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  3. Motor issues when running ESC calibration

Motor issues when running ESC calibration

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  • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

    @rdjarvis, yes lets get a log where you are in manual flight mode (thrust, roll, pitch, yaw control) and you arm the drone and just move the thrust stick up and down a few times trying to take off. As a separate test, at idle throttle try to move roll and pitch stick to see the response from those inputs.

    It looks like a px4 configuration issue but i am not sure what exactly.

    rdjarvisR Offline
    rdjarvisR Offline
    rdjarvis
    Regular
    wrote on last edited by
    #73

    @Alex-Kushleyev Awesome, will do.

    Thank you,
    RDJ

    Alex KushleyevA 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • rdjarvisR rdjarvis

      @Alex-Kushleyev Awesome, will do.

      Thank you,
      RDJ

      Alex KushleyevA Offline
      Alex KushleyevA Offline
      Alex Kushleyev
      ModalAI Team
      wrote on last edited by
      #74

      @rdjarvis,

      Also please check the value you use for the following param THR_MDL_FAC. Just curious about the current value, it should be close to one (0.7-0.8) for rpm control, but i can help you compute it exact value.

      Link Preview Image
      Thrust Curve Compensation through THR_MDL_FAC

      As suggested in the MC Tuning Guide, I try to compensate thrust nonlinearities through the THR_MDL_FAC parameter, which is described as follows: THR_MDL_FAC (FLOAT) Thrust to PWM model parameter Comment: Parameter us…

      favicon

      Dronecode Forum | Open Source Drone Development (discuss.px4.io)

      rdjarvisR 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

        @rdjarvis,

        Also please check the value you use for the following param THR_MDL_FAC. Just curious about the current value, it should be close to one (0.7-0.8) for rpm control, but i can help you compute it exact value.

        Link Preview Image
        Thrust Curve Compensation through THR_MDL_FAC

        As suggested in the MC Tuning Guide, I try to compensate thrust nonlinearities through the THR_MDL_FAC parameter, which is described as follows: THR_MDL_FAC (FLOAT) Thrust to PWM model parameter Comment: Parameter us…

        favicon

        Dronecode Forum | Open Source Drone Development (discuss.px4.io)

        rdjarvisR Offline
        rdjarvisR Offline
        rdjarvis
        Regular
        wrote on last edited by
        #75

        @Alex-Kushleyev How do I upload a log? The forum say I do not have permission.

        Alex KushleyevA 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • rdjarvisR rdjarvis

          @Alex-Kushleyev How do I upload a log? The forum say I do not have permission.

          Alex KushleyevA Offline
          Alex KushleyevA Offline
          Alex Kushleyev
          ModalAI Team
          wrote on last edited by
          #76

          @rdjarvis

          Upload it here and you can view results too. https://review.px4.io/ . The official flight review does not plot our custom esc data, but i will let you know how to view it later. I can download the log from the link above after you upload it and share a link

          rdjarvisR 2 Replies Last reply
          0
          • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

            @rdjarvis

            Upload it here and you can view results too. https://review.px4.io/ . The official flight review does not plot our custom esc data, but i will let you know how to view it later. I can download the log from the link above after you upload it and share a link

            rdjarvisR Offline
            rdjarvisR Offline
            rdjarvis
            Regular
            wrote on last edited by
            #77

            @Alex-Kushleyev [mavlink] Event dropped (78, 65529)

            1 Reply Last reply
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            • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

              @rdjarvis

              Upload it here and you can view results too. https://review.px4.io/ . The official flight review does not plot our custom esc data, but i will let you know how to view it later. I can download the log from the link above after you upload it and share a link

              rdjarvisR Offline
              rdjarvisR Offline
              rdjarvis
              Regular
              wrote on last edited by
              #78

              @Alex-Kushleyev https://review.px4.io/plot_app?log=ae01b6f0-7910-43e4-a1c2-0d36ecc909d1

              Alex KushleyevA 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • rdjarvisR rdjarvis

                @Alex-Kushleyev https://review.px4.io/plot_app?log=ae01b6f0-7910-43e4-a1c2-0d36ecc909d1

                Alex KushleyevA Offline
                Alex KushleyevA Offline
                Alex Kushleyev
                ModalAI Team
                wrote on last edited by
                #79

                @rdjarvis said in Motor issues when running ESC calibration:

                Link Preview Image
                Flight Review

                favicon

                (review.px4.io)

