KDS Flymentor 3d

Fligth stabilization system from kds. This unit comes with 5 items; the main unit, gyro, CCD sensor, CD software and usb data cable (manual is in PDF format in the CD). Flymentor 3D is a stabilization unit that help helicopter to self stabilized it's own position in hover and also self recovery during 3D manuever. If you are familiar with copilot 2 then the function for this device is almost the same with some differences. This review divided into installation and testing.

1. Installation:

• This is definitely not for newbie since the installation require prior knowledge on setting up helicopter manually through computerized radio, theoretical and practical controling remote control helicopter plus with some computer knowledge on driver and application installation and usage.

• First step is to mount and connect main unit, ccd sensor, gyro to heli. This is how I mount my unit. Connect flymentor main unit to receiver according to color channel match. Connect servo wires to flymentor unit show in the picture below. Servo name will be s1(aileron), s2 (pitch), s3 (elevator), s5(rudder).
  

Wiring diagram

Flymentor main unit


CCD sensor..make sure the camera has clear view without any obstruction.

• Reset your radio with no swash mixing. For futaba 9c under parameter-->type--> HELI(SWH1) so that each servo operate independently. Flymentor has it own mixing software. Reset all EPA, any mixing to inhibit.
• Connect data cable to computer and start driver installation (follow manual). Then run the helibal.exe to start to configure flymentor. Important!! all the setup normally being done in the radio is has been replace by the flymentor software. No configuration required from the radio accept for servo reverse. (disconnect two wires from esc to motor)
  
• The next setup is to configure the mount direction, servo and mixing setup. Connect flymentor to the computer and load the software. Connect power to ESC and wait for helibal to load the configuration from the main unit.
• First setup is mounting direction of ccd sensor and gyro direction. Then select the main blade direction and swash configuration. --> save the setting.
  
• After that select servo reverse option and neutral. This is for me the most tedious part of setting up flymentor where I have problem getting the correct mixing correction given with heli orientation. I have to setup servo reverse from the radio where I have to reverse channel 2,4,6. Inside helibal servo-->reverse option servo 1,3 and tail servo has been set to reverse.
• To check your mixing and mixing corection in the right selection. Tilt the heli in the direction the swash mixing should give correction in the opposite way from the tilting direction. Check out the following video. You can see the swash mixing responded to counter the leaning action.
  

• The servo reverse combination between radio servo reverser and helibal software. Have to test all combination to get the correct respond towards swash mixing. It's a tedious work for me to get the right servo reverse option. Play arround with servo reverse and control to get the right output.
• After swash mixing configuration then the pitch setting can begin. Check the servo arm center at half stick at this point. Servo travel in non-mixing mode caused the servo throw bigger than mixing mode. EPA setting in radio cannot work to limit servo travel in this setup. Adjust the travel through control option. Setup the pitch curve and get the proper pitch setup using pitch gauge. Pitch curve setup has to be done through radio software.
• Solution for the gyro setup I think I've got it..thanks to kepler from HeliFreak..why I have problem with the gyro is because of the color coding on the gyro sensitivity and stabilization sensitivity are the wrong way around. The manual stated that gyro sensitivity is the blue one but actually it's the green one. The blue one is for flymentor sensitivity. Just swap both wires at the receiver.
• That's it...my flybar seesaw has been repaired and everything is up for another test tomorrow if mother nature permits...

Testing

• Managed to test with the new setup today evening but not much time due to rain. Helibal Gyro gain set to 10% and the wag gone..but still need to reduce some more since it still wag during hard climb up. I think better off with external gyro.
  
• Will take video later since had no chance to properly tune the system. But initially the flight test was successful. I gave hard lean to the left and right and let go the stick..my heli recover back to hover position. It's really work.

Issues

• Some issues I've found during the test is the system need to reboot twice to work. The first time the system won't initilize but the second power up it's working. KDS should look into this.
• Color coding on the gyro sensitivity and stabilization sensitivity are the wrong way around.
• Gyro performance..better off with external gyro. The build in gyro not for 3D performance.. but good for scale flyer. It will wag during hard punch or sudden high rpm input.
• KDS should revise their manual since several critical error leads user to the wrong setup.
• One more finding after more test today..I have to reset flymentor 2-3 times every time although the system already boot. I found that the first time it start the centering suddenly goes nut. Take the power off then on again..it's good to go. This has been confirmed by several flyers from HF.
  

Thanks to kepler and nightfly for the helps..More discussion on Flymentor 3D available in Helifreak forum
For Malaysian you can buy KDS system from Myhotgears