Skip to main content

The CoaX Micro-helicopter: A Flying Platform for Education and Research

  • Conference paper

Abstract

CoaX is a micro-helicopter designed for the research and education markets by Skybotix AG in Switzerland. It is a unique robotic coaxial helicopter equipped with state of the art sensors and processors: an integrated Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), a pressure sensor, a down-looking sonar, three side looking range sensors and a color camera. To communicate with a ground station, the robot has a Bluetooth (or XBee) module and an optional WiFi module. Additionally, the CoaX supports the Overo series of tiny computers from Gumstix and is ready to fly out of the box with a set of attitude and altitude control functions. One can also control the system through an open-source API to give high-level commands for taking-off, landing or any other type of motion. In addition to presenting the CoaX, this paper reports on three experiments conducted to demonstrate the system’s motto: “simple to fly, simple to program, simple to extend”.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Castillo, P.: Modelling and Control of Mini-Flying Machines. Springer, London (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Fässler, M.: Inertial-based hovering with a micro helicopter. Bachelor thesis, ETH Zürich (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Franklin, G.: Feedback Control of Dynamic Systems. Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Wangler, C.: Optical flow based velocity estimation for miniature rotorcrafts. Semesterthesis, ETH Zürich (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Haag, S.: Design of an optical flow sensor for off-road application. Bachelor thesis, ETH Zürich (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Philips. Luxeon® k2. Technical Datasheet DS51

    Google Scholar 

  7. Philips. Thermal design using luxeon® power light sources. Application Brief AB05

    Google Scholar 

  8. Frank, A.C.(Dipl.-Ing.): Kühlkörper. ETH Zürich.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Avago. Adns-5050 optical mouse sensor. Data Sheet

    Google Scholar 

  10. Khatod. Kclp series reflectors for lambertian. Reflectors Test Report

    Google Scholar 

  11. Griffiths, S., et al.: Advances in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Springer, Netherlands (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Agence des Médias Numérique. Thermal properties for pcbs (2009), http://www.frigprim.com/online/cond_pcb.html

  13. Microchip Technology Inc. dspic® language tools libraries (2004)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cédric Pradalier .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer-Verlag GmbH Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Pradalier, C., Bouabdallah, S., Gohl, P., Egli, M., Caprari, G., Siegwart, R. (2012). The CoaX Micro-helicopter: A Flying Platform for Education and Research. In: Rückert, U., Joaquin, S., Felix, W. (eds) Advances in Autonomous Mini Robots. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27482-4_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27482-4_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-27481-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27482-4

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics