Arducopter 2.0.34 Preview

Jeff E July 12, 2011 at 5:04pm

Jason, quick question, you mentioned that we can just load 2.0.35 without erase and recalibrating everything and it should fly normal? Just wanted to ask before I do something stupid

Seems all values still there after loading 2.0.35 but just wondering if still need to recalibrate everything?

Jeff E July 12, 2011 at 4:44pm

Woah you are really fast Jason I am just about to test Loiter and ALT_HOLD but now you have a 2.0.35.

Jose Angel July 12, 2011 at 4:40pm

From the SVN log:

2.0.35
Added camera reversing parameters in AP_Var
Added RTL Throttle Hold set/check
Added dynamic speed control to slow down as you reach waypoints and RTL Home
upped Yaw Dead zone slightly.

Jason, you don't sleep!!

Jose Angel July 12, 2011 at 4:39pm

Jason, I see that you slightly increase rc4 dead_zone in 2.0.35... maybe a variable in config.h with the possibility to be overwritten in apm_config.h could be useful... I did it to make it easy to modify without touching the code...

Developer

Jason Short July 12, 2011 at 4:15pm

So you don't really need to erase anymore. The firmware fingerprint does the erasing for you when needed. If you load up 2.0.35 you won't have to redo anything. It should fly as is.

I added camera reversing but I found a bug in the reversing code. It's minor and shouldn't affect users unless they have a very asymmetric PWM setting. Even, then it would hardly be noticeable. It can be set by the Mission planner, using the parameter list. No GUI yet. We will have to hold off on a GUI untill more camera functionality is defined.

1 = reversed, 0 = not reversed. Param name is CAM_R_REV CAM_P_REV for roll and pitch. I have not tested it and I'm sure it works.

If that script works for you, great!

Jason

Jose Angel July 12, 2011 at 4:07pm

As Sasha says, installing a new firmware requires a repetitive number of steps...always the same tedious process. But if you don't do it there is a risk if some EEPROM variables change its position in the new firmware. After loading new code, the safest approach is to erase, reset (to default values) and setup step by step.

For me another problem is that the setup process requires me to connect the lipo (in APM 2560 USB does not power the servo rail / radio) and the music from ESCs disturb my family (specially during the nights, which is by far the most productive part of the day as all is quiet). In my frame it's not easy to disconnect the ESCs from power....

To be able to install and configure new firmwares in a fast and quiet way, I have added a custom setup function, that initializes radio min_max with own custom values, flightmodes, enable compass, set my own declination, enables sonar and init accel (level). All in only one command.

Now, after uploading a new modified firmware, I simply type in CLI:
setup
erase
reset (reboot APM)
setup
custom (make sure the quad is leveled and quiet for proper accel calibration)

And that's all....ready to fly!

Disclaimer: I don't accept any responsability about the following code. I have tested and it works ok for me, buy maybe this type of initalization can lead to undesired behaviour. I'm not an official arducopter developer and this code is not supported in any way by diydrones community. It's just MY code.

But if you want to take the risk, just download the new firmware, open setup.pde and modify the following:
In line 4 add a new pointer to your custom function
static int8_t setup_custom (uint8_t argc, const Menu::arg *argv);

In line 29, add a line for the name of the menu option and your new function:
{"custom", setup_custom},

And finally, add the following function to the end of the file.YOU WILL NEED TO MODIFY:
1) The min_max values for each of your radio channels (check the real values using "radio" command)
2) Your desired order for flight modes
2) Your specific declination. Mine in Madrid/Spain is -1.61

static int8_t
setup_setupja(uint8_t argc, const Menu::arg *argv)
{
Serial.println("\n\nJose Angel Setup:");
Serial.println("\nRadio values before modifications:");
report_radio();

g.rc_1.radio_min = 994;
g.rc_2.radio_min = 991;
g.rc_3.radio_min = 989;
g.rc_4.radio_min = 1000;
g.rc_5.radio_min = 1138;
g.rc_6.radio_min = 1938;
g.rc_7.radio_min = 1500;
g.rc_8.radio_min = 1500;

g.rc_1.radio_max = 2009;
g.rc_2.radio_max = 2007;
g.rc_3.radio_max = 2007;
g.rc_4.radio_max = 2008;
g.rc_5.radio_max = 1784;
g.rc_6.radio_max = 1944;
g.rc_7.radio_max = 1500;
g.rc_8.radio_max = 1500;

g.rc_1.radio_trim = 1500;
g.rc_2.radio_trim = 1500;
g.rc_4.radio_trim = 1500;
// 3 is not trimed
g.rc_5.radio_trim = 1500;
g.rc_6.radio_trim = 1500;
g.rc_7.radio_trim = 1500;
g.rc_8.radio_trim = 1500;

