Mikado VBAR User manual

Manual

Version3-Achser3.6.16USB

Questions / Help

VBarisaninnovativetechnologydevelopedandproducedinGermany.

Its applications are diverse. When installing or operating V-Bar, you

mayhavequestionswhicharenotansweredbythismanual.Purchase

of this VBar System entitles you to technical support by the

manufacturer.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsorcomments,pleasecontact:

phone:+49(0)331-237490

email:[email protected]

or go to the V-Bar Forum on the following website: www.vstabi.de

(Questions can be asked in English.)

This manual must be read in its entirety before

installing and operating the V-Bar System!

This version of the V-Bar (3 axes) can be used

in electric helicopters as well as in nitro

helicopters.

CONTENTS

1. What does the VBar do? ....................................................3

2. How does the VBar work .....................................................3

3. Which helicopters are suitable for the VBar system?...............4

4. Installation............................................................................4

5. How to program your VBar.....................................................7

6. Were can I get addtional information on VBar?........................8

7. Installation of the PC Software and of the USB driver...............9

8. Connection Diagram: Receiver - VBar - Servos......................14

9. Programming when using factory stet-ups............................15

10. Expert Menu....................................................................19

11. VBar Control Panel...........................................................20

12. Easy Panel Software........................................................20

13. Important Safety Guidelines...............................................21

14. Rotorhead Settings...........................................................24

15. Additional Components.....................................................25

16. Technichal Data................................................................26

1. What does the VBar do?

VBarstandsfor„VirtualFlybar.“(In Germanitis called"VStabi“,from

Virtual Stablizer Bar). The VBar simulates the behavior of the flybar

and all its associated mechanical parts, so that these parts can be

entirelybe dispensed with.

TheVBar isnot an autopilot! Anautopilot cansteeror holdthe heliin

a given position. This is not what the VBar does. Rather, the VBar

simulatesthe expected behavior of aconventional rotorhead (which

includesaflybar).WiththeVBar,controlofthehelicopter’smovements

remains fully with the pilot. Errors in controlling the helicopter will

inevitablyleadto crashes.Thereare severaladvantagesof theVBar,

comparedto a conventional rotorhead. We will mentionjust a few of

theimportantones here. Firstly,asthe digitally controlledrotorhead

hasfewer mechanicalcomponents, weightandair dragare reduced.

Secondly, by changing the settings in the VBar System, it is much

easier to adjust the heli’s performance to the pilot’s individual

requirements.Ina multi-bladehelicopter, amechanicalflybar cannot

be used at all, so that the digital rotor head can supply all the

advantagesof aflybar head.

2. How does the V-Bar work?

VBar is an electronic unit which is placed between the receiver and

the servos. It reads and analyzes the receiver signals. In addition it

registers the helicopter‘s yaw rates along all three axes (elevator,

aileron, and rudder) by SMM (Silicon Micro Machine) sensors. All

measurements are entered into a mathematical algorithm, which

outputsthe desired values to betransferredto the servos.

3. Which helicopters are suitable for the VBar System?

Generally speaking, the VBar System can be used in any model

helicopter, with the one prerequisite that the use of the V-Bar must

notleadtoany restrictionsconcerningthesafe operationofthemodel.

Ofcoursethe VBarcannot beusedin anyhelicopter carryinghumans

or animals, or in helicopters which could in any manner endanger

persons, animals or things. You must refer to the safety

recommendations included in section 13 of this manual.

4. Installation

TheVBar System includes the following components:

•CentralUnit

•GyroSensor

•BluetoothModule (optional)

•ControlPanel (optional)

Each component must be installed in the helicopter properly. For

instance, the wires of the central unit must be placed correctly. The

gyro sensor needs to be calibrated along the longitudinal axis and

the pitch axis. On the pages to follow, we explain some important

detailsontheplacementofthe individual components of the VBar.

- Central Unit

The central unit houses the microprocessor and the power/voltage

supply for the V-Bar.The supply voltage is 3.5 to 9 V.

The essential criterion for positioning the central unit has to do with

wiring.Thereceiver mustbe connectedwithout pullingorbendingthe

wires. At the same time, the central unit must connect to the

swashplateservos. The tail servo must alsobeconnected.

Thecentral unit must be protectedfrom stronger vibrations (e.g. ina

90-size nitro helicopter). Do not tense or bend any wires. Always

securetheunit, sothat itcannotfall off.Ensure thatitisnevertouched

byany moving part ofthehelicopter.

