Developer

ArduCopter-3.2 beta testing

Warning #1: PX4/Pixhawk users upgrading from AC3.1.5 (or earlier) may need to re-do their compass and accelerometer calibration because AC3.2 also uses the backup compass and accels.  Pre-arm checks have been added to ensure this has been done.

Warning #2: on the APM2.x the logs must be downloaded using MAVlink instead of the terminal.

AC3.2-rc14 is now available for BetaTesters through the mission planner’s Beta Firmwares link.  The full release notes can be found in ReleaseNotes.txt and changes from -rc13 can be seen below.

     Feel free to raise issues found during testing on this discussion or in the new support section in the APM Forum.

     It’s a big release with “the onion” restructure and a bunch of new features (including these 57 closed items) so we need to re-test almost everything including all flight modes, all mission commands and all the new features.  Marco and I will be maintaining (and adding to) this testing list.  Issues reported will first be checked by Jonathan, Marco and I and then confirmed bugs/issues will be put on the github issues list (and then hopefully fixed).

     Thanks especially to the beta testers who put their copters at risk testing each release.  Enjoy!

Changes from 3.2-rc13
1) Safety Features:
     a) fail to arm if second gyro calibration fails (can be disabled with ARMING_CHECK)
2) Bug fixes:
    a) DCM-check to require one continuous second of bad heading before triggering LAND
    b) I2C bug that could lead to Pixhawk freezing up if I2C bus is noisy
    c) reset DCM and EKF gyro bias estimates after gyro calibration (DCM heading could drift after takeoff due to sudden change in gyro values)
    d) use primary GPS for LED status (instead of always using first GPS)

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  • This reply was deleted.
    • Yes. You dont loose much, maybe 1m from what i have seen. It's just that the barometer gets confused due to the rush of air as you fly fast. Compensate with a little throttle and you are good to go.

      Randy said that in a future version of ArduCopter some formulas might be implemented to compensate for the barometer confusion.

      • This reply was deleted.
        • Developer

          If you have a log that would help me determine the cause.

          My off the cuff guess is that the alt-hold controller simply can't maintain the altitude with the lean angle that's being requested by the pilot.  This is perhaps the likely cause if the vehicle doesn't have this issue Loiter mode where the horizontal controller is careful not to ask for more than the frame can provide.

        • Yes I get that too. It has been a bit frustrating for me as I spent a great deal of time building a waterproof quad so I could get low level high definition video over water but because of this issue it was impossible. The copter would go up and or down 20 meters on high speed runs. I was better off in stabilize mode. I left the battery door open to see if it was the equalization vent but it was not. What would happen with me is on a high speed forward run it would drop to the point I have to increase the throttle then as I slowed down it would shoot up 20 meters. It seems like there could be a firmware solution for this. If forward speed created a lower altitude seems like this could be automatically be adjusted. Might not work going in reverse real fast but I'd say that would be a decent trade off. 

  • i test arducopter 3.2 rc12

    apm

    2 different gps with nmea output (38400 baud VTG GGA 5Hz)

    in mission planner show "no gps"

    blue led off

    i test different gps settings 1 (auto), 5(nmea) - no difference

    when i use AC 3.15 firmware - all work fine

    • This reply was deleted.
      • i test gps modules separatly

        as primary gps at APM controller

        NMEA protocol on APM is not work

        • Developer

          Alexey,

          Yes, you're right.  Due to flash space constraints we dropped NMEA and SIRF GPS Support in AC3.2.  It's possible to re-enable them if you're compiling the code yourself.  It should work by simply commenting out this line from AP_GPS.h:

          #if HAL_CPU_CLASS < HAL_CPU_CLASS_75 && defined(APM_BUILD_DIRECTORY)
              #if (APM_BUILD_TYPE(APM_BUILD_ArduCopter) || defined(__AVR_ATmega1280__))
          //        #define GPS_SKIP_SIRF_NMEA            <---- comment out this line.
              #endif
          #endif

          Although in my testing I found I needed to comment out this line in AP_GPS.cpp where the GPS_SKIP_SIRF_NMEA definition is checked.

          These two GPS drivers consume 4k of flash and we're simply out of space on the APM2.  We could potentially create an alternative set of binaries for people to load themselves with the "Load custom firmware" link of the mission planner.

          • Randy,

            thank you very much for your help!!!

            of course i will compile hex file for myself and for my friends

            all modules ublox, sirf & mediatek  is support nmea protocol

            maybe select it by default for compatibility in next relises ?

This reply was deleted.

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