Next, the system is shown how much servo movement is required to move the control surfaces to specific angles.
Again, this is a simple matter of positioning the control surface by clicking the mouse on the arrows until it is at the angle required. The system also supports 120 degree CCPM and 4-servo 90 degree CCPM swashplate arrangements.
Once this is complete, the settings are downloaded into the units internal configuration data.
The CARVEC control system does much more than just keep the helicopter level in flight. It also computerises the entire servo/control surface setup procedures. Adjustments and setup are performed using the PC mouse. Once complete, the data for a machine can be stored on disk. If the CARVEC unit is moved to a different machine (or a new unit is fitted to an existing machine), it can be reloaded and ready to go in moments.
The CARVEC system is fully integrated into the control system of the helicopter. The setup procedure for a new machine is performed electronically using a simple PC windows interface. Once complete, the data for a particular machine can be stored on disk and reloaded as required.
The system separates the mechanical part of the setup (servo angles and control surface movements) from the flight control part (control surface positions and/or demanded attitude). Most of the procedure is done without the transmitter.
When the machine is built, the servos are set to the optimum mechanical position -ie. arm at 90 degrees in the mid position and around +/-45 degrees of movement. The electronic system will then be calibrated to the movement available.
The first step is to determine the end-points of travel for each servo. The PC mouse is used to click up/down arrows to position the servo at each end of its travel.
Once this is complete, the system will never drive the servos beyond these points.
Once the mechanical setup is complete, it is time to setup the transmitter.
Before the setup, the Tx is set to default values. Any CCPM mixing is turned off, and all servo/EPA adjustments are set to 100% and normal direction.
The CARVEC system is then calibrated to the transmitter. When this is done, the control values which correspond to full-stick movement are set using simple drop-down values.
As the sticks are moved, the green bars move left and right showing the signal being received. The direction of the demands can be tested here, for example by moving the cyclic stick full-left and checking that the green bar is next to -4 degrees.
The examples shown are intended to give a feel of how the setup of the system is performed. There are many other parameters which can also modified in a similar way, such as the PID gain factors for all the control channels.
Once the control-surface setup has been completed, it can be tested using the manual-controls window.
If the control on the helicopter is the same as that shown in the control value then you can be sure that the setup procedure has been performed correctly.
This kind of closed-loop feedback is fundamental in the philosophy of making the CARVEC system setup as easy and foolproof as possible.