3D Robotics

ArduPlane home page

 

Convert any RC airplane into a fully-autonomous UAV!
Just add the APM 2 autopilot to any RC aircraft and it becomes a fully-programmable flying robot with a powerful ground station and Mission Planner.  

 

Features include:

  • Return to Launch with a flick of your RC toggle switch or a mouse click in the graphical Ground Station
  • Unlimited 3D GPS waypoints
  • Built-in camera control
  • Fully-scriptable missions
  • One-click software load, and easy point-and-click configuration in the powerful Mission Planner. NO programming required!
  • Replay recorded missions and analyze all the data with a graphing interface
  • Supports two-way telemetry with Xbee wireless modules. 
  • Point-and-click waypoint entry or real-time mission commands while the UAV is in the air
  • Fly with a joystick or gamepad via your PC--no need for RC control!
  • Built-in failsafe will bring your aircraft home in the case of radio loss

 

All instructions and software are here.

 

 

 

APM 2 is an open source, Arduino-compatible, pro-quality autopilot. It is the most advanced IMU-based open source autopilot available today, and provides an entire UAV control system with scriptable missions with 3D waypoints, in-flight uploading of commands and powerful ground station software. 

 

APM 2 supports any kind of of vehicle with a one-click change of code. Available code include ArduPlane (fixed wing), ArduCopter (rotary wing), ArduRover (ground vehicles) and more.

 

Everything you need to create an ArduPlane UAV:

 

*  APM 2.5 autopilot with GPS ($179)

*  [Optional] Telemetry kit ($75).


 

You'll also need a at least a five-channel RC radio setup, a soldering iron, a mini USB cable and of course something that flies! (We're partial to the SkyFun delta wing (right) and
Bixlee 2   powered glider (left) or its equivalents ourselves).

 

 

 

 

Resources:

Manual
Source code/firmware

Note: ArduPilot Mega requires no programming, but it's open source and you're welcome to modify it if you'd like. If you are going to play with the code, you can use the free Arduino IDE to edit and upload the code to the ArduPilot board.

 

 

Views: 463417

Comment by ahmed momtaz hosny on September 11, 2011 at 4:22am

I cant find the correct program to read the Euler angles from the IMU then to move the servos,i can control the servos easily , and upload the code too, but still cant know how to read the valuse from the IMU??? BTW the IMU is properly connected to the ardupilot and the indicating leds are ok, but I eaither cant read or use the Euler angles from the IMU nor see the values on the serial monitor ...... Can u help me to figure out the problem plz...???


3D Robotics Comment by Chris Anderson on September 16, 2011 at 2:28am

Jonny: Yes, it's easy with the Mission Planner. Please see the manual for more.  You can use 2.4 Xbees, but the setup process is a bit more complicated (and the range shorter) than the 900 ones we recommend. It's in the manual too. 


Distributor Comment by Martint BuildYourOwnDrone.co.uk on September 16, 2011 at 3:56am

Hello Jonny,

 

You can get the info on 2.4 GHz Xbee kits here in the EU we are not allowed to use the 900 Xbees :( They do not have the range of the 900's but work fine for LOS flights. The Telemetry Kit can be found here.

 

Regards

 

Martin

Comment by Bill on September 16, 2011 at 5:44pm

Are there plans to release a new version of the hardware or is it mature and now only the software is being developed?

Thanks, Bill

 


3D Robotics Comment by Chris Anderson on September 17, 2011 at 5:13am

Bill, we release new hardware versions (memory or sensor upgrades) approximately every six months. That's been true for three years and will continue as far as we can see.

Comment by Bill on September 17, 2011 at 10:09pm

Thanks Chris, I'll wait until everything else is finished and buy the APM last.


3D Robotics Comment by Chris Anderson on September 19, 2011 at 12:03am

Jonny: never heard of that one, I'm afraid. 


3D Robotics Comment by Chris Anderson on September 19, 2011 at 9:56am

Jonny, where did you find that manual??? That's dating back to 2009 and the very first ArduPilot!! That's a totally different product, long ago discontinued. 

 

Seriously, how did you even find it? I didn't even know there was still of copy of that ancient manual out there. 

Comment by Björn Pettersson on September 19, 2011 at 12:07pm

Links broken? Tried to access the wiki, but it seems I can't (no menu to the left)


3D Robotics Comment by Chris Anderson on September 19, 2011 at 12:19pm

Bjorn. Thanks for the catch. Now fixed.

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