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NaviCtrl V2.1

The NaviCtrl is an additional module for the FlightCtrl. On the MikroKopter you use the NaviCtrl together with the MKGPS as a navigation unit.

With the navigation unit you can use functions like PositionHold, ComingHome, CareFree, FollowMe or a Waypoint fly.
(All functions of the MikroKopter are described here: Functions)

The NaviCtrl V2.1 includes an integrated compass module and a connector for an external compass module.

On the NaviCtrl board is also a Micro-SD card socket. Here you can insert an micro SD card (max. 2GB / FAT16).
During flight the LOG files of the Kopter will be saved on this micro SD card.

After the flight you can take a look on the recorded data in the LOG file (if required) wit our program GPX-Viewer.
Informations for the GPX Viewer can be found here: GPX-Viewer

Mounting / Connections

The connections of NaviCtrl are as follows:

The installation of the navigation unit can be done quickly:

Connection ext. compass

The external compass is easily connected with the 4-pin Molex cable to the NaviCtrl.

More information on mounting the external compass can be found here: ExternalCompass

Settings in the KopterTool

When the navigation unit is mounted on your copter you need 2 free channels on your transmitter that you can use the functions.
The first channel can be used with a 3way switch and the second with a 2way switch on your transmitter.

With the 3-way switch you use the GPS functions:

• Switch position OFF = GPS off

• Switch position center = PositionHold

• Switch position center ON = ComingHome

With the 2-way switch you use the GPS functions:

• Switch position OFF = CareFree off

• Switch position ON = CareFree on

Both channes mus also be set under "Easy Setup" -> GPS Mode Control and Carefree control.

Calibrate Compass

If the NaviCtrl is new you have to calibrate the internal compass (or the external one).
You can not start the copter and see an error warning in the telemetry when the compass is not calibrated.

The calibration

The calibration will be done in 5 steps:

Now that the Kopter "beeped" 2x after a successful calibration that part is done.

Videos

Check the calibration

You can now check the calibration of the compass in the KopterTool or also with a suitable transmitter.

Please do this also outside, far away from magnetic influences!

Here you have to check two values:

• MAG (or Field) = This should be around 100%
• Inclination (iNCL) = This should be nearly the same value as the one in brackets

IMPORTANT:
To see the right values you have to calibrate the Gyros first (throttle up + yaw left).
Without calibration you will still see 100% and no Inclination.

Check via KopterTool

Here you e.g. use a wireless connection between Copter and Computer.

+

You have calibrate the Gyros (throttle up + yaw left).

In the main window of the KopterTool click the button [NaviCtrl].
Under the virtual display klick the red arrow (left or right) until the window "Magnetic Field" displayed.
The value for "Field" must be around 100% and the value for Inclination around the value you see in brackets.
(If the value for "Field" is ~10%-15% higher/lower then 100%, recalibrate the compass)

Check via HoTT transmitter

You have calibrate the Gyros (throttle up + yaw left).
In the lower display of the Graupner HoTT transmitter you can open the text telemetry and check there the magnetic value.

• press the ESC key longer

  -> the TELEMETRY window opens

• change to SETTING & DATA VIEW

• press SET

  -> RX DATAVIEW window opens

• on the SET button press right until you see the last window with the text-telemetry
• to change the view of "0m/s" to "MAG" press SET once.

Sat-Fix

For all GPS functions like PositionHold, ComingHome or a waypoint flight you need the GPS modul.
In addition, there must be a Satfix.

To test if the copter (the GPS) already have a Satfix, you can use the 3 way switch for the GPS functions on the transmitter.

The copter is outside, the transmitter ON and the copter is connected with the battery.
The motors are OFF!

The switch positions of the 3 way GPS switch:

• Switch position OFF
  • The copter is quiet and does not beep

• The 3 way switch is centered (PositionHold) or ON (ComingHome):

  • Option 1 -> The computer beeps now once every second => no Satfix

  • Option 2 -> The copter is quiet and does not beep => there is a Satfix and you can use all GPS functions

Dynamic PositionHold

If the position function PositionHold is activated, the copter automatically hold the position.
When you will change the position of the copter in the air, move the Nick/Roll Stick on your transmitter.

