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  3. Motor issues when running ESC calibration

Motor issues when running ESC calibration

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved ESCs
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  • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

    Also, which SDK are you using? i am surprised to see this issue.

    Also, can you please double check the ESC bootup sequence:

    • apply power
    • 4 blue leds flash quickly for 1 second, then turn off
    • 4 blue leds blink twice
    • motor makes a quick chirp (three tones based on the latest params that provided)
    rdjarvisR Offline
    rdjarvisR Offline
    rdjarvis
    Regular
    wrote on last edited by
    #41

    @Alex-Kushleyev ESC gave

    4 LEDs quickly flashing
    4 LEDs flash 3 times
    Motor chirps

    rdjarvisR Alex KushleyevA 2 Replies Last reply
    1
    • rdjarvisR rdjarvis

      @Alex-Kushleyev ESC gave

      4 LEDs quickly flashing
      4 LEDs flash 3 times
      Motor chirps

      rdjarvisR Offline
      rdjarvisR Offline
      rdjarvis
      Regular
      wrote on last edited by
      #42

      @rdjarvis Screenshot 2024-04-17 115253.png

      1 Reply Last reply
      1
      • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

        Also, which SDK are you using? i am surprised to see this issue.

        Also, can you please double check the ESC bootup sequence:

        • apply power
        • 4 blue leds flash quickly for 1 second, then turn off
        • 4 blue leds blink twice
        • motor makes a quick chirp (three tones based on the latest params that provided)
        Alex KushleyevA Offline
        Alex KushleyevA Offline
        Alex Kushleyev
        ModalAI Team
        wrote on last edited by
        #43

        One more suggestion, it often helps to use a direct connection between the ESC and your linux PC and run the voxl-esc tools there. This way you can see the plots instantly during testing and also if there are some issues with communication to the ESC, you can always connect it to the PC and check the ESC that way.

        Do you have a USB to serial adapter cable that plugs into the ESC <-> PC ?

        rdjarvisR 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • rdjarvisR rdjarvis

          @Alex-Kushleyev ESC gave

          4 LEDs quickly flashing
          4 LEDs flash 3 times
          Motor chirps

          Alex KushleyevA Offline
          Alex KushleyevA Offline
          Alex Kushleyev
          ModalAI Team
          wrote on last edited by
          #44

          @rdjarvis said in Motor issues when running ESC calibration:

          @Alex-Kushleyev ESC gave

          4 LEDs quickly flashing
          4 LEDs flash 3 times
          Motor chirps

          OK that is good!

          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

            One more suggestion, it often helps to use a direct connection between the ESC and your linux PC and run the voxl-esc tools there. This way you can see the plots instantly during testing and also if there are some issues with communication to the ESC, you can always connect it to the PC and check the ESC that way.

            Do you have a USB to serial adapter cable that plugs into the ESC <-> PC ?

            rdjarvisR Offline
            rdjarvisR Offline
            rdjarvis
            Regular
            wrote on last edited by
            #45

            @Alex-Kushleyev, yes we have the USB/Serial connector.

            Alex KushleyevA 1 Reply Last reply
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            • rdjarvisR rdjarvis

              @Alex-Kushleyev, yes we have the USB/Serial connector.

              Alex KushleyevA Offline
              Alex KushleyevA Offline
              Alex Kushleyev
              ModalAI Team
              wrote on last edited by
              #46

              @rdjarvis , ok great. Lets take a step back and just make sure you can talk to the ESC from the PC.

              I will test SDK 1.2.0 to make sure it works fine with voxl-esc tools with my esc.

              rdjarvisR Alexander SaundersA 2 Replies Last reply
              0
              • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

                @rdjarvis , ok great. Lets take a step back and just make sure you can talk to the ESC from the PC.

                I will test SDK 1.2.0 to make sure it works fine with voxl-esc tools with my esc.

                rdjarvisR Offline
                rdjarvisR Offline
                rdjarvis
                Regular
                wrote on last edited by
                #47

                @Alex-Kushleyev Copy all, thank you

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

                  @rdjarvis , ok great. Lets take a step back and just make sure you can talk to the ESC from the PC.

                  I will test SDK 1.2.0 to make sure it works fine with voxl-esc tools with my esc.

                  Alexander SaundersA Offline
                  Alexander SaundersA Offline
                  Alexander Saunders
                  Contributor
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #48

                  @Alex-Kushleyev

                  Also to confirm, I followed the README from dev branch to update.

