The ICG540 Gyro System from CSM
The latest great gyro from CSM, the ICG540, is now available
Like all CSM products, we have listened to what our customers want and believe that this provides the latest in gyro technology at an affordable price.
No, this isn't it!
Actually it's a little light grey box approx. 4.5 x 4 x 2.5 cms, but that's a bit boring and I was told to make the Web page colourful so I've given you this picture instead!
To bring you a great gyro CSM simply threw away the rule book and started with a clean sheet. The result, the ICG360, was packed with new concepts in gyro technology: we've now gone one step further and brought you the ICG540:-
- Heading Lock (as pioneered by CSM)
- Gyro Flight Modes (as pioneered by CSM)
- NEW Auto-setup system allows rudder trim, gyro reversing, Super servo support, and independant left/right servo travel limits all set FROM YOUR TRANSMITTER.
- NEW selectable Super Servo support. Automatic frame doubling and tripling gets the optimum from your RC system.
- NEW adjustable* 'Look Ahead' gain and timeconstant on motion and commands.
- NEW fully adjustable* 'Exponential gain'.
- NEW fully adjustable* 'Glitch Limiter' - helps iron out imperfections in the radio link.
- Yaw Rate Demand with NEW fully adjustable* linear + exponential Demand Curves for each Flight Mode.
- NEW Fuzzy logic Drift Compensation.
- NEW fully adjustable* 'Heading Lock Relaxation Rate'.
- NEW High Resolution pulse measurement and generation systems.
- Two stage power supply regulation - ensures gyro is fully functional down to 2.5 volt supply (even if your radio isn't!)
*Flight mode adjustability is via (optional) PC interface cable/software.
Radio System requirements
The gyro requires an auxiliary channel with travel adjustments to control the gyro mode/gain. It cannot be used with basic RC systems that lack such a channel. We recommend that you use an RC system that also provides travel adjustment on the rudder channel. Most current production computer RC transmitters have these facilities. Optimum performance with super/digital servos of speed better than 0.12s/60 degrees. Standard performance servo may be used.
Introducing 'Flight Modes'
The ICG540 Gyro System provides far more than simple gain control from your transmitter. This system supports two independently adjustable Flight Modes. Each of these modes has no less than ten parameters that (using the optional cable and software) can be adjusted from your PC to allow fine tuning of the system performance to suit the model, the tail servo in use, and pilots preferences. (see below) The two flight modes can be selected from the transmitter, and the gain of each mode is adjustable from the transmitter.
(Factory default settings are one conventional mode and one 'Heading Lock' mode.)
Heading Lock
This feature was pioneered by CSM for their ICG360 Gyro System, and is now the standard for higher performance gyros! It gives unmatched stability in backwards and cross wind flight. Multiple backwards loops with no rudder input from the pilot can be achieved using this feature. This is also a major aid to the raw beginner who can virtually forget the tail in those early hovering flights! Also a great help to the beginner is the ability to set an accurate tail trim before take off.
Yaw Rate Demand
With its Yaw Rate Demand philosophy the ICG540 gyro eliminates the traditional compromise between gain and pirouette speed. Enjoy over 4 revolutions per second yaw rate even with full gain. Simply use rudder rates to tailor the full stick yaw rate to your needs.
Built-in Exponential
To simplify the setting up of the CSM gyro system even on a basic RC system it has its own built-in exponential facility.
Regulated Power Supply
The power supply is regulated to provide consistant performance with input voltages from 7.2v all the way down to 3.5v!
Compatibility
The CSM gyro is compatible with, and automatically detects and optimises for the following systems:-
- JR
- SPCM
- ZPCM
- PPM
- FUTABA
- PCM1024
- PPM
Optional Computer Interface
With this, the experienced pilot can alter the gyro set-up, with the option of restoring to the default setting if it doesn't work! The parameters, and their default setting for Mode 0 (Conventional) are:
- Conventional gyro gain 88%
- Direct (stick to servo)coupling 50%
- Servo speed parameter 0.17 sec/60deg
- Heading-lock gain 0%
- Max yaw acceleration of helicopter 5000 deg/s/s
- Heading-lock range 0 deg
- Servo travel limit 87%
The differences for Mode 1 (Heading-Lock mode) are that the Heading-lock gain is set to 50% and the Heading-lock range to 18 deg.
Availability
The CSM ICG540 Gyro System costs 139.99 pounds sterling, and 15 pounds sterling for the optional software and cable, from any good model shop, or from many mailorder companies
The CSM ICG540 Gyro system is distributed world-wide to the trade by:-
RC Models Distribution Ltd
Woodfield House
Woodfield Road
Altrincham
Cheshire
WA14 4ED
England
Tel. +44 (0) 161 929 5955 Fax. +44 (0) 161 929 5984
EMail: info@rcmodels.org
For further info, go to our technical page.
For technical help contact support@csm-ltd.co.uk
Tel. +44 (0) 161 928 8505
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/CSM_Ltd March 2000