221g 5000mah = 405g (442g OR 810g in pairs)

DennisH19 8 years ago

Wish I could find an instructable showing some great ways to shoot down these things. I have been thinking flachette shells, but they are banned in Florida. Maybe a net-type device.

ToolboxGuy 8 years ago

A spool of fishing line 100lb test would work wonders at taking down most of those devices. Just add one large spoon with a few tri-hooks and you can really go fly fishing!

SIKKNIKK 8 years ago

P.M. Me I have working prototype...

Georgeh3 8 years ago

Must be really inefficient at gaining altitude haha. Good work though.

mr_fid 8 years ago

Its not too bad, I didn't know if I was going to have to skeleton the fibre glass sheet but its ok as is. And it has the best climb rate of all the multicoptors I have made!

Georgeh3 8 years ago

Hahaha, most multicopters don't even consider aerodynamics hahaha. Looks like it would make a great camera platform.

Check out quadcopterforum.com I'm GJH105775 you great place to share ideas.

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