Background
We are seeing some issues with one of four motors on a Starling 2 Max not spinning at the same rate (very low RPMs). We've run a few troubleshooting steps by attempting to arm and using the voxl-esc-spin.py
script.
Our initial diagnosis is that the motor may need to be replaced since the voltage being passed through is comparable to the voltage passed through to other motors. However, there is no visible damage to the motor or any wires.
We also attempted to run the px4-esc-cal-tool-v1-11.py
according to the instructions here: https://docs.modalai.com/flight-core-pwm-esc-calibration/. We ran into some issues running the script here during the interactive prompts: No Serial Connection Found for px4-esc-cal-tool-v1-11.py
We were using the provided MCBL-00009-1 JST-to-USB Female A connector, but were unable to establish a serial connection to our machine. See attached image
We used multiple different connectors along with USB A to C cords to attempt the connection to rule out a cable issue.
Our development machines are Apple M4 Max MacBook Pros running MacOS Sequoia 15.3.2
Request(s)
Do you have any additional troubleshooting steps?
Any guidance on getting the px4-esc-cal-tool
to work?
Is our diagnosis on the right track and the next steps would be to replace the motors? If so, is there a guide to replacing motors on a Starling 2 Max?
Attachments
Output and relevant VOXL version information is attached or pasted below.
VOXL Version:
Welcome to Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (GNU/Linux 4.19.125 aarch64)
* Documentation: https://help.ubuntu.com
* Management: https://landscape.canonical.com
* Support: https://ubuntu.com/pro
This system has been minimized by removing packages and content that are
not required on a system that users do not log into.
To restore this content, you can run the 'unminimize' command.
▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂
▂▄▆▆██▛▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▜████▆▆▄▂
███╗ ███╗ ██████╗ ██████╗ █████╗ ██╗ ▗▆████▀▔ ▔▔▀▀▀▀▚▄
████╗ ████║██╔═══██╗██╔══██╗██╔══██╗██║ ▗▟████▀ ▗██▖ ▐█ ▝▀▆▄▄▄
██╔████╔██║██║ ██║██║ ██║███████║██║ ▟████▀ ▗█▘▝█▖ ▐█ ▜█▀█▄
██║╚██╔╝██║██║ ██║██║ ██║██╔══██║██║ █▌ ▐█▌ ▗█▘ ▝█▖ ▐█ ▐▄ ▄█
██║ ╚═╝ ██║╚██████╔╝██████╔╝██║ ██║███████╗ ▀████ ▗█▘ ▝█▖ ▐█ ▂▄███▀
╚═╝ ╚═╝ ╚═════╝ ╚═════╝ ╚═╝ ╚═╝╚══════╝ ▀▀██▄▄ ▂▆███▀
▀▀██▄▄ ▀▀▆▄▄▄▄▆██▀▀▀▘
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
system-image: 1.7.8-M0054-14.1a-perf
kernel: #1 SMP PREEMPT Sat May 18 00:10:25 UTC 2024 4.19.125
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
hw platform: M0054
mach.var: 1.0.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
voxl-suite: 1.3.2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
current IP: tun0: 10.8.0.7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
voxl-esc-spin.py
output (trimmed in the middle because values are more or less consistent):
./voxl-esc-spin.py --id 255 --power 60 --ramp-time 3.0 --timeout 4.0 --enable-plot 1
Detected Python version : 3.6.9 (default, Mar 10 2023, 16:46:00)
[GCC 8.4.0]
Found voxl-esc tools bin version: 1.9
VOXL Platform: M0054
Detected RB5 Flight, VOXL2 M0054 or M0104!
INFO: Scanning for ESC firmware: /dev/slpi-uart-2, baud: 2000000
Sending library name request: libslpi_qrb5165_io.so
Sending initialization request
INFO: ESC(s) detected on port: /dev/slpi-uart-2, baud rate: 2000000
ID : 0
Board : version 40: ModalAi 4-in-1 ESC (M0129-3)
UID : 0x2039333557555313002A002D
Firmware : version 39, hash eb6fb500
Bootloader : version 184, hash 10bf24c8
ID : 1
Board : version 40: ModalAi 4-in-1 ESC (M0129-3)
UID : 0x2039333557555313002A0022
Firmware : version 39, hash eb6fb500
Bootloader : version 184, hash 10bf24c8
ID : 2
Board : version 40: ModalAi 4-in-1 ESC (M0129-3)
UID : 0x2039333557555313002A002B
Firmware : version 39, hash eb6fb500
Bootloader : version 184, hash 10bf24c8
ID : 3
Board : version 40: ModalAi 4-in-1 ESC (M0129-3)
UID : 0x2039333557555313002A002C
Firmware : version 39, hash eb6fb500
Bootloader : version 184, hash 10bf24c8
---------------------
WARNING:
This test requires motors to spin at high speeds with
propellers attached. Please ensure that appropriate
protective equipment is being worn at all times and
that the motor and propeller are adequately isolated
from all persons.
