Manual Tuning Instructions

Pitch and Roll Axes

Setting ATC_RAT_xxx_FF and ATC_ACCEL_x_MAX Parameters for Desired Pitch and Roll Response

In both pitch and roll axes, the ATC_RAT_xxx_FF gain is set so that the actual aircraft rate matches the desired rate. To do this, the RATE message in the log is required to compare the RATE.PDes and RATE.P log data for pitch and the RATE.RDes and RATE.R log data for roll.

With the ATC_RAT_xxx_FF gains set to 0.15, takeoff and establish a hover in Stabilize flight mode, then make some sharp stick inputs in both pitch and roll. Land and pull the log from the microSD card and look at the signals in a log reviewing software. If the actual rate is more than the desired rate then you’ll want to decrease ATC_RAT_xxx_FF. If it is less, increase ATC_RAT_xxx_FF.

(to be added…FF calculation directly from log data)

If the desired and actual rates are offset by some amount, it means that your swash was not properly leveled in the setup. In this case, just make sure the change in rate is similar in amplitude between desired and actual. If you get the rates to match and they feel like they are too fast, then reduce the ATC_ACCEL_x_MAX parameter and repeat the process above to match the desired and actual rates.

If while tuning the ATC_RAT_xxx_FF gain the aircraft starts to oscillate, reduce the ATC_ANG_xxx_P gain for that axis until the oscillations stop. However for most helicopters the suggested values above should not cause this problem.

Tuning the ATC_RAT_xxx_D and ATC_RAT_xxx_P gain

Once you have the heli responding nicely with the ATC_RAT_xxx_FF gain, now tune the PID gains. The rate PID controller provides stability to reject disturbances and keep the actual aircraft following the software demanded rates.

Start with the ATC_RAT_xxx_D gain. Use the Transmitter based tuning feature of ArduCopter. Make the following parameter changes:

TUNE	21
TUNE_MIN	0
TUNE_MAX	0.030*

for futaba radios this equates to one increment in the knob to 0.001

Adjust the tuning knob until the ATC_RAT_RLL_D and ATC_RAT_PIT_D gains are 0.001. Lift into a hover and make some sharp stick inputs in roll. Most helicopters will see roll oscillations before they see pitch oscillations. That is why roll inputs are suggested. If it doesn’t shake, increase the gain by 0.001 and try it again. At the value where you get rapid shaking, cut that value in half and enter it as the final tuning value for ATC_RAT_RLL_D and ATC_RAT_PIT_D. Test hover the heli and make some rapid stick movements in both pitch and roll to make sure it’s stable.

Now tune the ATC_RAT_xxx_P gains. Make the following tuning parameter changes:

TUNE	4
TUNE_MIN	0
TUNE_MAX	0.3*

for futaba radios this equates to one increment in the knob to 0.01

Adjust the tuning knob until the ATC_RAT_RLL_P and ATC_RAT_PIT_P gains are 0.05. Lift into a hover and roll aggressively from side to side. If it doesn’t shake, increase the gain by 0.01 and try it again. At the value where you get rapid shaking, cut that value in half and enter it as the final tuning value for ATC_RAT_RLL_P and ATC_RAT_PIT_P. Test hover the heli and make some rapid stick movements in both pitch and roll to make sure it’s stable.

After tuning the ATC_RAT_xxx_D and ATC_RAT_xxx_P gains the aircraft should feel much smoother. Tune quality can be also checked by viewing the ATT.DesP vs ATT.P and ATT.DesR vs ATT.R log plots:

Setting the ATC_RAT_RLL_I and ATC_RAT_PIT_I

It is recommended to set the ATC_RAT_PIT_I gain equal to the ATC_RAT_PIT_FF gain and the ATC_RAT_RLL_I gain equal to the ATC_RAT_RLL_FF gain.

Yaw Axis

Setting ATC_RAT_YAW_FF

In most cases, the feedforward required for the yaw axis could be very small or even zero. To check the feedforward required, hover the helicopter and perform a constant rate 90 deg turn. Pull the log data and look at the RATE.Yout signal. Determine the average RATE.Yout during the time the yaw rate (RATE.Y signal) was constant. Feedforward gain is determined by dividing the average RATE.Yout by the average RATE.Y in rad/s.

Tuning ATC_RAT_YAW_D and ATC_RAT_YAW_P

Spool up the heli and hover it no more than .25 meters above ground in Stabilize flight mode and test the starting tail settings. If the tail seems “loose” and doesn’t want to hold increase the ATC_RAT_YAW_P. If the tail slowly wags back and forth, the ATC_RAT_YAW_P may be too high. If the tail rapidly shakes side to side reduce the ATC_ANG_YAW_P.

In all cases it is not recommended to adjust ATC_ANG_YAW_P below 3.5 or ATC_RAT_YAW_P above 0.38. If your helicopter cannot seem to achieve a solid tail within those limits you likely have a mechanical problem with the tail - either excessive “slop” or play in the linkage, binding of the linkage or a servo problem. Correct the problem before proceeding with roll and pitch tuning.

The tune quality can be checked by examining the logs for ATT.DesYaw vs ATT.Yaw as shown below for an imperfect but flyable tune:

Note that there is a little overshoot and neutral ringing indicating that the FF or P gain is a little high or there is not enough D and could be improved a bit.

Tuning a Flybar Equipped Head

The setup of a helicopter with flybar equipped head does not require the H_FLYBAR_MODE set to flybar mode. This parameter only affects the ACRO flight mode. Unless there is a reason passthrough provided by the flybar setting in ACRO mode is needed, then it is recommended that H_FLYBAR_MODE is left at its default of no flybar. If you choose to use the flybar mode then the FF gain is set as described below. Otherwise the FF is tuned just like an flybarless head.

Note

For flybar heads, the flybar is a mechanical version of the rate PID loop. So flybar is tuned using only FF in pitch and roll. The rate D and P gains are left set to zero for flybar. I-gain, IMAX, and ILMI are tuned just like FBL.

With a flybar head, where the linkage rate is normally lower, it is recommended to start with 0.22 FF for both pitch and roll and you will likely have to go higher with FF. But for a flybarless head, FF shouldn’t be more than 0.22 unless you have really really slow servos or slow linkage rate. With all helicopters, the FF gain compensates for differences in servo and linkage speed.

Below is a plot of beginning a tune on a flybar helicopter using the starting setting of ATC_RAT_RLL_FF = 0.22. The graph shows the aircraft’s response to the rate request of the attitude controller is low, meaning the FF value must be increased to achieve proper rate response.