                It seems you have something wrong with the thrust control (some filter?) the motors respond fine to roll / pitch but not thrust. see plots below showing RPMs. The ESC is tracking the desired RPMs well (actually a bit higher than desired at high rpm, but that is ok for now)

                ed5ca03f-84de-47c8-aa0c-6c0783febed2-image.png

                1ef15a4a-964e-4764-b915-6ca7fe402f74-image.png

                Alex KushleyevA 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

                  @rdjarvis said in Motor issues when running ESC calibration:

                  Link Preview Image
                  Flight Review

                  favicon

                  (review.px4.io)

                  It seems you have something wrong with the thrust control (some filter?) the motors respond fine to roll / pitch but not thrust. see plots below showing RPMs. The ESC is tracking the desired RPMs well (actually a bit higher than desired at high rpm, but that is ok for now)

                  ed5ca03f-84de-47c8-aa0c-6c0783febed2-image.png

                  1ef15a4a-964e-4764-b915-6ca7fe402f74-image.png

                  Alex KushleyevA Offline
                  Alex KushleyevA Offline
                  Alex Kushleyev
                  ModalAI Team
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #80

                  (look at how desired motor outputs and desired rpms rise very slowly when you increase the desired thrust, never reaching enough rpms to hover)

                  rdjarvisR 3 Replies Last reply
                  0
                  • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

                    (look at how desired motor outputs and desired rpms rise very slowly when you increase the desired thrust, never reaching enough rpms to hover)

                    rdjarvisR Offline
                    rdjarvisR Offline
                    rdjarvis
                    Regular
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #81

                    @Alex-Kushleyev Thank you. We understand that the desired inputs and actual input are not the same.

                    We have no filters. All ModalAI Hardware and Software are being used. ModalAI PX4 QGC Skin is used. Spektrum Rx/Tx DSMX as suggested by ModalAI is used.

                    We have purchased 2 ModalAI FPV 4n1 ESC and multiple VOXL and VOXL2 Dev kits to keep all hardware in the same ecosystem for easy integration and R&D for our product.

                    There is a disconnect between the FC/ESC comms on throttle Ch 3.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

                      (look at how desired motor outputs and desired rpms rise very slowly when you increase the desired thrust, never reaching enough rpms to hover)

                      rdjarvisR Offline
                      rdjarvisR Offline
                      rdjarvis
                      Regular
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #82

                      @Alex-Kushleyev

                      I do appreciate your willingness to help. I have selected ModalAI products for our organization based off of current and future capabilities. I have even selected a motor that I know you are using to ensure stable testing and flight characteristics.

                      If the ModalAI DEV team cannot troubleshoot issues on known UAV setups that you have at your shop, then I need to have a conversation with a different department.

                      All web advertising, Documentation, and Videos produced by ModalAI have shown these capabilities working flawlessly and it feels we have been oversold the true capabilities of the system today.

                      At this point these products cant even take flight.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

                        (look at how desired motor outputs and desired rpms rise very slowly when you increase the desired thrust, never reaching enough rpms to hover)

                        rdjarvisR Offline
                        rdjarvisR Offline
                        rdjarvis
                        Regular
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #83

                        @Alex-Kushleyev

                        I swapped the RC Channels for testing.

                        Throttle and yaw were swapped RC3 and RC4.

                        Same results with throttle not responding to inputs on RC4, instead of RC3.

                        rdjarvisR 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • rdjarvisR rdjarvis

                          @Alex-Kushleyev

                          I swapped the RC Channels for testing.

                          Throttle and yaw were swapped RC3 and RC4.

                          Same results with throttle not responding to inputs on RC4, instead of RC3.

                          rdjarvisR Offline
                          rdjarvisR Offline
                          rdjarvis
                          Regular
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #84

                          Link Preview Image
                          Flight Review

                          favicon

                          (review.px4.io)

                          Alex KushleyevA 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • rdjarvisR rdjarvis

                            Link Preview Image
                            Flight Review

                            favicon

                            (review.px4.io)

                            Alex KushleyevA Offline
                            Alex KushleyevA Offline
                            Alex Kushleyev
                            ModalAI Team
                            wrote on last edited by Alex Kushleyev
                            #85

                            @rdjarvis ,

                            I understand that getting a vehicle up in the air for the first time is a complicated process and it can be frustrating at times. At this point, it looks like all the hardware is working properly, so there must be some PX4 parameter that is causing this behavior. We have not seen such behavior before, where the thrust is increasing very slowly (ramp) when RC command is maxed. Can you please check SYS_VEHICLE_RESP parameter?

