Futaba 14SG for ALTA?

Hi,

here is a simple " walkthrough" regarding Futabe 14 SG.

First, many people ask why they need to use Airplane model ( now Multirotor is also available on latest 14sg Firmware).

The answer is, that we use numerous mixings between throttle and pitch, throttle hold, gyro gains and others for RC helicopters, these are mandatory in the basic setups on any Rc helicopter, plus there can be some other mixings ( swashpatre in CCPM 120° for example) micing the Aileron, elevator and pitch channels. You definitly do not want any of these in a Multirotor setup as the flight controler handles everything and is awaiting simple inputs from each channel for each function.

Simple Airplane models presets do not use particular mxing, this is why they are used for setting a multirotor.

Now on the latest firmwares, a Multicopter model is available and this one has no mixing + no questions during the present setup (how many ailerons, wing type..). If you use a plane preset, just use the simple one .

Now, regarding the transmitter setup, forget about complicated stuffs, it's more simple than you think if you go through the menus in the right way.

I will take a simple example, without talking of Freefly or any other flight controler.

Let's say you need to setup a multirotor. It has the standard channels ( Aileron, Elevator, Throttle, Rudder) and then it needs a 3 positions flight mode, a return to home function, a carefree function, a gear function and why not a " smooth flying"' function for ultra smooth and gentle positioning .

All these functions need to be maped to a specific channel number.

When you check inside your T14 SG , you go in the FUNCTION menu and there you can check al available functions. Do NOT mistak functions names and channels numbers ( this is where most peopoe get confused). Functions names are here to help with knowing what you assigned to what, and eventualy to allow specific aircraft models auto mixing functions when needed...

So if you want to setup a simple multirotor, you start by electing Airplane or Multicopter ( if available) preset.

Then, you go in the FUNCTIONS menu.

Here, first 4 functions are the standard ones. Funny fact, changing the MODE ( Mode 1, Mode 2, Mode 3, MOde 4) does not always maps automaticaly the right channels on the right output. No worries !

You will see that J1, J2, J3, J4 are mapped to the 4 main controls of the aircraft with their respective T1, T2, T3, T4. These are simply the sticks references with their trims references, and they are assigned to the 4 first channels ( 1, 2, 3, 4) of the transmitter. If in your multirotor software assistant you see that, for example, moving aileron gets elevator moving, just change the input ( Jx/Tx) for the relevant channel. Then fo to REVERSE menu to reverse the channel if needed.

Now, you want to assign various switches to different functions : Flight mode, go home or whatsoever...

Still in the FUNCTIOn menu, you have on the left the channel number, then the function name ( that you can change as per your needs) and the attributed switch / pot / slider.

What you ca do to make things easier is to change everything starting from Channel 5 and put AUX 1, AUx2 for ch6 and so on until Aux 6.
You would then get ( sorry i do not have the transmitter at home) something looking like ( channels 1 to 4 depending on your flight mode)

1 AILERON J3 T3
2 ELEVATOR J4 T4
3 THROTTLE J1 T1
4 RUDDER J2 T2
5 AUX 1 SWx
6 AUX 2 SWx
7 AUX 3 SWx
8 AUX 4 SWx
9 AUX 5 SWx
10 AUX6 SW X
11 GEAR ...
12 GEAR ...
13 GEAR ...
14 GEAR ...

From 11 to 14 you can put any function ( but not one you will be using) so you are sure any mixing or switch attribution could cause a malfunction or unattended mixing... IN short, we won't use them so no matter.

From there, it's very simple : each channel is matching one particular function of your flight controler. If for example channel 8 is a flight mode with 3 possible flight modes, just map a 3 position switch ( SWx) to it still in the function menu.

Once you have done this, you did 99% of the job...

Now, some people want to have fast flight characteristics ( setup in the Synapse) but would like to be able also to have more gentle response when needed ( hovering in a precise spot or slow movements..)

This is where your T14 will help you like any programmable transmitter :

YOu have a D/R ( Dual Rate) menu. IN this menu, you can select the fuction ( Elevator, Aileron, Rudder ( yaw) ...) .

You can assign a switch to allow a Dual Rate mode or an Exponential mode or both.

Here are how these work , in order to understand you need to take a sheet of paper and a pen and make a few drawings.

A multirotor / asssited flight controler reads your sticks inputs and translate them in degress per second of rotation or meter per second of speed. They are based on the overall channels limits ( 100 /100). The 135 you see in the ATV menu do not concern multirotors, these are Absolute limits when some channels are mixed with some others for mechanical servo motors.

Take your sheet of paper and draw a straight horizontal line.

Make mark in the middle and one mark left and one right ( approx same distances) to make a segment.

MIddle mark is the Zero ( offset) of the channel. Right is the maximum negative value, left is the maximum positive value.

When you move your sticks, you bring the values between 0 and -100 / +100

these are the neutral ( 0) and limits ( -100 / +100) of your channel. These will be taken as neutral and in / max values for the flight controler and translated in the maximum rotation /speed / second for the attributed function ( aileron, elevator, yaw)

If you setup in the flight controler a maximum of let's say 120° / second on elevator / aileron and 140° / Second on Yaw, this is what you will get when uing the regular ARV ( limits).

These are also used to know when you want to start or stop your motors on may flight controlers, so you MUST NOT change the ATV values. YOu need these to start and top the motors.
ATV adjsutement can , on another handed, be needed to be changed for some fucntions for example on DJI stuffs ( -80% / +80% for the flight mode switch and -70 / +70% on shutter for zenmuse) . I admit i did not look on Freefly Synapse.

But if you setup a Dual Rate on these fucntion, you can map a 2 ( or 3 positions) swtich to enable a Dual Rate, which purpose is to reduce the max and min lilmits of your channels. If you put 50% ATV, then, the 120° of aileron / elevator per second becomes 60° only. And 70° for the yaw. YOu can adjust as much as you want the dual rate which in fact moves the ATV temporary with a switch.

On your paper you have then at max and min values -100 / +100 of the channels the related 120 /120 ° of rotation speed per second and 140 for the yaw. Draw a mark at the 50% travel and this is the amount of rotational speed you will egt by enabling theDual rate on a swtich of your choice. This applies FULLY or gimbals controls

Expo is exactly the same principle except it is used to either speed up reactions around the neutral or to reduce them ( smoother). DO not use values over 30% as after that the sticks / respone becomes either too fast or too slow when you reach 1/3rd of the stick input.

I do not have the time right now ufortunatly ( getting back running the company after 10 month of "pause" ) but in August i can make a small video tutorial for those who are interrested. Eventualy i'll be this week with some customers in PAris ( Globe Droner), they have Alta 8 and Alta 6 and if we have a little time i'll ask them if we cna make a short video to show how it works.

Best regards,
Fabien

 

Thank you, Fabien. I certainly appreciate your help! - Chris