For best results, please perform this test at the
nominal voltage for the battery used.
Type "Yes" to continue: yes
[0.017] (0) RPM: 0, PWR: 0, VOLTAGE: 0.000V, TEMPERATURE: 0.00C, CURRENT: 0.000A
[0.017] (1) RPM: 0, PWR: 0, VOLTAGE: 0.000V, TEMPERATURE: 0.00C, CURRENT: 0.000A
[0.017] (2) RPM: 0, PWR: 0, VOLTAGE: 0.000V, TEMPERATURE: 0.00C, CURRENT: 0.000A
[0.017] (3) RPM: 0, PWR: 0, VOLTAGE: 0.000V, TEMPERATURE: 0.00C, CURRENT: 0.000A
[0.037] (0) RPM: 0, PWR: 0, VOLTAGE: 0.000V, TEMPERATURE: 0.00C, CURRENT: 0.000A
[0.037] (1) RPM: 0, PWR: 0, VOLTAGE: 16.178V, TEMPERATURE: 45.11C, CURRENT: 0.000A
[0.037] (2) RPM: 19, PWR: 1, VOLTAGE: 16.160V, TEMPERATURE: 45.97C, CURRENT: 0.000A
[0.037] (3) RPM: 0, PWR: 0, VOLTAGE: 0.000V, TEMPERATURE: 0.00C, CURRENT: 0.000A
[0.062] (0) RPM: 68, PWR: 6, VOLTAGE: 16.130V, TEMPERATURE: 46.55C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 16.153V, BOARD_CURRENT: 0.400A
[0.062] (1) RPM: 0, PWR: 0, VOLTAGE: 16.178V, TEMPERATURE: 45.11C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 16.153V, BOARD_CURRENT: 0.400A
[0.062] (2) RPM: 19, PWR: 1, VOLTAGE: 16.160V, TEMPERATURE: 45.97C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 16.153V, BOARD_CURRENT: 0.400A
[0.062] (3) RPM: 50, PWR: 4, VOLTAGE: 16.153V, TEMPERATURE: 48.16C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 16.153V, BOARD_CURRENT: 0.400A
[0.076] (0) RPM: 68, PWR: 6, VOLTAGE: 16.130V, TEMPERATURE: 46.55C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.874V, BOARD_CURRENT: 2.408A
[0.076] (1) RPM: 85, PWR: 8, VOLTAGE: 16.022V, TEMPERATURE: 45.22C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.874V, BOARD_CURRENT: 2.408A
[0.076] (2) RPM: 118, PWR: 11, VOLTAGE: 15.954V, TEMPERATURE: 46.01C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.874V, BOARD_CURRENT: 2.408A
[0.076] (3) RPM: 140, PWR: 11, VOLTAGE: 15.874V, TEMPERATURE: 48.30C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.874V, BOARD_CURRENT: 2.408A
[0.092] (0) RPM: 155, PWR: 11, VOLTAGE: 15.868V, TEMPERATURE: 46.51C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.874V, BOARD_CURRENT: 2.408A
[0.092] (1) RPM: 85, PWR: 8, VOLTAGE: 16.022V, TEMPERATURE: 45.22C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.874V, BOARD_CURRENT: 2.408A
[0.092] (2) RPM: 118, PWR: 11, VOLTAGE: 15.954V, TEMPERATURE: 46.01C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.874V, BOARD_CURRENT: 2.408A
[0.092] (3) RPM: 140, PWR: 11, VOLTAGE: 15.874V, TEMPERATURE: 48.30C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.874V, BOARD_CURRENT: 2.408A
[0.119] (0) RPM: 155, PWR: 11, VOLTAGE: 15.868V, TEMPERATURE: 46.51C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.874V, BOARD_CURRENT: 2.408A
...
