Can a Toy Helicopter Be Programmed for Automatic Hovering?

[Maor_M]

Heya everybody,
I am trying to write a code that will make a toy helicopter to hover. I have cameras that are constantly tracking it, reporting at real time about it's position and angles.
I have control on the yaw (Z axis rotatio), pitch (forward/backward movement), and rotors speed.
I have basic knowledge in physics, so I ask two things:
1. Is it possible??
2. Someone can explain me what are the physical forces working on the helicopter, and if there are equations to balance it??

Thanks bodies...

 

[Dishsoap]

1) Yes, of course it's possible. That's one of the most significant things about a helicopter, is its ability to hover.

2) Well, there are basically two forces, assuming that you keep it stationary in the horizontal direction. There is gravity, and then there is the lift of the helicopter caused by the spinning rotors "throwing" air underneath them.

 

[Maor_M]

1) Yes, of course it's possible. That's one of the most significant things about a helicopter, is its ability to hover.

2) Well, there are basically two forces, assuming that you keep it stationary in the horizontal direction. There is gravity, and then there is the lift of the helicopter caused by the spinning rotors "throwing" air underneath them.

But even when it's hover, it's not staying in position, and goes diagonal. Any attemp to change angles just make it worse.

 

[Student100]

Heya everybody,
I am trying to write a code that will make a toy helicopter to hover. I have cameras that are constantly tracking it, reporting at real time about it's position and angles.
I have control on the yaw (Z axis rotatio), pitch (forward/backward movement), and rotors speed.
I have basic knowledge in physics, so I ask two things:
1. Is it possible??
2. Someone can explain me what are the physical forces working on the helicopter, and if there are equations to balance it??

Thanks bodies...

In a relatively wind free environment? Yes it's possible for your toy helicopter to hover.

You need your lift to equal the downward force of gravity. The easiest way to do this would be to find the throttle sweet spot that allows hover.

 

[Student100]

But even when it's hover, it's not staying in position, and goes diagonal. Any attemp to change angles just make it worse.

You're never going to get a stationary hover with toy helicopters, there will always be some component of movement along the plane. You can minimize it by playing with the pitch/yaw.

 

[Maor_M]

W

You're never going to get a stationary hover with toy helicopters, there will always be some component of movement along the plane. You can minimize it by playing with the pitch/yaw.

What is that component??

 

[Maor_M]

Heya everybody,
I am trying to write a code that will make a toy helicopter to hover. I have cameras that are constantly tracking it, reporting at real time about it's position and angles.
I have control on the yaw (Z axis rotatio), pitch (forward/backward movement), and rotors speed.
I have basic knowledge in physics, so I ask two things:
1. Is it possible??
2. Someone can explain me what are the physical forces working on the helicopter, and if there are equations to balance it??

Thanks bodies...

I need stationary hover, or something close to it

 

[Student100]

WWhat is that component??

They're variable, depending on conditions. If you have cameras tracking the motion, you can create a feed back loop that will supply corrective inputs to minimize the motion.

 

[donpacino]

Heya everybody,
I am trying to write a code that will make a toy helicopter to hover. I have cameras that are constantly tracking it, reporting at real time about it's position and angles.
I have control on the yaw (Z axis rotatio), pitch (forward/backward movement), and rotors speed.
I have basic knowledge in physics, so I ask two things:
1. Is it possible??
2. Someone can explain me what are the physical forces working on the helicopter, and if there are equations to balance it??

Thanks bodies...

what is your academic/professional background?
is this for a project?

the reason I ask, this can be a very complicated controls problem depending on the constraints and end goals.

 

[Nidum]

But even when it's hover, it's not staying in position, and goes diagonal. Any attemp to change angles just make it worse.

Try adjusting the weight trim .