Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Richard Boyhan on December 17, 2012 at 2:20pm

The software for APM 2.5 is free. Download the Mission Planner and follow the wiki manual for steps to config and fly. OSD is for On Screen Display for FPV. Optical Flow is optional, but not needed. Sonar helps with low altitude hold, about 7 meters or less.
Good Luck and Merry Christmas,
Richard

Permalink Reply by Will Snodgrass on December 17, 2012 at 3:56pm

He hit the nail on the head! The software is free (open source) and tha'ts with unlimited waypoints so there is no need to fork out another $1000 for more then 5 waypoints. Most people run the following:

APM 2.5+

3DR Telemetry (optional, you can fly missions without however it's very nice to have)

Max Sonar 1200

And the rest is standard R/C and/or FPV. Now depending on how your going to get your FPV, OSD will either be an added bonus, or completely unnecessary. If your going to be flying FPV with a computer then you can watch it through the mission planner and have all the data already overlayed on the video feed. If your going to use goggles then it's only necessary if your going to use the data to help you fly. Only you can answer that one.

Permalink Reply by Thomas the Nerd on December 17, 2012 at 3:59pm

If you're flying outdoors in open areas, you only need the APM2.5 (with gps) and a telemetry system.

As mentioned, sonar is optional and is used for reading altitude from 20cm up to 7 meters.

Optical flow is optional and the software is still in development (as far as I know), but is a good tool for holding a position without needing GPS.

Info about the mission planner: http://code.google.com/p/arducopter/wiki/AC2_Mission