[3.816] (0) RPM: 15173, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.986V, TEMPERATURE: 48.44C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.980V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.104A
[3.816] (1) RPM: 745, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.985V, TEMPERATURE: 46.30C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.980V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.104A
[3.816] (2) RPM: 15240, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.972V, TEMPERATURE: 48.39C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.980V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.104A
[3.816] (3) RPM: 15233, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.980V, TEMPERATURE: 49.93C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.980V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.104A
[3.838] (0) RPM: 15173, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.986V, TEMPERATURE: 48.44C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.980V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.104A
[3.838] (1) RPM: 798, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.992V, TEMPERATURE: 46.36C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.980V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.104A
[3.838] (2) RPM: 15223, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.970V, TEMPERATURE: 48.39C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.980V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.104A
[3.838] (3) RPM: 15252, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.979V, TEMPERATURE: 49.96C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.980V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.104A
[3.854] (0) RPM: 15159, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.991V, TEMPERATURE: 48.43C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.979V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.144A
[3.854] (1) RPM: 798, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.992V, TEMPERATURE: 46.36C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.979V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.144A
[3.854] (2) RPM: 15223, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.970V, TEMPERATURE: 48.39C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.979V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.144A
[3.854] (3) RPM: 15252, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.979V, TEMPERATURE: 49.96C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.979V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.144A
[3.876] (0) RPM: 15159, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.991V, TEMPERATURE: 48.43C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.979V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.144A
[3.876] (1) RPM: 816, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.990V, TEMPERATURE: 46.32C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.979V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.144A
[3.876] (2) RPM: 15223, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.970V, TEMPERATURE: 48.39C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.979V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.144A
[3.876] (3) RPM: 15252, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.979V, TEMPERATURE: 49.96C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.979V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.144A
[3.892] (0) RPM: 15171, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.982V, TEMPERATURE: 48.42C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.981V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.144A
[3.892] (1) RPM: 855, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.986V, TEMPERATURE: 46.36C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.981V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.144A
[3.892] (2) RPM: 15269, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.965V, TEMPERATURE: 48.41C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.981V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.144A
[3.892] (3) RPM: 15252, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.981V, TEMPERATURE: 49.97C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.981V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.144A
[3.914] (0) RPM: 15171, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.982V, TEMPERATURE: 48.42C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.981V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.144A
[3.914] (1) RPM: 855, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.986V, TEMPERATURE: 46.36C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.981V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.144A
[3.914] (2) RPM: 15261, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.973V, TEMPERATURE: 48.43C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.981V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.144A
[3.914] (3) RPM: 15252, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.981V, TEMPERATURE: 49.97C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.981V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.144A
[3.935] (0) RPM: 15170, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.987V, TEMPERATURE: 48.40C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.976V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.192A
[3.935] (1) RPM: 855, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.986V, TEMPERATURE: 46.36C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.976V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.192A
[3.935] (2) RPM: 15261, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.973V, TEMPERATURE: 48.43C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.976V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.192A
[3.935] (3) RPM: 15244, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.976V, TEMPERATURE: 49.98C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.976V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.192A
[3.960] (0) RPM: 15170, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.987V, TEMPERATURE: 48.40C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.976V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.192A
[3.960] (1) RPM: 750, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.989V, TEMPERATURE: 46.32C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.976V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.192A
[3.960] (2) RPM: 15290, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.973V, TEMPERATURE: 48.41C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.976V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.192A
[3.960] (3) RPM: 15244, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.976V, TEMPERATURE: 49.98C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.976V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.192A
[3.976] (0) RPM: 15170, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.987V, TEMPERATURE: 48.40C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.974V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.248A
[3.976] (1) RPM: 750, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.989V, TEMPERATURE: 46.32C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.974V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.248A
[3.976] (2) RPM: 15290, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.973V, TEMPERATURE: 48.41C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.974V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.248A
[3.976] (3) RPM: 15245, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.974V, TEMPERATURE: 49.98C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.974V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.248A
[3.994] (0) RPM: 15169, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.986V, TEMPERATURE: 48.46C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.974V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.248A
[3.994] (1) RPM: 700, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 16.000V, TEMPERATURE: 46.28C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.974V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.248A
[3.994] (2) RPM: 15261, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.981V, TEMPERATURE: 48.48C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.974V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.248A
[3.994] (3) RPM: 15245, PWR: 60, VOLTAGE: 15.974V, TEMPERATURE: 49.98C, CURRENT: 0.000A, BOARD_VOLTAGE: 15.974V, BOARD_CURRENT: 1.248A
Finished!
[3.994172] TX=404, RX=501 packets, RX CRC ERRORS=0
Average RPMs: 15155.23 1018.99 15249.99 15239.80
Average RPM deviation between ESCs : 14231.00
WARNING: In order to plot the results, install the Python "plotly" module: pip3 install plotly --upgrade