The function of the mode PositionHold is different if Dynamic PositionHold is enabled or disabled:

• Function Dynamic PositionHold disabled:
  

  • The copter is directly controlled by moving the nick / roll stick.

    Here the function PositionHold will be automatically switched off if you move the sticks. At the new position and after you release the sticks, the function PH will be automatically switched on again.

• Function Dynamic PositionHold activated:
  

  • Also here you can fly the Kopter through moves with the Nick- / Rollstick to a new position.

    But in that way PH will be not disabled/enabled but the nominal values of the GPS-coordinates will be moved. An more accurate and exact positioning of the Kopter is possible even in windy conditions. The Kopter will fly a little bit slower to the position, moves more sluggish.

Here you can change the settings under EasySetup: MK-Parameter

Beeps

With correctly connected navigation unit you hear additional beeps.

This beeps are:

• Satfix control => beep every second (see: Sat-Fix)

• Using the 3 way GPS switch from OFF to PositionHold or ComingHome) => one beep for each using

• Enabling Carefree => a long beep

Softwareupdate and Functionality Tests

With the KopterTool you can change the Software on the NaviCtrl and also check the function.
The current mating software (KopertTool, NaviCtrl and FlightCtrl) can be downloaded here: Download

Connect the MK-USB with the Debug port on the NaviCtrl, or use a wireless connection (like e.g. the RangeExtender) to connect the copter with the computer.

Open the terminal window in the KopterTool and connect then the copter with the battery (Dont forget to switch on the transmitter ;-)).
In the terminal window you should now see the initialization of the NaviCtrl. Here you see e.g. if a micro SD card is in use, the hard- and software version. if you use the internal or an external compass and if you use a license or not:

To update the software "click" on the button Update Software (serial)... and chose the software for the NaviCtrlund. A click on '"Open" starts the update.

The update itself is displayed in green. When you see the white initialization the update is done.

Micro SD-card

You can use a micro SD-Karte (up to 2GB / FAT16) in your NaviCtrl.
All telemetry data of the copter will be automatically saved on the micro SD card in a GPX and KML file.

After the flight you can take a look on the recorded data in the LOG file (if required) wit our program GPX-Viewer.
Informations for the GPX Viewer can be found here: GPX-Viewer

Plug in the SD card as you can see under Mounting / Connections.

If the card is inserted, the needed file SETTINGS.INI will be created automatically after you connect the battery with the copter.
Also a folder LOG will be created automatically when you do your first flight.

INFO
If you update the Software, it can be that there are new functions.
To use all the new functions you should clear the SETTINGS.INI. It will be created automatically new with the right new values that are needed.

SETTINGS.INI

The file SETTINGS.INI includes some settings you normally have not to change.
If you must change a value you can do it with an normal windows editor.

The values in the SETTINGS.INI are largely self-explanatory.
If you e.g. want to achieve greater speed in manual flight under PositionHold or during a waypoints flight, you can increase the value of DYNAMIC_PH_SPEED. Or you will use use GPS and BEIDOU (instead of GOS and GLONAS) as receiving satellites you can change it under GPS_SYSTEM_CFG anpassen.

Presentation of the flight data in Google Earth

In the current version of Google Earth (> 6.1) you can show the route by loading the .KML or .GPX files.
(The flight-route with a .GPX file will be also displayed in the height if you set up in the properties of the file the Height to Relativ to ground.)

NMEA

Since the software version 2.00a for NaviCtrl, the UBlox Modul can also send a NMEA Format.
(e.g. for Cameras with Datalogging).

The output is at 57600 baud. The records are sent with RMC & GGA.
You can get the data on PIN9 (+ PIN7 GND) of the Debug connection of the NaviCtrl.

IMPORTANT: Only with an microSD card in the NaviCtrl you can use the NMEA Data.
The file SETTINGS.INI on the microSD card includes then the necessary commands for this purpose.

Error Codes

If you use the GPS-System (NaviCtrl + Compass + MKPGS) on your Kopter and you calibrate the Gyros, you can see for a short time "error 6" + "error 3" in your Telemetry-Display.
This is normal. Because the connection between FlightCtrl and NaviCtrl is briefly interrupted when you calibrate the Gyros.

an error has occurred if an error message will be displayed permanently.
The error codes and the meanings you can find here: Error Codes

• KategorieMK-Baugruppe/de