                            Motor Outputs plot shows a linear ramp (slew-rate limited) when you raised the throttle to the max. The PX4 software is doing that.
                            87347e5d-2624-4d68-bf08-87b8a263a23c-image.png

                            Also please consider the following points:

                            • PX4 is a 3rd party software with hundreds of parameters and it has its own support forum. You should ask PX4 specific questions there.
                            • you have built a completely custom vehicle and bringing it up from scratch, so it is very difficult for us to support. This is not a standard vehicle that use for testing.
                            • we have provided support to make sure your hardware is operating properly and it seems to me that it is. If you feel there is still a hardware issue (ESC, VOXL2 boards, etc) or ModalAI software (not 3rd party software), please let us know.

                            Finally, if the original FPV ESC is still not communicating and there is no physical damage to it, i recommend that you submit an RMA and get a replacement ESC https://www.modalai.com/pages/rma . If you are going to do that, please put a note "Attn Alex K" so that I get the ESC and investigate what happened.

                            Alex

                            rdjarvisR 2 Replies Last reply
                            0
                            • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

                              @rdjarvis ,

                              I understand that getting a vehicle up in the air for the first time is a complicated process and it can be frustrating at times. At this point, it looks like all the hardware is working properly, so there must be some PX4 parameter that is causing this behavior. We have not seen such behavior before, where the thrust is increasing very slowly (ramp) when RC command is maxed. Can you please check SYS_VEHICLE_RESP parameter?

                              Motor Outputs plot shows a linear ramp (slew-rate limited) when you raised the throttle to the max. The PX4 software is doing that.
                              87347e5d-2624-4d68-bf08-87b8a263a23c-image.png

                              Also please consider the following points:

                              • PX4 is a 3rd party software with hundreds of parameters and it has its own support forum. You should ask PX4 specific questions there.
                              • you have built a completely custom vehicle and bringing it up from scratch, so it is very difficult for us to support. This is not a standard vehicle that use for testing.
                              • we have provided support to make sure your hardware is operating properly and it seems to me that it is. If you feel there is still a hardware issue (ESC, VOXL2 boards, etc) or ModalAI software (not 3rd party software), please let us know.

                              Finally, if the original FPV ESC is still not communicating and there is no physical damage to it, i recommend that you submit an RMA and get a replacement ESC https://www.modalai.com/pages/rma . If you are going to do that, please put a note "Attn Alex K" so that I get the ESC and investigate what happened.

                              Alex

                              rdjarvisR Offline
                              rdjarvisR Offline
                              rdjarvis
                              Regular
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #86

                              @Alex-Kushleyev

                              Thanks Alex, SYS_VEHICLE_RESP parameter is -0.40. With small incremental adjustments there was no change in UAV behavior. Changed the value to 0.40 with no change in behavior.

                              RDJ

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

                                @rdjarvis ,

                                I understand that getting a vehicle up in the air for the first time is a complicated process and it can be frustrating at times. At this point, it looks like all the hardware is working properly, so there must be some PX4 parameter that is causing this behavior. We have not seen such behavior before, where the thrust is increasing very slowly (ramp) when RC command is maxed. Can you please check SYS_VEHICLE_RESP parameter?

                                Motor Outputs plot shows a linear ramp (slew-rate limited) when you raised the throttle to the max. The PX4 software is doing that.
                                87347e5d-2624-4d68-bf08-87b8a263a23c-image.png

                                Also please consider the following points:

                                • PX4 is a 3rd party software with hundreds of parameters and it has its own support forum. You should ask PX4 specific questions there.
                                • you have built a completely custom vehicle and bringing it up from scratch, so it is very difficult for us to support. This is not a standard vehicle that use for testing.
                                • we have provided support to make sure your hardware is operating properly and it seems to me that it is. If you feel there is still a hardware issue (ESC, VOXL2 boards, etc) or ModalAI software (not 3rd party software), please let us know.

                                Finally, if the original FPV ESC is still not communicating and there is no physical damage to it, i recommend that you submit an RMA and get a replacement ESC https://www.modalai.com/pages/rma . If you are going to do that, please put a note "Attn Alex K" so that I get the ESC and investigate what happened.

                                Alex

                                rdjarvisR Offline
                                rdjarvisR Offline
                                rdjarvis
                                Regular
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #87

                                @Alex-Kushleyev Good morning,

                                Started trouble shooting this issue again with no change.

                                Under 4s battery power, all motors respond well to motor test, using slider in QGC, min to full throttle in Actuator tab.

