Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michael Pursifull on June 23, 2012 at 1:09pm

How do you know which mode it is in?
Where is your throttle attached/esc attached?

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Permalink Reply by Frank on June 23, 2012 at 1:29pm

Hi Mike,

- I can see the current mode in HUD inside Mission Planner (above GPS status) which is connected via USB to my APM 2.0.

- My throttle from ESC is attached in No 3 AMP output like the image here: http://code.google.com/p/ardupilot-mega/wiki/APM2RC (outputs).

- My throttle from RC receiver is also plugged with female-to-female cable from the RC receiver into APM2's input.

- My ESC is attached to the motor and battery.

Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Michael Pursifull on June 23, 2012 at 1:49pm

ok, good. Just checking some basics. Did you calibrate your RC transmitter in the configure screen?

Do you have a good range of PWM values for CH3/throttle? 

What is the throttle value shown in the configure/radio calibration screen when the throttle stick is all the way down, and what is the value when it is all the way up?

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Permalink Reply by Frank on June 23, 2012 at 2:02pm

No I did not calibrate my RC transmitter.

Since I had no flights with the plane I don't know what is a good range of PWM values.

In all three modes (Manual, Stabilize, RTL) I have the following values:

All the way down:1047

All the way up: 1883

(If it's the same throttle to all 3 modes why I don't have motor spinning at Manual?)

Thank you for your time.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Pursifull on June 23, 2012 at 2:35pm

Read the manual about setup, then go into configuration/radio calibration and calibrate your radio.

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Permalink Reply by Frank on June 23, 2012 at 2:55pm

Mike thank you for that.

I would be glad if you could answer these two last questions to help me:

1.

I did that (http://code.google.com/p/ardupilot-mega/wiki/APM2RCSetup) and found just this:

"Click on "Calibrate Radio" to set the radio limits. Red bars will appear, and you should move them to their limits for each channel you have connected. Press save when you're done."

Is there any other manual link with more details or good range of PWM values for throttle?

 

2.

Manual says that "As a safety measure, your throttle will on arm (work) on the ground in Manual mode or for an autotakeoff in Auto mode. It will not come in in any other Auto mode until you are in motion in the air."

 

So if I have throttle in Stabilize, maybe my plane thinks it's on the air?

My alt in HUD is 126 (I live on a hill) and I have "Gps to Baro mix=1.0"

 

Frank

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Permalink Reply by Michael Pursifull on June 23, 2012 at 4:01pm

1 - you must complete the RC calibration process to tell the APM what your max and min throttle (and all channels) settings are. It doesn't much matter what your settings are, any normal range will do. The PWM values you have shown are good. 900-1800 is a typical sort of range. Click the "calibrate", move all the sticks, move your six-mode switches through all their positions (you did set up for six modes, right?) and then return all the sticks to center (and throttle to low) and click "done".

2 - No. I don't think so. See #1 first. When that is completed, check out stabilize again.

Let me know what you find. 

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Permalink Reply by Michael Pursifull on June 23, 2012 at 4:02pm

Stabilize mode does not control the throttle. Which is why it sounds like either 1) a wiring problem (which is why I asked about how it is wired) or 2) an RC calibration problem.

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Permalink Reply by Frank on June 23, 2012 at 5:00pm

Mike,

You are absolutely right. It was an RC calibration problem.

I clicked the "calibrate", moved all the sticks and switches through all their positions and clicked "done". Throttle is OK now in all modes.

 

Thank you very VERY much for helping me after so many hours of digging (it's 03:00 in the morning here) :)

I hope this post will help other members as well.

Great job!

Frank

@Chris 

It would be a good idea here http://code.google.com/p/ardupilot-mega/wiki/APM2RCSetup to replace this:

"Click on "Calibrate Radio" to set the radio limits. Red bars will appear, and you should move them to their limits for each channel you have connected. Press save when you're done."

with Mike's version:

"You must complete the RC calibration process to tell the APM what your max and min throttle (and all channels) settings are. It doesn't much matter what your settings are, any normal range will do. 900-1800 is a typical sort of range. Click the "calibrate", move all the sticks, move your six-mode switches through all their positions and then return all the sticks to center (and throttle to low) and click "done""

It's easier to understand for newbies like me :)

 

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