APM2 GPS Red LED and data help (CRASH REPORT, ANYONE ELSE?)

HI everyone,

I have been struggling with the APM2 that I have just installed and have been trying to fly in Auto and RTL modes. I do have the plane flying great in the stabilize mode and the fly by wire mode also works.

When I switch the plane to RTL or Auto mode the plane does fly itself (circle) and hold altitude but it does not go to the waypoint locations and it does not circle over the home or launch point. Every time I have flown I have waited for the blue led to go solid and also the 3Dfix led is solid. I have also connected to the computer outside and in the mission planner it says 3Dfix. I do NOT ever get a red led to stay on. The red led does flash when the board is first powered up but then has never stayed on solid like is says it is supposed to. See the link.

http://code.google.com/p/ardupilot-mega/wiki/LED

That brings be to my next problem. It was suggested to me to look at the data log and see if there is an actual gps lock. When trying to look at the data log in the mission planner I do not see any horizon changes, speed or altitude changes. It does say the log is playing but I am unable to see any of the planes functions.

I have been struggling with this for a week now and do not know what to try next. If anyone could give me some suggestions that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Ryan

Tags: 3Dfix, AMP2, GPS, Red, data, led, log

Views: 1414

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ramesh Tahlan on March 7, 2012 at 7:32am

can someone pl tell what color light means what, i have the apm2 and i find there r 4 lights, if it can be elalorated that this colour is .........,    solid means ....,      flashing means this......, i will be really greatful, i could not find in anywhere .

Permalink Reply by Ryan on March 7, 2012 at 7:52am

Hi,

Here is a link to the light info.

http://code.google.com/p/ardupilot-mega/wiki/LED

Permalink Reply by Ramesh Tahlan on March 7, 2012 at 8:07am

many thanks Ryan

Permalink Reply by Ramesh Tahlan on March 7, 2012 at 8:11am

A stupid question but i must ask, once i plug the usb cable between APM2 and my PC and i have down loaded the Quad program from mission planner, i could not find anywhere the option to disconnect/eject  the APM2 from my pc. So i just unplugged it. Will this damage on board memory of APM2 or is there a way to unplug the usb cable from a pc......

second question, is the Quad option only in the + mode or is there a way to use the X mode, cause in the mission planner i could only see one option for quad, the PLUS mode, that means one motor points in the front direction, cause i have made my quad as a X and will have to make the base plates again to re-orientate to the + type......

Permalink Reply by Ryan on March 7, 2012 at 8:17am

Not a stupid question. I have been clicking the disconnect button in the mission planner before I unplug it. But as far as ejecting the usb connection I am not aware of any way to do it.

I am using the APM2 for the first time myself so I would be happy to hear if there is another way to do it. 

I was planning on getting the telemetry kit to do it wireless but have not been able to get the APM2 working yet so I am not to interested in dumping more money until I see something work.


ModeratorPermalink Reply by John Church on March 7, 2012 at 9:33am

Hi Ramesh,

I do not think it's necessary to have a way to 'eject', as there will never be any delayed-write data to be sent to the device for storage or open files to be closed. Just unplug and go  :)

Permalink Reply by Ramesh Tahlan on March 7, 2012 at 8:31pm

John,

many thanks. i have absolutely no tech knowledge about all this, so will keep asking silly questions and hope all u guys will have patience to take them on....

Permalink Reply by Ryan on March 7, 2012 at 8:14am

Does anyone have a video or You tube video of planning a mission for the APM 2. I am hoping I am doing something really stupid wrong here. Last night again I hooked up my computer to the APM and the GPS found my location with no issues. Everything looks right to me but the plane will not hold a location in RTL ( or even go to a consistent location ). Also it will not go to waypoints that I write to the APM.

I am wondering if this is a software problem not a hardware problem.

Also I did send a email to help@3drobotics.com but have not heard back yet. How long does that usually take?

Anyone that can help I will be in your debt

Thanks

Ryan

Permalink Reply by Damian ONeill on March 10, 2012 at 11:54pm

Hi Ryan,

I had APM 2 in my Bixler and worked great - Missions RTL etc - very cool. I then put it in my quad but it wasn't very stable so I will wait for some stable code. I have put it back in my plane and am now having the same problem as you. MP tells me home is spot on - I reset home - Wait for 8+ Satellites, push reset, wait a minute more to ensure HOME is set, and it just flies off into the ether circling away???

Not sure mate. I don't get the red light on Arduplane, but do on Arducopter.

Just keep plugging away

Permalink Reply by Ryan on March 11, 2012 at 7:00am

Thanks for the reply. Hopefully today I will get some time to try it out again. Since my last flights I have uploaded firmware for heli's and quads and now re-uploaded the plane firmware. I also am using a different computer with the mission planner installed. I am going to erase all the data logs in the APM. My first test will be to walk around with the plane in my hands and watch the GPS light and ensure it stays on. Then I will check that data log. If I am unable to read that data log like the others I am probably going to send it back.

If that data log works I will continue with the testing with flights.

No more messing around with this for me:))

Ryan

Permalink Reply by Ramesh Tahlan on March 7, 2012 at 8:23am

Ryan, 

thanks again, i have unzipped mission planner, but i find that there is no shortcut icon on the pc desktop screen, so does it mean i have to go to the .exe file every time i want to go to mission planner ????

Permalink Reply by Ramesh Tahlan on March 7, 2012 at 8:38am

if i have hooked up the APM2 to the pc and downloaded quad codes, now if i hook up again and download again, will it over-write the previous download, or do i have to erase previous from APM2 before downloading again ???? and if i have to erase before downloading again how do i erase.???

Also, if i now want to download codes for say aeroplane or car, then do i first erase previous codes before downloading new codes for another type of machine ???? of do i just click on appropriate icon for the machine and mission planner will do everything.....

RSS

Social Networking

Top Content 

1 APM 2.5 from hobbyking

APM 2.5 from hobbyking
2 Alt_hold and loiter acting crazy

Alt_hold and loiter acting crazy
3 Mapping Mission Ride Along

Mapping Mission Ride Along
4 Looking for best laptop screen to see in the sun

Looking for best laptop screen to see in the sun
5 APM Copter 2.9.1.b has been released

APM Copter 2.9.1.b has been released
6 ArduPlane 2.73 released

ArduPlane 2.73 released
7 New micro-cameras emulate insects' compound eyes

New micro-cameras emulate insects' compound eyes
8 Hobby King Ardupilot

Hobby King Ardupilot
9 3 axis Camera Gimble connections.

3 axis Camera Gimble connections.
10 Thirty Days (#17): 12-rotor close up

Thirty Days (#17): 12-rotor close up

Contests

Season Two of the Trust Time Trial (T3) Contest has now begun. The fourth round is an accuracy round for multicopters, which requires contestants to fly a cube. The deadline is April 14th.

A list of all T3 contests is here. 

Groups

Advertisement

© 2013   Created by Chris Anderson.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service