VIMANA - STEM for ALL

In this short update I am sharing following Video showing Vimana Board Auto Pilot Demo on Test Zig.. (Auto Pilot mode is completely optional and suggested to use only in windy weather as Manual Mode involves more learning of STEM Concepts and Also Improves Psychomotor Skill of Kids)

Auto pilot mode is still in development phase..

It Supports,

• 200-500 Correction Loop per second (5ms - 2ms loop time)
• LSM6DS3 6 Axis IMU via SPI Interface to ESP8266
• PID Tunning via Vimana Android App
• OnDemand IMU Calibration via Vimana Android App
• Auto Pilot Can be enable / disable during flight

Currently I am designing various airframes CAD models for illustration and will share DXF files of profile plan for Easy build process (Though one can directly make it out of foam or card board)

here is one such on going design..

Few pics of Assambled Airplanes :

As I made progress I will update Airframe designs with DXF files here

VIMANA Flight Controller Board is Low cost (< Cost of a burger ), Opensource Hardware Board designed around ESP8266 (ESP12E/F Module) and N76E003 8bit Slave MCU to control 2 DC Motors and 2 Servo Motors for Various configuration of Smartphone Controlled Micro Airplanes / Boat / Hovercraft / Car etc.. (Only Imagination is the Limit..)

Design Files of Vimana Board including BOM, Schematic, Gerber and Firmware available on Github Project Repo

VIMANA Board Schematic :

VIMANA Board BOM :

VIMANA PCB Layout : 

3D rendering of Board Assembly :

Fully Assambled VIMANA Boards With and Without IMU LSM6DS3 :

Firmware of N76E003 and ESP8266 is available at Project Github Repo here

Development status of Android Application to Control VIMANA Controller Board over WiFi.

I have developed two different application for control your Vimana Board based build over WiFi using android studio.

APK files available here.

1. VIMANA Portrait Mode Application : This Android Application can be used with one hand control. Application also supports Gesture based control. Obviously Portrait mode application have limited control of the airplane as only one thumb pad used to control Throttle and Turn.

Demo Video (Screen Recording) :

2. VIMANA Landscape Mode Application : This Android Application can be used with two hand full control . Landscape mode application have full control of the airplane as two thumb pad used to control Throttle, Yaw, Pitch and Roll.

Demo Video (Screen Recording) :

Key Features of these Android Application Includes :

• Controller screen with big Joy Stick pads for easy control.
• Gesture based control option in Portrait mode application.
• Intuitive Audio Feedback to enhance flying experience.
• Mode selection supports Left/Right Handed user with ease.
• High and Low rate options for experts and beginner user.
• Auxiliary channel buttons to control any payload.
• Onscreen Battery Voltage, Signal Strength and Flight Timer.
• PID Configuration Screen for Advance tuning of DIY Models.
• Detailed Help Screen.

Precompiled Apk files for VIMANA Portrait and Landscape Android Applications available here on Github project repo.