Issues in demo unit for KMSO in NY

jaykay0408

@ixmclean Thank you so much for your quick reply. I just figure out the problem.
I have run the program using terminal python script as below:
i) MacOS -> Start terminal
ii) at command line:

python3 a1.py

Sometimes, command line interpreter looks like lose some data (not sure, there might be byte data...), which caused the problem.
However, using Jupyter is fine.
So, my question is :
"What are suggested IDE for CoDrone programming rather than Jupyter?"
During the competition, some of students are not familiar with Jupyter, so I'd better know what are the suggested IDE.

Also, any work around of the problem using command line script programming?

Thank you in advance.

ixmclean

ATM I'm using PyCharm. Works well so far. odd that command line isn't working for you though. I run a test on my own system to see if I'm encountering problems.

ixmclean

ok run some tests, and I'm having no issues with my code running at command line
Using Ububtu (I have a mac at home, but doubt they'd let me take my project out of the building)

any IDE should work. even nano/vi/emacs

as far as your a1.py code, I copy/pasted into nano, (added the Direction and ended with a drone.close() ) and it worked the 2nd (and 3rd time) time I ran it (I've noticed that it is common [1 in 4] for the execution to get interrupted (like when I have a battery check for anything under 10% and it would close on a fresh battery, or close itself before my check)
as for the runtime, it barely did a forward/backward nudge

I added a "1" time component: drone.go(Direction.FORWARD, 1)
(and to the backward) and it ran smoothly for 1 sec forward and backward

jaykay0408

@ixmclean Hello,
Thank you so much for your suggestion.

Did you test the code with Mac using terminal and vi?
Based on your suggestion, I tested the following code with PyCharm and here are the results:
====== Code ======
import CoDrone
from CoDrone import Direction
import time
drone = CoDrone.CoDrone()
drone.pair()
drone.takeoff()
drone.go(Direction.LEFT, 1)
print("LEFT")
drone.go(Direction.BACKWARD, 1)
print("BACK")
drone.go(Direction.FORWARD, 1)
print("FORWARD")
time.sleep(0.5)
drone.go(Direction.RIGHT, 1)
print("RIGHT")
drone.land()
print("Land")
drone.close()
======= End of code (I added sleep in case of latency, but not helpful ====
(i) first case of results: sometimes right-front motor is not working see a video below.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/LswmEPdFrNyaGmVK7
--> I plugged the motor into other position. Then, work. So, a motor is not a problem. After adjusting a position of motor to a arm, it works. But, not clearly understand what is a problem
(ii) second case of results: sometimes couldn't pair, but no error message. The rest of code are executed, but no movement. I checked this with print(). See a video below:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/t5UueFZJjKFgKFhn8
(iii) third case of results: sometimes can be paired and takeoff(), but rest of commands didn't work. A drone is just landed (looks like forcely because the program is not ended yet). See video below:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/4D9fQbA4gCbbpvZA9
(iv) forth case of results: just one time. a dron moved to LEFT, but rest of commands didn't work. Then same as case (iii).
https://photos.app.goo.gl/5d61VPaQS2XUAja59

Also, from time to time, I need to reconnect a battery to be paired.

Any advices and comments are welcome.
I'd like to know if this is caused by a drone (specific) or programming problem.
Thank you in advance for your help.

ixmclean

sadly, I can't take the drone home to test on my Apple.

With regards to your code and videos, Yes, sometimes, the communication drops to the drone (1 in 6 times is a rough guess) I've made it a habit to unplug the BLE cable, and re-seat the CoDrone Battery to ensure a fresh connection most of the time. I would say that I don't think I've had mine not execute the rest of the code post takeoff though (if it falters it errors out before take off, or if it does falter [this is rare] it would not take off but continue with the program [and no solid green pairing light])

jaykay0408

@ixmclean Hello,

Yes, sometimes, the communication drops to the drone (1 in 6 times is a rough guess) I've made it a habit to unplug the BLE cable, and re-seat the CoDrone Battery to ensure a fresh connection most of the time.
--> Mine is almost every time of the communication drop. Anyway, your suggested workaround (i.e., reconnect BLE and battery every try) is working so far (I tested successfully 4 times in a row)
However, the first case of my failures (in my previous note) still happened to me. Even after successful landing, the right front motor is now running. So, my another question is:
Do you have any library to test a specific motor without takingoff nor calibration?
Now, whenever the motor is not working, I run calibrate( ) with holding a drone by left hand, and adjusting motor position in a arm until running. Then, re calibrate() -> run the code.
This is not convenient also not safe (a couple of times hit my fingers). Any suggestions?

Thank you in advance.

jaykay0408

@ixmclean One more question:
As you can see from a video, when a drone lands on a floor using land( ), it hit a ground hardly. I guess this may cause a problem of a motor (position).
So, is there way for very soft landing using library?
https://photos.app.goo.gl/4D9fQbA4gCbbpvZA9
(see the last part of video for landing)
Thank you

robolink_leila

@jaykay0408 That landing looks about right. It varies from drone to drone. You can probably write your own function if you would like that decreases the throttle in increments. For the skipped commands you were mentioning, I have found it useful to insert a time.sleep(1) in between commands. If you use the time library make sure to import time. Let me know if these answer your questions.

jaykay0408

@robolink_leila Hello,

I have used time.sleep() before, but doesn't help a lot before. But, I will test this again after refreshing the connection.
However, currently it is solid green (tail LED) when a battery is plugged in
https://photos.app.goo.gl/vooqh7mF1cR7ifqU6
Even reset doesn't work
https://photos.app.goo.gl/tWPgEYb8J9Zp4AYZ9
I setup the 30 min tech support this afternoon, but no show.
Thank you.

ixmclean

Glad the unhook/rehook option helped you.
there isn't a way in the codrone library to test different arm motors. without seeing the arms, it is hard to determine if there is a contact issue, wiring, or ESC
ya, the landing is a tad tough sometimes. I'll do some runs of dropping the throttle in stages then land and see how that goes. though I've seen when flying and using throttling, the min distance is roughly 20cm (200mm) and the CoDrone likes that gap. forcing it lower will be interesting to see (I've tested going higher because the landscape I'm flying over had buildings [HO gauge table top] and the drone's flight goes up and down which alters the straight line path).
calibrate(): I've found this only works the first time called (doesn't takeoff/land like the instruction says though) successive calls to calibrate() (I was gauging power levels @1 sec to get a feel of distance it travels and how straight of a line it goes) and I had a loop set int he program with successive calibrate()s but the first call changed the lights/paused, but each other successive calls did not.