24 replies to this topic

[dankers]

There is a lot happening with OpenPilot, most of it is with development but there are some real key issues that we need help with besides this.

Please check the progress tracker for a list of specific tasks that need help and besides these we also need help with the following:

• We badly need artists, people that can do SVG icons, logos and generally help us make OpenPilot look better. If you have these skills, please help!

• We always need help with the wiki! Add new information or even just proof read it, every improvement helps. We are also looking looking for owners for key pages of the Wiki, for example they key sections that form the OpenPilot manual.

• Spread the word about OpenPilot!

OpenPilot is a community project, it is by the community and for the community. There is a chance for everyone to get involved no matter what your skill set, please help to make OpenPilot all it can be.

[efx]

What other artist stuff do you need. Please post a comprehensive list (or point me in the right direction if it's listed elsewhere). Thanks. Nick

[gRAVIty]

Hello,
People call me Ravi. I work in Indian Institute of technology Madras(IIT Madras) and a recent graduate from the same university. We have been working on UAVs for about a couple of years. The whole project is a student run initiative. We work in a lab called Centre For Innovation - a lab started, managed by students for the students. I was the student head for the same lab until I graduated.

You can see the work we did in the following video
(by the way the music is composed by one of my friends)

The Aero section of the lab has three fold activities.
1)One group works on quadrotor and is a participant in the International Aerial Robotics Competition. If you have not heard of it you can find it http://iarc.angel-strike.com/. This team is currently using a mikrokopter since the problem is too big to start from scratch.
2)The second group works on automation of fixed wing planes.
3)There is a group of enthusiasts who build and fly planes. We have just got a simulator and are now learning flying. we usually get aeromodelers to fly the planes we make

I started all the aero activites when I was a freshman.

Our interest in the open pilot is the following:
We wanted to build an autopilot system from scratch. Now it does not make sense for us to start from scratch independently. The reason why we are specifically interested in open pilot is because it is planned to work for both VTOLs and fixed wing airplanes.

I am just sending this so that we could contribute and benefit from this open source project if I let you guys know what we are doing. Feel free to suggest/ask anything from us. By the way the website of our lab is http://cfi.iitm.ac.in/cfi/

regards,
Ravi

[dankers]

Hi Ravi and welcome,

Looks like you are doing some real impressive stuff, loved the video!

One of the key design goals of OpenPilot is that is supports any type of aircraft you can throw at it however, we might be a fair way off from supporting Ornithopters For some reason we have not really looked at Tri-Copters yet, but I am sure we will in time.  
  
There is still a load left to do, what I suggest is you read the forums and see what interests you, a big thing with OP is it must be fun for people involved, that's basically the only rule!

[zhao0079]

Hi Ravi,
The Ornithopters is very impressive

[Corvus Corax]

The Ornithopter is awesome.
I am not familiar with how you control the attitude on that one. You have the ordinary tail control i assume (elevator, rudder) but you don't seem to have Ailerons.
Is there a way to actively control the Roll angle through the wing flapping?

[yamax87]

Which documentation specifically needs completing?

Also, please could people add links to this page: http://wiki.openpilo...ning the Theory
It's meant to provide a comprehensive background for all areas of SUAV concern, from theory to flying (eg pronciples of flight and aviation law). We're not all hardcore engineers/programmers!

In addition, anyone who can give the page a facelift would be most welcome to do so-as you can see, my current skills with the wiki editing are limited

[titeuf007]

as soon as i will buy my board, i could make a complete video like yours for french communauty if you are interesting!
it s not a big help but it s the only way that i can help you

[3rdeyepro]

Can we get an update of what needs help? I believe you have Berkely doing a lot of work on the wiki? Anything else we can help with there? I can create lots of graphics as well as promote the hell out of this project.

[Matanza]

Hi,

When the CC boards are back in stock i will make a quick-setup guide in dutch.

Regards,

Edited by Matanza, 09 June 2011 - 08:06 PM.

[Gary Mortimer]

@3rdEye the GCS needs to be more pleasing on the eye, any specific ideas there?

Remember the GCS is seen by a lot of people and lots of people will see your work ;-)

@Matanza its the CopterControl, CC boards that will be back in stock soon, the OpenPilot Mainboard/INS are a little way out yet still.

[Matanza]

Gary Mortimer, on 09 June 2011 - 07:40 PM, said:

@Matanza its the CopterControl, CC boards that will be back in stock soon, the OpenPilot Mainboard/INS are a little way out yet still.

Ow sorry, i will change my post. i'm very new here, I just discover this project one week ago. i will try to help as well as i can.

[dankers]

Matanza, on 09 June 2011 - 08:12 PM, said:

Ow sorry, i will change my post. i'm very new here, I just discover this project one week ago. i will try to help as well as i can.

Of course, developers are highly needed as well. Anyone with C++ experience and Qt and of course embedded skills on the STM32 would be really great.

[Matanza]

I just started a course objective C (Apple). So for now i can't help you with that.

Maybe its an idea to send a board to Flite test. When they review it you have some publicity ...

[PT_Dreamer]

dankers, on 09 June 2011 - 09:11 PM, said:

Of course, developers are highly needed as well. Anyone with C++ experience and Qt and of course embedded skills on the STM32 would be really great.

I would say experienced with any kind of programing language. Any average programmer can quickly learn a new language.
I think the GCS is easier to start with, not because the coding is easier but because the flight side architecture makes it more difficult to produce code according to the project standards.

[TrickMcKaha]

When I find an error in the software, where should I post it? I don't just want to start a thread about it.

[dankers]

TrickMcKaha, on 25 July 2011 - 01:46 PM, said:

When I find an error in the software, where should I post it? I don't just want to start a thread about it.

The best way is to start a Jira bug here: http://progress.openpilot.org

[J0N45]

I All, are there any need to localize the software for portuguese, i'm a developer and ive been developing in .Net languages for quite some time and i would be available to help.

[PT_Dreamer]

J0N45, on 29 July 2011 - 11:01 PM, said:

I All, are there any need to localize the software for portuguese, i'm a developer and ive been developing in .Net languages for quite some time and i would be available to help.

Sure that would be nice, however there are lots of other areas we could use a new dev.

[Berkely]

The Vimeo group is still pretty basic, we do not even have our own logo. I'm sure someone is fully capable of making a good looking logo/picture.

Anyone up for this?