                  Alex KushleyevA 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • Alexander SaundersA Alexander Saunders

                    @Alex-Kushleyev

                    Also to confirm, I followed the README from dev branch to update.

                    Alex KushleyevA Offline
                    Alex KushleyevA Offline
                    Alex Kushleyev
                    ModalAI Team
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #49

                    @Alexander-Saunders , thank you for confirming. I see that you are using SDK 1.2.0, which is very recent, so it already has (almost) the latest voxl-esc tools.

                    I am in the process of testing the tools on voxl2 using SDK 1.2.0, please try to connect to your PC directly and this should properly detect your ESC.

                    rdjarvisR 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

                      @Alexander-Saunders , thank you for confirming. I see that you are using SDK 1.2.0, which is very recent, so it already has (almost) the latest voxl-esc tools.

                      I am in the process of testing the tools on voxl2 using SDK 1.2.0, please try to connect to your PC directly and this should properly detect your ESC.

                      rdjarvisR Offline
                      rdjarvisR Offline
                      rdjarvis
                      Regular
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #50

                      @Alex-Kushleyev
                      ssh'd into Linux PC.
                      Connected to ESC with USB to SERIAL
                      voxl2:/usr/share/modalai/voxl-esc-tools/voxl-esc-scan.py

                      received same error as Windows PC.

                      No ESCs detected

                      Alex KushleyevA 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • rdjarvisR rdjarvis

                        @Alex-Kushleyev
                        ssh'd into Linux PC.
                        Connected to ESC with USB to SERIAL
                        voxl2:/usr/share/modalai/voxl-esc-tools/voxl-esc-scan.py

                        received same error as Windows PC.

                        No ESCs detected

                        Alex KushleyevA Offline
                        Alex KushleyevA Offline
                        Alex Kushleyev
                        ModalAI Team
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #51

                        @rdjarvis,

                        What do you mean "ssh'd into Linux PC" ?

                        I am suggesting to connect the ESC to a standalone Linux PC and run the voxl-esc-scan.py on the linux PC (not on VOXL2).

                        Just wanted to clarify..

                        I tested the SDK 1.2.0 and the tools are working fine, it seems.

                        rdjarvisR 2 Replies Last reply
                        0
                        • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

                          @rdjarvis,

                          What do you mean "ssh'd into Linux PC" ?

                          I am suggesting to connect the ESC to a standalone Linux PC and run the voxl-esc-scan.py on the linux PC (not on VOXL2).

                          Just wanted to clarify..

                          I tested the SDK 1.2.0 and the tools are working fine, it seems.

                          rdjarvisR Offline
                          rdjarvisR Offline
                          rdjarvis
                          Regular
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #52

                          @Alex-Kushleyev

                          On the Linux PC we are directly connected to 4 pin JST on ESC to USB.

                          I ssh'd into VOXL2 from the Linux PC terminal.

                          I ran voxl-esc-scan.py in VOXL2 (same results) No ESCs detected.

                          I ran same command in Linux terminal (not ssh'd into VOXL2) same results. No ESCs detected.

                          This is including running same command in /usr/share/modalai/voxl-esc-tools/.voxl-esc-scan.py

                          RDJ

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

                            @rdjarvis,

                            What do you mean "ssh'd into Linux PC" ?

                            I am suggesting to connect the ESC to a standalone Linux PC and run the voxl-esc-scan.py on the linux PC (not on VOXL2).

                            Just wanted to clarify..

                            I tested the SDK 1.2.0 and the tools are working fine, it seems.

                            rdjarvisR Offline
                            rdjarvisR Offline
                            rdjarvis
                            Regular
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #53

                            @Alex-Kushleyev power is on the UAV and ESC gave proper Flashes/Tones.

                            Alex KushleyevA 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • rdjarvisR rdjarvis

                              @Alex-Kushleyev power is on the UAV and ESC gave proper Flashes/Tones.

                              Alex KushleyevA Offline
                              Alex KushleyevA Offline
                              Alex Kushleyev
                              ModalAI Team
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #54

                              @rdjarvis , which serial to usb cable are you using? have you tested it with an ESC before? I am wondering if the RX/TX connections are correct and not swapped.

                              Also, do you have any other Modalai ESC you can test just to make sure the cables are working?

                              rdjarvisR 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

                                @rdjarvis , which serial to usb cable are you using? have you tested it with an ESC before? I am wondering if the RX/TX connections are correct and not swapped.

                                Also, do you have any other Modalai ESC you can test just to make sure the cables are working?