                                Still no response other than "slow ramp up" when throttle is increased on RC Tx.

                                RDJ

                                Alex KushleyevA 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • rdjarvisR rdjarvis

                                  @Alex-Kushleyev Good morning,

                                  Started trouble shooting this issue again with no change.

                                  Under 4s battery power, all motors respond well to motor test, using slider in QGC, min to full throttle in Actuator tab.

                                  Still no response other than "slow ramp up" when throttle is increased on RC Tx.

                                  RDJ

                                  Alex KushleyevA Offline
                                  Alex KushleyevA Offline
                                  Alex Kushleyev
                                  ModalAI Team
                                  wrote on last edited by Alex Kushleyev
                                  #88

                                  @rdjarvis , i wonder if you should try to load params for one of modalai standard vehicles and change the min/max rpm to match your setup (4000min, 40000 max, or you can be a bit more conservative, say 30k max for this test). Then try with manual control but with propellers OFF. The issue you are seeing is coming from Flight Controller so it should not matter of props are on or off for this test. But you should keep them off if using params from a completely different vehicle / tune. But at least you could then see if FC lets you raise the thrust normally..

                                  Basically, no change to esc, props off, choose our standard vehicle params for 4s and try to raise thrust, check the px4 log.

                                  If you see strange behavior like strong oscillations, you should stop the test.

                                  If the thrust control is ok, then you can compare your params more carefully with our standard params and see what causes this behavior.

                                  rdjarvisR 2 Replies Last reply
                                  0
                                  • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

                                    @rdjarvis , i wonder if you should try to load params for one of modalai standard vehicles and change the min/max rpm to match your setup (4000min, 40000 max, or you can be a bit more conservative, say 30k max for this test). Then try with manual control but with propellers OFF. The issue you are seeing is coming from Flight Controller so it should not matter of props are on or off for this test. But you should keep them off if using params from a completely different vehicle / tune. But at least you could then see if FC lets you raise the thrust normally..

                                    Basically, no change to esc, props off, choose our standard vehicle params for 4s and try to raise thrust, check the px4 log.

                                    If you see strange behavior like strong oscillations, you should stop the test.

                                    If the thrust control is ok, then you can compare your params more carefully with our standard params and see what causes this behavior.

                                    rdjarvisR Offline
                                    rdjarvisR Offline
                                    rdjarvis
                                    Regular
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #89

                                    @Alex-Kushleyev I am going to upload FPV_REVB. unless you recommend another.

                                    RDJ

                                    Alex KushleyevA 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • rdjarvisR rdjarvis

                                      @Alex-Kushleyev I am going to upload FPV_REVB. unless you recommend another.

                                      RDJ

                                      Alex KushleyevA Offline
                                      Alex KushleyevA Offline
                                      Alex Kushleyev
                                      ModalAI Team
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #90

                                      @rdjarvis , yes but change the vbatt since fpv revb is 6s. That is probably closest to your config

                                      rdjarvisR 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

                                        @rdjarvis , i wonder if you should try to load params for one of modalai standard vehicles and change the min/max rpm to match your setup (4000min, 40000 max, or you can be a bit more conservative, say 30k max for this test). Then try with manual control but with propellers OFF. The issue you are seeing is coming from Flight Controller so it should not matter of props are on or off for this test. But you should keep them off if using params from a completely different vehicle / tune. But at least you could then see if FC lets you raise the thrust normally..

                                        Basically, no change to esc, props off, choose our standard vehicle params for 4s and try to raise thrust, check the px4 log.

                                        If you see strange behavior like strong oscillations, you should stop the test.

                                        If the thrust control is ok, then you can compare your params more carefully with our standard params and see what causes this behavior.

                                        rdjarvisR Offline
                                        rdjarvisR Offline
                                        rdjarvis
                                        Regular
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #91

                                        @Alex-Kushleyev

                                        What effect does the aO,a1, and a2 (pwm_vs_rpm curve) have on overall throttle response for FPV 4n1 ESC? in the FPV_RevB the a0 value is -161.0826?

                                        Alex KushleyevA 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

                                          @rdjarvis , yes but change the vbatt since fpv revb is 6s. That is probably closest to your config

                                          rdjarvisR Offline
                                          rdjarvisR Offline
                                          rdjarvis
                                          Regular
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #92

                                          @Alex-Kushleyev

                                          Also, sinusodial value is 0 in FBV_RevB, I will change this to 1.

                                          1 Reply Last reply
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