Wiki source code of MES - Modular Frame

Last modified by Eric Nantel on 2021/08/06 12:37

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Eric Nantel 101.1 1 {{lightbox image="MES-F-HEX12-ISO.png" width="350"/}}
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Eric Nantel 102.1 3 [[[[image:[email protected]||alt="LSS - Articulated Robotic Arm.jpg"]]>>https://www.robotshop.com/en/lynxmotion-mes-reconfigurable-folding-uav-frame-kit.html||rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"]]
Eric Nantel 101.1 4
5 **Table of Contents**
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7 {{toc/}}
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Coleman Benson 35.1 9 The Multirotor Erector Set (MES) - Reconfigurable Frame is an all-in-one frame designed to allow the user to easily experiment with a variety of different multirotor designs, without having to invest in a variety of custom frames. The frame is based on the M.E.S. system which uses aluminum tubing clamps, G10 composite plates and carbon fiber tubing. A wide variety of different designs can be created using this single frame system and each can vary in terms of arm length, motor configurations, accessories and more.
Coleman Benson 2.1 10
Eric Nantel 110.1 11 = Applications =
Coleman Benson 6.1 12
Coleman Benson 35.1 13 * UAV / drone / multirotor education, development & experimentation
Coleman Benson 6.1 14 * Sensor experimentation
15 * Design & payload optimization
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Eric Nantel 110.1 17 = Features =
Coleman Benson 6.1 18
Coleman Benson 35.1 19 * Reconfigurable center frame
Coleman Benson 5.1 20 * Mounting for one or two batteries
21 * Selection of different carbon fiber tube lengths
Coleman Benson 35.1 22 * Removable, quick release landing gear
Coleman Benson 5.1 23 * Variety of multi-purpose mounting mounts
Coleman Benson 7.1 24 * Quick release folding arms and removable landing gear
Coleman Benson 6.1 25 * Side mounted ESC for easy access
26 * Wiring within tubing
Coleman Benson 5.1 27
Eric Nantel 112.1 28 = Assembly Guide =
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30 {{include reference="multirotor-erector-set.mes-reconfigurable-modular-frame.mes-modular-frame-quickstart.WebHome" context="NEW"/}}
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Eric Nantel 110.1 32 = What's Included =
Coleman Benson 34.1 33
Coleman Benson 35.1 34 * G10 composite (non-conductive) parts for complete frame assembly
35 * Anodized (orange) aluminum tubing clamps
36 * Carbon fiber tubes
Coleman Benson 34.1 37 * Hardware (screws, standoffs, grommets, bearings, foam)
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Eric Nantel 110.1 39 = What's Needed =
Coleman Benson 34.1 40
41 * Brushless DC (BLDC) motors (4 to 12 depending on design) and corresponding mounting screws
42 * Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs) compatible with BLDC motors selected
43 * Flight controller (Lynxmotion Quadrino Nano suggested)
44 * Power Distribution (Lynxmotion Power Distribution Module suggested)
45 * Battery compatible with BLDC motors (one or two can be mounted)
46 * Remote Control (RC) system with minimum 4ch and receiver
47 * Optional: Gimbal; Video transmitter / receiver; Camera; Sensors;
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Eric Nantel 110.1 49 = Design Examples =
Coleman Benson 34.1 50
51 The following designs are examples of what is possible with the MES system. These are all included in the assembly guide and allow you to become familiar with the system. Spare parts are included to allow you to create alternative designs, and additional hardware can be purchased separately.
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Eric Nantel 72.1 53 |(% style="width:200px" %)**//CAD Image//**|//**Title / Description**//
Eric Nantel 21.1 54 |(% style="width:250px" %)(((
Eric Nantel 74.1 55 {{lightbox image="MES-F-QUADX-ISO.png"/}}
Eric Nantel 21.1 56 )))|(((
Eric Nantel 32.1 57 **X4 Quadcopter**
Eric Nantel 21.1 58
59 The X4 quadcopter design incorporates folding arms and removable landing gear. There is a motor mounted to each of the four arms. Wiring is internal.
Eric Nantel 22.1 60 )))
Eric Nantel 97.1 61 |(% style="width:250px" %){{lightbox image="MES-F-X8-ISO.png"/}}(((
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Eric Nantel 22.1 63 )))|(((
64 **X8 Quadcopter**
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66 The X4 quadcopter design incorporates folding arms and removable landing gear. There is a motor mounted to both the top and the bottom of each of the four arms. Wiring is internal.
67 )))
68 |(% style="width:250px" %)(((
Eric Nantel 74.1 69 {{lightbox image="MES-F-Y4-ISO.png"/}}
Eric Nantel 22.1 70 )))|(((
Eric Nantel 32.1 71 **Y4 Tri Arms**
Eric Nantel 22.1 72
73 The Y4 design design incorporates folding arms and removable landing gear. There is one mounted to the front arms and two motors mounted to the center rear arm.
Eric Nantel 27.1 74 )))
Eric Nantel 22.1 75 |(% style="width:250px" %)(((
Eric Nantel 74.1 76 {{lightbox image="MES-F-Y6-ISO.png"/}}
Eric Nantel 22.1 77 )))|(((
Eric Nantel 32.1 78 **Y6 Tri Arms**
Eric Nantel 22.1 79
80 The Y6 design includes two folding arms, each with a motor, and a rear fixed arm with a motor mounted to the top and bottom of the arm. Wiring is internal.
