Add Inexpensive Auto-Leveling to your Plane

In this video, I show you how to add auto-leveling and stabilization to your RC plane using the HobbyKing KK2.0 Multi-rotor LCD Flight Control Board.  What makes this so cool is that the board currently only costs USD$30.  I demonstrate how the auto-leveling and stabilization works, and then go step-by-step through the setup process.  I finish off by testing the setup.  Also, check out the flight review here.

 Here are the parts you need:

1. Hobbyking KK2.0 Multi-rotor LCD Flight Control Board
2. USBasp AVR Programming Device for ATMEL proccessors
3. Male-to-Male Servo Leads
4. 3 Amp BEC*
   
5. Y power connector

*a BEC is required to help power the KK2 board.  You can't use the one from your ESC!  HappySundays, the author of OpenAero2 has this explanation "You have to understand that it's not just voltage droop but current flowing through the board that upsets the KK2. They share ground paths if you connect them together. It's not the updated BEC that helps, but the separation of 5V rails. This way, servo current does not influence the KK2 board itself."

Video Outline

1. Intro - 0:00
2. What is Stabilization and Auto-leveling? (including demonstration) - 0:45
3. What does the KK2.0 board offer? - 3:57
4. Parts Needed - 6:32
5. Setup - 7:31
• Step 1. Firmware Flashing - 7:32
• Step 2. Left Side Connections - 9:10
• Step 3. Right Side Connections - 10:59
• Step 4. Pre-power Steps - 11:45
• Step 5. KK2 Board Configuration - 13:33
6. Testing - 18:18
• Step 1. Testing servo direction - 18:25
• Step 2. Testing gyro direction from stability control - 19:40
• Step 3. Calibration & auto-leveling testing - 21:57
7. Final Thoughts - 24:42

Other useful links:

1. USBasp Driver install (FliteTest)
2. Firmware flashing video (dhdsracer)
3. Firmware flashing tool (LazyZero)
4. OpenAero2 Firmware thread (HappySundays)
5. OpenAero2 manual (HappySundays)
6. Voltage Alarm for KK2 board Video (dhdsracer)