How to adjust helicopter parameters, helicopter model version 1

0 General information

Please read this file for a description of helicopter parameters.

Please pay attention to these notes.

1 Suggested steps

It is assumed that values for mass and inertia already are correct.
  1. Before you edit the file, create a backup so you can lookup its original parameters.
  2. Set adjust to 1 in the opening line of the config of the model file you want to tweak: 
      <config version="1" adjust="1">
  3. Start CRRCSim, set wind speed and thermals to zero (there may be presets you can load).
    Load the model you want to adjust. Save settings.
  4. Hint: easiest way to edit/try parameters is to just 'ESC' (to stop the sim), edit and save parameter file, hit 'c' to reload parameters, 'ESC' (to start the sim).
  5. If power.fixed_pitch is set (fixed pitch heli), adjust power.automagic.F to set maximum climb rate.
  6. For a collective pitch heli, adjust aero.cp.ctrl and power.automagic.F to set maximum climb rate.
  7. If aero.cp.auto_off is not defined or set to 1, you don't need to care about aero.cp.off. If you don't like climb rate at neutral stick as it is automatically adjusted, set aero.cp.auto_off to 0 and adjust aero.cp.off.
  8. Set adjust to 2, which enables tail rotor simulation.
  9. If the model has a heading lock gyro, set aero.yaw.HeadingHold to something greater than zero (maybe start with 5).
  10. The automatically adjusted mixer 'throttle or pitch to tail rotor' doesn't take into account dynamics (changes). You may calm down the tail on changes by setting aero.yaw.moment_mul to a value smaller than one (which is the default value).
  11. If you are done with the previous steps, enable training mode (hit 't' to enable/disable) to fix the heli at a certain altitude. Set adjust to 3.
  12. Unless you know the model and its behaviour very good (in this case there's no need to read this help), remove aero.pitch.damp and aero.pitch.dist if they exist. They are taken from aero.roll.damp and aero.roll.dist if they don't exist.
  13. Adjust aero.yaw.ctrl, aero.pitch.ctrl, and aero.roll.ctrl for full stick rotation rates in rad/second.
  14. Adjust roll damping: aero.roll.damp.
  15. Adjust yaw damping: aero.yaw.damp.
  16. Do you think pitch damping (aero.pitch.damp) should differ from aero.roll.damp? If this is the case: define and adjust it.
  17. Does the heli rotate around the correct point? Adjust its center of gravity. I'm sorry, but this setting won't get reloaded by hitting 'c'. You have to save all settings, exit CRRCSim and restart.
  18. If you are done with the previous steps, set adjust to 4.
  19. Adjust disturbances: aero.roll.dist and aero.yaw.dist. You may want to tweak Disturbance.tau_filter and Disturbance.time, too.
  20. If you are done with the previous steps, disable training mode (hit 't') and finally set adjust to 0.
  21. Fly around and adjust aero.yaw.vane, aero.pitch.vane, and aero.speed.damp.
  22. Adjust increase of disturbances in ground effect: GroundEffect.dist.mul.
  23. Finally, you may want to tweak aero.roll.ForwardToRoll.