Smart-phone Controlled Micro-Drone | STEM Education | using WizFi360-EVB-PICO - Educate ∞ Knowledge, Wisdom, Intelligence, Business, Commerce, Science, Technology, AI, ML, Software

In the proposed project WizFi360-EVB-PICO is used as a flight controller for a micro-drone which is controlled over WiFi via Android App. CO...

In the proposed project WizFi360-EVB-PICO is used as a flight controller for a micro-drone which is controlled over WiFi via Android App.

COMPONENTS

Hardware components

WIZnet - WizFi360-EVB-Pico x 1

WizFi360 as WiFi Controller and telemetry and RP2040 for Flight Stabilization

dfrobot - 6 DOF Sensor - MPU6050 x 1

6 Axis IMU for flight stabilization

Software Apps and online services

Arduino - Arduino IDE

https://github.com/earlephilhower/arduino-pico

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

WizFi360 EVB PICO based Smartphone controlled Micro Drone for STEM Education

The idea is to develop WizFi360-EVB-Pico based Low Cost, open source, Smartphone controlled Micro Drone flight controller for STEM Education that supports the following features:

Low-Cost STEM/STEAM kit that supports multiple flying model configurations.
Reduce entry barrier costs associated with Aero modeling and Aerodynamics learning.
Design a safe platform for kids and people in the surrounding.
Easy to program and configure with sample codes of every sub-modules of the flight controller

Demo Video :

Hardware Used :

WizFi360 EVB Pico: Flight controller firmware running on RP2040 and Control and telemetry over WiFi established with WizFi360 using AT Commands product link
MT3608 Boost Converter: Convert 3.7 V LIPO voltage to 5V product link
MPU6050: 6 Axis IMU for Flight stabilization in auto-level mode product link
7x20 3.7V 40000RPM coreless DC motor with 55 mm dia Prop (2 CW and 2 CCW) product link
SI2302 N-Channel Mosfet as a coreless motor driver with 1N4148 diode. product link, product link
3.7v 300 mAh 20C Lipo battery, any 300-600mAh 3.7V >20C Battery works product link

Schematic / Connection of WizFi360-EVB-PICO Flight controller:

Implementation :

Motor Driver with MT3608 Boost Converter soldered on General purpose PCB.

MPU6050 IMU module soldered on top of WizFi360-EVB-PICO and foam tape used to damp vibration and avoid EMI interference from Boost converter.

Firmware:

The Firmware of the Drone is developed on Arduino IDE and Raspberry pi pico package,

Wizfi360 Arduino library not used instead UDP communication AP config done using bare AT commands of Wizfi360

Installed Raspberry Pi pico board package using the following guide.

https://github.com/earlephilhower/arduino-pico

and download the attached codes. That's it, no extra library is required.

Following WizFi360 AT Commands used for,

Configure WizFi360 as a WiFi Access point
Configure UDP Port to Listen to incoming control packets from Android Client and Transmit Telemetry to Android Client

AT+RST : Reset WizFi 360

ATE0: Echo Off

AT+CWMODE=2: AP Mode enable

AT+CWSAP_CUR="Wizfi360Drone","12345678",5,3,1,0: Create WizFi360Drone Access point with 12345678 Password and maximum one client connection accept

AT+CIFSR: Check whether the Access point was created or not and the IP Address of WizFi360

AT+CIPSTART="UDP","192.168.36.2",3333,2390,0: Create UDP Connection with Listen port 2390 and talking port 3333

AT+CIPSEND=3,"192.168.36.2",3333: Send 3-byte telemetry data (Battery Voltage and RSSI) to Android Client on Port 3333

The following code sample config AP starts the UDP server.

Serial2.setTX(4);
Serial2.setRX(5);
Serial2.begin(115200);

delay(1000);
Serial2.println("AT+RST");
delay(1000);

Serial2.println("AT+CWMODE=2");
delay(400);

Serial2.println("AT+CWSAP_CUR=\"Wizfi360Drone\",\"12345678\",5,3,1,0");
delay(2000);

Serial2.println("AT+CIFSR");
delay(500);

Serial2.println("AT+CIPSTART=\"UDP\",\"192.168.36.2\",2399,2390,0");//
delay(1000);

The following code sample sends 3-byte telemetry to the Android client

Serial2.println("AT+CIPSEND=3,\"192.168.36.2\",2399");
delay(10);
Serial2.write(0x01);
Serial2.write(rssi);
Serial2.write(bat_voltage);

There are two codes available in the attachment,

WIZDRONE_UDP.ino This sketch is used to debug Android app and drone communication over UDP
WIZDRONE_MAIN_FLIGHTCONTROL_QUAD: this folder includes a sketch for the main flight controller .ino file and required header files

WIZDRONE_MAIN_FC_Quad.ino - main flight controller firmware code, this code loops 250 times in a second.
global_inc.h - this file includes pin definition, PID constants, limits, and other global variables
pin_setup_control.ino - this file includes initialization of pins, PWMs, and functions related to control PWM and pins
PID.ino - this file includes PID controller-related functions
ibus_rx.h - this file includes AT-wrapped functions for config Wizfi360 as AP, receiving UDP control Packets from Android App, and sending telemetry to Android App. For simplicity, the UDP packet received from the Android app is converted to standard ibus limits.
mpu6050.ino - this file handles all functions related to MPU6050 IMU like init mpu6050 with required accelerometer and gyro ranges, reading raw accelerometer and gyro values, computing angle by fusing accelerometer and gyro reading using a complimentary filter, etc.

Android drone controller App:

The .apk file for the drone is attached, this app is developed by me and it's in a very primitive stage. As it's debug mode .apk file please allow an unknown app source and debug mode in the Android app.

App features

full roll, pitch, yaw, and throttle control using two thumb pads
rate low for limited control authority, rate high for experts with the full control authority
mode for throttle on the left/right side helpful for the left-handed and right-handed user
telemetry includes battery voltage and RSSI
flight timer
arm/disarm slide button so no chance of accidentally arming the drone
aux channels for future use

Drone Frame:

The frame for Drone is 3D printed using ABS plastic. The STL file is attached for reference. use 30 - 40 percent infill while 3d printing the frame to make the frame light and flexible yet strong enough to survive the impact.