Problems switching between MUX and manual control

Hello all,

I've been having some troubles recently in switching between manual and automatic control on my ArduPilot board. It is currently controlling a crawler-type RC car, as some others have attempted. When I first power on the board (initially under manual control), everything seems fine and the GPS data seems to flow in OK. However, when I flip the toggle switch on my transmitter, the MUX light only will come on after "nudging" the throttle a little bit. Then, as the AP board adjusts the throttle, the MUX light will flicker on and off. Observing the serial monitor shows that the board reboots after each flicker of the MUX light and new GPS data acquisition, but the GPS data seems bad here, which is preventing my car from navigating in either RTL or WPT modes. Sometimes, the MUX light will not even stay on at all. Attached is an example of the GPS data that I've been getting after switching to MUX.

I'm not sure, but I think that my motors may be drawing a lot of current from the battery and that this may be affecting the AP board? Has anyone tried powering the board from a separate DC source (like alkaline batteries, maybe)? Does anyone have any thoughts?

Tags: ArduPilot, Car, MUX, RC

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3D RoboticsPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on April 6, 2009 at 11:59am
That's odd. Can you replicate this problem in a controlled bench setting (powering the board with a 5v power supply or switching the solder jumper to use power from the BATT pins)? It does sound like you've got a brownout problem, but we'd need more data to diagnose properly.
Permalink Reply by barkerzd on April 6, 2009 at 12:41pm
That shouldn't be a problem to do. Can I just apply 5v to the + and - pins on OUT or IN or do I need to switch the solder bridge and apply the 5v to the BATT pins?

3D RoboticsPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on April 6, 2009 at 12:43pm
No, 5v to any + and - pins on the OUT or IN rails should do it.
Permalink Reply by barkerzd on April 6, 2009 at 2:14pm
Chris,

I tried testing my AP board by putting 5v into the + and - pins on OUT 1. I flipped the toggle switch and the MUX light turned on with no hesitation, and turned off just as well. I even tried the "5 flip reset" trick, which seemed to work too. Does this mean I need to try powering the board another way when using it for navigation?

Thanks.

3D RoboticsPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on April 6, 2009 at 3:03pm
I think it means you've got a funky ESC or motor controller. I would power the board separately, as you suggest.
Permalink Reply by barkerzd on April 6, 2009 at 3:19pm
Could I use something like 4 AA alkalines in series to the BATT pins (to give ~6v) or would that not be ideal?

3D RoboticsPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on April 6, 2009 at 3:38pm
That will work.

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