                                rdjarvisR Offline
                                rdjarvisR Offline
                                rdjarvis
                                Regular
                                wrote on last edited by rdjarvis
                                #55

                                @Alex-Kushleyev

                                MCBL-00091-1
                                USB to Serial UART Cable from ModalAI
                                Both right out of the new bag.

                                We have 2 of these. Tested both. Same results.

                                Alex KushleyevA 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • rdjarvisR rdjarvis

                                  @Alex-Kushleyev

                                  MCBL-00091-1
                                  USB to Serial UART Cable from ModalAI
                                  Both right out of the new bag.

                                  We have 2 of these. Tested both. Same results.

                                  Alex KushleyevA Offline
                                  Alex KushleyevA Offline
                                  Alex Kushleyev
                                  ModalAI Team
                                  wrote on last edited by Alex Kushleyev
                                  #56

                                  @rdjarvis , ok so just to clarify.. as soon as you uploaded the new params that I provided, the esc stopped communicating? Can you please check to make sure you did not modify the baud rate in the param file before uploading?

                                  rdjarvisR 2 Replies Last reply
                                  0
                                  • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

                                    @rdjarvis , ok so just to clarify.. as soon as you uploaded the new params that I provided, the esc stopped communicating? Can you please check to make sure you did not modify the baud rate in the param file before uploading?

                                    rdjarvisR Offline
                                    rdjarvisR Offline
                                    rdjarvis
                                    Regular
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #57

                                    @Alex-Kushleyev Screenshot 2024-04-17 125812.png

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

                                      @rdjarvis , ok so just to clarify.. as soon as you uploaded the new params that I provided, the esc stopped communicating? Can you please check to make sure you did not modify the baud rate in the param file before uploading?

                                      rdjarvisR Offline
                                      rdjarvisR Offline
                                      rdjarvis
                                      Regular
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #58

                                      @Alex-Kushleyev The params you sent worked. I tested the new motors params, with the aggressive test procedures you sent.

                                      They worked. Motors performed well and we confirmed the sinusoidal spin-up.

                                      Binded Spektrum DSMX RX/TX and calibrated through QGC.

                                      RC channels successfully calibrated in QGC.
                                      Programed switches for Flight Modes.
                                      ARM/DISARMED Motor kill all successful.

                                      Armed for maiden flight. Slowly increased throttle with no motor response.

                                      This led us to where we are now.

                                      Alex KushleyevA 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • rdjarvisR rdjarvis

                                        @Alex-Kushleyev The params you sent worked. I tested the new motors params, with the aggressive test procedures you sent.

                                        They worked. Motors performed well and we confirmed the sinusoidal spin-up.

                                        Binded Spektrum DSMX RX/TX and calibrated through QGC.

                                        RC channels successfully calibrated in QGC.
                                        Programed switches for Flight Modes.
                                        ARM/DISARMED Motor kill all successful.

                                        Armed for maiden flight. Slowly increased throttle with no motor response.

                                        This led us to where we are now.

                                        Alex KushleyevA Offline
                                        Alex KushleyevA Offline
                                        Alex Kushleyev
                                        ModalAI Team
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #59

                                        @rdjarvis , thank you for clarifying.

                                        it seems there is some hardware issue. Can you please confirm that nothing is making contact with the ESC components, which could cause a short or something like this? Also please inspect the 4-pin UART connector on the ESC (and around it) to make sure there is no short or anything like that cause by loose debris or anything else.

                                        rdjarvisR Alexander SaundersA 4 Replies Last reply
                                        0
                                        • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

                                          @rdjarvis , thank you for clarifying.

                                          it seems there is some hardware issue. Can you please confirm that nothing is making contact with the ESC components, which could cause a short or something like this? Also please inspect the 4-pin UART connector on the ESC (and around it) to make sure there is no short or anything like that cause by loose debris or anything else.

                                          rdjarvisR Offline
                                          rdjarvisR Offline
                                          rdjarvis
                                          Regular
                                          wrote on last edited by rdjarvis
                                          #60

                                          @Alex-Kushleyev

                                          We just verified all solder and JST connections on the ModalAI FPV 4n1 ESC and VOXL2.

                                          All connections are good. No shorts, no solder balls. 4 PIN USB JST connections to and from ESC and VOXL are in perfect condition and reflect no sign of wear and tear. The first time they have been disconnected for either board was for this test.

                                          Upon reconnecting, and power being applied all lights and tones are heard from ESC, and able to ssh into VOXL2 with no issues.

                                          Ran esc scan and esc detect, resulting in NO ESCs DETECTED.

                                          1 Reply Last reply
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