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MP21286X Triple Redundant
Three complete autopilots, advanced voting logic, carrier phase GPS, helicopter and fixed-wing.
Triple redundancy (6X) gives autopilot technology the reliability necessary to safely carry out sensitive flight missions and transport valuable payloads. A triple redundant arrangement is comprised of three similar software and hardware systems. If any one of the three systems fails, the remaining two take over, offering a double redundancy arrangement. If one of the other two systems should fail, the third takes over. An additional mechanism is also included to oversee these three systems. Triple redundant systems are highly tolerant of autopilot hardware failures.
Triple redundant autopilots are not new. Military aircrafts such as the RAF’s Trident fleet, used a triple redundant autoland system in the early 1960’s. Ten years later, the Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde took advantage of 6X technology in its flight control system. Presently, triple redundancy is used in several manned military and commercial aircrafts.
Although triple redundant technology is established within the aviation industry, triple redundant autopilots are a relatively new addition to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). MicroPilot, the leading UAV autopilot manufacturer, is setting the benchmark for triple redundant UAV autopilots. MicroPilot, based in Canada, has been designing autopilots for fixed-wing, transitional and helicopter UAVs since 1994. In 2006 MicroPilot started designing a triple redundancy autopilot for helicopter and fixed-wing UAVs.
Description
Features
- Fly both fixed wing and heli UAVs.
- Robust voting mechanism used for autopilot selection.
- Smooth transitions when switching between autopilots.
- Seamless communication transitions.
- Multiple communication links for onboard devices such as cameras, and aircraft transponders.
- Redundant datalinks to ground control station.
- Configuration, state, and waypoint synchronization among all three autopilots.
- Eleven serial ports including RS232 and RS485.
- Sixteen independently-generated servo signals.
- Eight high current drivers controlled independently by each autopilot.
- Independent power for each autopilot.
- Pass or fail voting logic reliably selects the appropriate autopilot.
- Dual GPS types – Ublox and Novatel.
- HORIZONmp ground control station software with built-in software in the loop simulator.
- Quasi-hardware-in-the-loop (qHWIL) simulator.
Servos & Mixing
servo outputs
16
servo resolution (Servos 1-10)
11 bit
servo resolution (Servos 11-16)
10 bit
elevons, flaperons, 4 servo flap/aileron, separate flaps, v-tail, x-tail, split rudders, differential thrust
yes
3 servo mechanical
yes
3 servo 90° CCPM
yes
4 servo 90° CCPM
yes
3 servo 120° CCPM
yes
4 servo 4 corner CCPM
yes
servo update rate
50 – 200 Hz
separate servo and main battery power supply
yes
separate voltage monitor for main and servo battery power supplies
yes
integrated manual override in LRC-PIC mode
yes
Control System
gain scheduling for optimum performance
yes
selectable inner loop update rates
30/60/180 Hz
user definable PID feedback loops (for camera stabilization etc)
8
user definable PID feedback loops (for camera stabilization etc)
8
user definable table lookup functions
8
MP plugin compatible with XTENDERᵐᵖ software developer’s kit
yes
high current solid-state relay outputs
8
Sensors
altimeter maximum altitude
12,000m
2g, 3 axis accelerometers
yes
maximum angular rate
150° per second
attitude update rate
200 Hz
12 state Kalman filter
yes
ADC input channels
16
3-axis magnetometers
3
Navigation
GPS update rate (Primary Receiver)
20Hz
GPS update rate (2nd and 3rd receivers)
4Hz
move servo at waypoint
yes
change altitude at waypoint
yes
change airspeed at waypoint
yes
user definable holding patterns
yes
user definable error handlers (loss of GPS, low battery etc.)
yes
RPV and UAV modes
yes
supports DGPS accuracy
yes
supports Carrier Phase GPS accuracy
yes
waypoints
1,000
Telemetry, Datalog & Video
telemetry (user defined fields transmitted each second)
100
telemetry update rate
5 – 30 Hz
datalog update rate
5 – 30 Hz
user definable datalog fields
24
video overlay (number of user definable fields)
16
Ground control station
yes
yes
ground control station developer’s kit
yes
gains can be adjusted in-flight
yes
change waypoints in-flight
yes
payload servos controlled from ground station
yes
fly in RC mode via datalink (both stabilized and normal)
yes
point-and-click waypoint editor
yes
Physical Characteristics
weight
859g (30 oz)
(not including GPS antenna)
power (typical)
750mA @ 12V
supply Voltage
9 ~ 27V
size – length
227mm (8.938in)
size – width
127mm (5.031in)
size – height
54mm (2.125in)
software upgradable in the field
yes
