Tuning Rig Recommendations

[arnonel]

Does anyone have a tuning rig?

Wondering if there is a easy way to test various aspects of your MultiRotor?

eg:

• APM Tuning
• Gimbal Tuning
• Various Calibration
• ETC

Ive seen photos of people tying up their MultiRotor with some string. Thoughts?

[Biffa]

Best way is in the air

[Hands0n]

Since Arducopter 3.1 software arrived I';d say that the best way of initially tuning APM/Pixhawk is to use Auto Tune, starting off with the default settings. 

Often Auto Tune will deliver a slightly highly strung aircraft, very responsive and even a bit aggressive and twitchy.  Some like it that way, some do not (I don';t).  So some further manual tuning to soften the responsiveness is required, but it is a lot less than having to do it all by hand.

The problem with some of the "tuning rigs" that you see on YouTube is that they are entirely artificial, the environment is not what you';re going to actually fly in. 

[Biffa]

The problem with some of the "tuning rigs" that you see on YouTube is that they are entirely artificial, the environment is not what you';re going to actually fly in.

This   

Tying a multi down will never be the same as floating in the air as the tether will add some force one way or another that wont be there when you come to fly.

It would be a good way to get bench mark PIDs but I would always envisage having to retune again after.

[arnonel]

Ok, but there is still alot you can tweak/test/tune when at home in your "lab/workshop"

Stupid example, you can balance your props and motors at home (not in the air), then validate feel/vibrations when in air and on ground.

Are there smart ways to tweak/tune/test/etc all components at home, then validate when in air?