Eric Nantel 27.1 81 )))
Eric Nantel 22.1 82 |(% style="width:250px" %)(((
Eric Nantel 74.1 83 {{lightbox image="MES-F-HEX6-ISO.png"/}}
Eric Nantel 22.1 84 )))|(((
Eric Nantel 32.1 85 **HEX 6 Hexacopter**
Eric Nantel 22.1 86
87 The H6 hexacopter design incorporates folding arms and removable landing gear. There is a motor mounted to each of the six arms,. Wiring is internal.
Eric Nantel 27.1 88 )))
Eric Nantel 22.1 89 |(% style="width:250px" %)(((
Eric Nantel 74.1 90 {{lightbox image="MES-F-HEX12-ISO.png"/}}
Eric Nantel 22.1 91 )))|(((
Eric Nantel 32.1 92 **HEX 12 Hexacopter**
Eric Nantel 22.1 93
94 The H12 hexacopter design incorporates folding arms and removable landing gear. There is a motor mounted to both the top and bottom of each of the six arms. Wiring is internal. This design requires independent control of 12 motors, which is not supported by MultiWii /
Eric Nantel 27.1 95 )))
Coleman Benson 2.1 96
Eric Nantel 110.1 97 = Design Guide =
Coleman Benson 35.1 98
99 This section covers only the basics of how to select additional components to complete the MES frame.
100
Eric Nantel 110.1 101 == Accessories ==
Coleman Benson 35.1 102
Coleman Benson 36.1 103 The types of accessories to connect to the frame are at the discretion of the designer. Components can be added above the frame or below, and a universal mounting plate is included. The length of the landing gear was selected in order to accommodate both a battery below the center frame as well as a standard two axis gimbal. For three axis gimbals, note that the distance between the bottom of the center frame and the ground is ~_~_~_~_.
Coleman Benson 35.1 104
Coleman Benson 36.1 105 The Lynxmotion Servo Erector Set (SES) pattern has been incorporated into several positions on the frame. This pattern allows SES compatible hardware (brackets, C-channels and accessories) to be connected to the frame and used as universal mounting points. When mounting accessories, be check the center of gravity of the entire assembly and ensure it is at the very center of the drone. Should there be a weight imbalance, certain motors may need more power than others, and the flight characteristics may change significantly.
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Eric Nantel 110.1 107 == Battery ==
Coleman Benson 35.1 108
109 The MES frame supports using either one centrally mounted battery (below or above the main frame) or two batteries mounted on either the landing gear tubes or above the center plate. In a two battery configuration, we strongly recommend using identical batteries to ensure weight balance and uniform discharge. Note that both batteries should be fully charged before use, and your method of power distribution should support a two battery configuration. The battery is held in place by rubber foam and velcro straps, which supports a wide variety of different sizes. The battery's voltage should ideally match that of the BLDC motors selected, and the continuous discharge current rating ('C' rating) should be above the sum of the maximum current consumption of the motors used.
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Eric Nantel 110.1 111 == Motor, ESC, Propeller ==
Coleman Benson 35.1 112
113 In order to help determine the type and number of BLDC motors to use in a specific configuration, we propose following the steps below:
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115 1. Calculate the total weight of the multirotor drone based on the desired configuration by adding the weight of all known parts (frame, flight controller, power distribution)
116 1. Add the total weight of any larger accessories such as a camera, gimbal system, video transmitter, heavier sensors etc. to the previous total.
117 1. Estimate the weight of unknown parts (motors, battery) and add it to the total:
118 11. Motor:
119 11. Battery:
120 11. The weight of the propellers, ESCs, receiver and lightweight sensors tend to have a minimal impact on the total.
121 1. Multiply the total weight obtained by two*, and divide this new value by the number of motors to be used. This will give you an estimate of the maximum thrust needed per motor + propeller combination
122 1. Select a motor + propeller combination which provides the thrust calculated in the previous step.
123 1. Adjust the total weight calculated in the first step using the weight of the motors to re-calculate the total thrust needed per motor.
124 1. Compare this new total to the maximum thrust which the motor can provide. If the motor's actual maximum thrust is less than around 90% of the thrust needed, find a new motor.
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126 ~* Multiplying the total weight of the drone by a factor of two is an estimate to provide sufficient thrust needed for basic aerial maneuvers and acceleration. For more acrobatic flight, this multiplication factor should be higher. 
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128 Should you wish to experiment with a wide variety of different configurations using a single type of motor, ESC and propeller, the following specs are suggested. Note that :
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Coleman Benson 36.1 130 * Motor thrust: 
Coleman Benson 35.1 131 * ESC:
132 * Propeller:
133 * Battery:
Coleman Benson 36.1 134
135 == Handheld Remote Control (RC) ==
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137 The handheld remote control allows a human operator to control the drone remotely, and in the case of an autonomous drone, as a fail safe should the drone behave erratically. The minimum number of channels needed is four, with an additional channel often needed for each accessory / functionality. Many flight controllers require a full PWM range of 0.5ms to 2.5ms, which often requires that the remote control be configurable / programmable.
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