- Gyro Sensor

The gyro sensor houses three individual sensor elements - one for

elevator,one for aileron,and oneforthe rudder.Thefirsttwoof these

sit in perpendicular fashion with respect to each other. This is why

the gyro sensor must be aligned perfectly along all three axes. The

sensorsare equippedwith excellentinterferencerejection properties

regarding any axis which is not the one they are meant to work for.

As a result it is irrelevant where the gyro sensor is placed in relation

to the rudder axis. However, it is very important that the sensor is

installedsothatthewiresleadinlongitudinaldirection,facing forward

orbackward.

Inaddition, you should try tofinda place for the gyro sensorwhere it

isexposed to aslittle vibration aspossible.Although the sensoritself

is resistant to vibrations, the measured values can be blurred by

vibrations.Thisisturnleadsto ahigher propensityof thehelicopter to

oscillate.The most commonreactionto high vibrationsofthe sensor

elementsisbyoffset.Youwillnoticethiswhen thetrimmingofdifferent

cyclic rates varies too much.

Aslong the trimming varies onlyslightly, this istolerable.However,if

thetrimming isgreatlyoff balance,the level ofvibration is toohigh. In

thiscase the source of the vibrations mustbeeliminated. Otherwise

you cannot use the VBar in this helicopter.

For mounting the gyro sensor it is recommended that you use the

pieceofadhesivefoamincluded with the VBar kit.

5. How to program your VBar

Before you can use the VBar in your helicopter it needs to be

programmed. There are several means for carrying out the

programming:

EveryVBar unit comes with a USB cable and software whichallows

for programming it via a PC or Laptop. You can also use a mobile

phone,blue-tooth module(Mikado itemno. 4056)or thespecial VBar

control panel (Mikado item no. 4145).You can switch among these

options at any time, so you can program your VBar at home, at the

flyingfieldor anywhere you choose.

Threedifferent softwaretypesare available.

a)Using pre-installed model-specificsettings

Ready-to-usepre-installed set-upsareincluded forthemost popular

model helicopters, such as the different LOGO and TRex models.

Just a few steps are necessary to program the VBar if you use one

ofthesepre-installedset-ups.

Programming VBar

Control Panel

Bluetooth

Module USB/

Bluetooth

Module

PC/LaptopMobile/PDA

Preset-

Model

setups

VBar

Setups VBar

Setups

external

Setups external

Setups

Expert

Menu Expert

Menü Expert

Easy

Panel

Preset-

Model

setups

Preset-

Model

setups

Alternativelyyou may use setups whichwerecreated by other pilots

if they were created for the model you intend to be using.

b) easy Setup

Ifyou cannot finda read-to-use setup for yourtypeof helicopter,you

shouldusethe Easy Setup option. When installing the software you

will be asked if you wish to include the Easy Setup option on your

desktop.Ifyousay „yes“ a special icon will appear on your desktop.

Tostartthe Easy Setup click on theicon.Adialogue willbeinitalized

and you will be lead through the set-up in 21 steps.

c)Expert Software

Very experienced pilots who have been using the VBar for some

time and are familiar with the individual parameters may choose to

make adjustments via the Expert Software.

6. Where can I get addtional information on the VBar?

a) VBar Wiki

The VBar Wiki is an information data base in which you will find

most everything that might be of interest about the VBar. You will

findthe Wiki on www.vstabi.de.The Wiki is available in Englishand

German.

b) VStabi Forum

Ifthe Wiki does not answer your question, youmayget in touch with

some expert pilots in the online forum on www.vstabi.de. They will

help you along as best they can. Please use the Wiki as a resource

first. It contains the answers to the majority of frequent questions.

Reading the Wiki will also help avoid potential mistakes.

7. Installation of the PC-Software and of the USB driver

TheCD contains the PC software and the software for thedriverfor

the USB connection.

Thesoftwareruns with most Window versions. The minimum

requirementsare:

- RAM: 256 MB minimum

- CPU: 100 MHz minimum

- Screen: at least 1024x768 px

- Interface: USB 1.1 and up

-Other: one CD ROM drive

Allset-upandadjustment operationsmustbe carriedoutwithextreme

careand withoutrushing. Whereeveryou are, alwaysmake surethat

you take your time and are aware exactly of what you are doing.

Obviously, a misplaced click or entry can lead to a configuration of

theheli which isnotsuitable for flying.Thisis why each stepmust be

carriedout carefully and subsequently checked.

Howto install the set-up software

The following series of images leads you through the installation

software step by step.

Pleaseconfirm here the folder to which software willbeinstalled.

At this point you may choose to install the Easy Setup and the

OverviewPanelsoftware.TheOverviewPanelshowsyouallparamaters

thta can be adjusted.

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