//save in eeprom
g.rc_1.save_eeprom();
g.rc_2.save_eeprom();
g.rc_3.save_eeprom();
g.rc_4.save_eeprom();
g.rc_5.save_eeprom();
g.rc_6.save_eeprom();
g.rc_7.save_eeprom();
g.rc_8.save_eeprom();

Serial.println("\nRadio values after modifications:");
report_radio();

//#define STABILIZE 0 // hold level position
//#define ACRO 1 // rate control
//#define SIMPLE 2 //
//#define ALT_HOLD 3 // AUTO control
//#define AUTO 4 // AUTO control
//#define GUIDED 5 // AUTO control
//#define LOITER 6 // Hold a single location
//#define RTL 7 // AUTO control

Serial.println("\nModifying flight modes");
g.flight_modes[0] = 0;
g.flight_modes[1] = 6;
g.flight_modes[2] = 7;
g.flight_modes[3] = 3;
g.flight_modes[4] = 2;
g.flight_modes[5] = 4;
g.flight_modes.save();
report_flight_modes();

Serial.println("\nEnabling compass and setting declination to -1.61");
g.compass_enabled.set_and_save(true);
compass.set_declination(radians(-1.61));
g.compass_enabled.save();
report_compass();

Serial.println("\nEnabling sonar");
g.sonar_enabled.set_and_save(true);
report_sonar();

Serial.println("\nCalibrating gyro/accel");
imu.init_accel();
print_accel_offsets();
report_imu();
return(0);
}
---------------

Obviously, after executing the custom command you MUST check in CLI that everything is ok. With "show" command you can check all values (including min_max values for each channel), with "compass" command you can check if your compass is enabled and declination is correct. With "modes" and your radio powered on, you can check that your custom flightmodes order is correctly configured. With test/sonar you can check sonar values.

If everything is ok, give it a try and have fun!!

Remember that if you change your hardware (radio, receiver, compass, sonar, apm, escs) you should review and possibly modify this code.

Note:
Don't be too severe on me.... the code could be easily improved using defines and putting the custom values in a separate file for a cleaner code, but this was a quick and dirty test. Maybe some day, I will add a button to the Mission Planner to load a predefined setup...

Sasha July 12, 2011 at 3:59pm

Jason still got question about this...

g.rc_camera_pitch.set_reverse(true);

g.rc_camera_roll.set_reverse(true);

Do u know how to make this small changes in firmware without touching everything? i mean do i need to upload from scratch everything in arduino to makes theese changes? and run again APM popup calibration etc?... Or wait till 2.0.35 will come out and then easily change camera gain,and reverse settings but anway will still need re-calibrate even crazy compass :).... ? Thanks

Sasha July 12, 2011 at 2:45pm

Sorry offtopic...it just was funny take off for me lol :)

Sasha July 12, 2011 at 12:57pm

Ok here's my Success Flight :) All PID's default!

After first take of it was yawing a lot and i did some manaeuvers landed disarmed (Saved calib) and did this for 2-3 times.
And yeaah! on 4th take off the yawing is gone! I did some good hovering you can see the video! :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF-WO4KDYks

My flight time was about 6.30-7minutes on Turnigy 3s 3600mah (not nano-tech) without any cameras or mounts. four batteries used on this field so about 20-25 minutes in air today.

After i switched off Alt_hold hexa wanted to come down a little fast so i guess i need to make 50% always when switching to alt_hold , anyway alt_hold stays in 50cm-1m corrections, i will post video of alt_hold later.

I thanked Jason in this video too:))

Jose Angel July 12, 2011 at 11:31am

Jason, I'm back from testing and RTL is ok.

I modified the lines you suggested and also decreased maximum speed to 4 m/s.
Even with the wind it returned to the launch point. I thought that it would loiter at the home point but I see him fighting with the wind and changing its nose to come back, so I suppose it keeps trying to navigate to the home point indefinitely.

Alt_hold is not as accurate as last week, I'm not sure if the wind is disturbing the baro... Jason, have you protected the baro with foam or something similar? any picture?

Next goal is waypoints.... I have to read the wiki and play with Mission Planner to the understand the process.

Thanks Jason!

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