I think I have the answer for setting failsafe on taranis and x8r with pixhawk for loss of radio communications or you simply turn off your transmitter.I am using Sbus.What I did was go into failsafe settings and set up a custom failsafe on flight mode channel>in my case it is channel 5.I set to +100 for RTL or LAND.I then armed the quad and raised the throttle and turned off the transmiiter.On mission planner (latest version) it triggered failsafe (no receiver) and immediately went to RTL.
I am very happy this set up is working on the ground.I will be trying in air soon and will update then.
If anyone would like to add or append this discussion,feel free to do so.
here is you tube url. http://youtu.be/QWyRfxlsnjE
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Larry check this if you haven't already. very easy to set up. It basically adds one new flight mode [RTL] without burning up a channel. It can be set ignore in auto.
http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/throttle-failsafe/
There is also a setting in the params to RTL or Land of mavlink is lost
Just an idea (i.e. nice to have) of what I'd like to see in Arducopter:
The ability to define multiple actions to execute in case of failsafe. Currently only 1 action is possible: e.g. nothing, land, or RTL. Of course, at the same time, it must not be too complex for beginners to understand. See it as something similar to defining "Special Functions" (previously known as "Custom Functions") in OpenTX. Depending on the chosen action, different types and numbers of parameters can be set.
In my case I want to RTL, but also send a high signal to a defined servo output for my lost model alarm, and orient the gimbal so that it's facing forward.
In the mean time, I set my receiver's failsafe to output the necessary signals instead of the recommended nothing.
Why are you using this method rather than using the default monitor throttle? Although I am also using a custom failsafe (un tested in the air)
I set the custome failsafe with throttle down and landing gear down, I thin added a slight offset to increase min throttle, then calibrate in mission planner. This way allows me to drop the landing gear my x8 has in the event of fail safe. If it wasn't for that I'd just set fail safe in the taranis to stop outputting pulses (my landing gear would sat up in that even).
Hi Stuart;
Not sure how to set failsafe with just throttle. I don't have retractable gear.Can you give me a better detailed explanation of your failsafe settings.Dont forget I have taranis radio x8r receiver and pixhawk.
Thanks,Larry
Can I just use mavlink to do the same thing,Just asking..
I will try tonite. But I like using channel 7 for RTL.
Thanks for the reply.....
You'll get a much better failsafe behaviour if you configure the 'internal' APM setup. For example you can have it RTL on signal loss, when not running a mission. ie. if it know where it's going it keeps going.
To set this up you just need to configure the Taranis receiver to send no PWM signal on signal loss and the rest is configured from a GCS.
As for the landing gear, I'll look into how we can trigger that on failsafe, as that would be a neat feature
I have been looking for a new radio and decided on the Taranis for the very reason the receiver I want can do a NO PWM fail safe. I noticed the Arora 9 can't do that if you use s-bus.. anyway One thing that is important is the feature that even after gaining TX signal it stays in RTL. Without the right set up this won't happen and a modle in auto mode could go back and forth out of sight until the battery goes dead.
Am I correct that the fact it stays in RTL even after regaining TX signal is a function of the amp / pixhawk not the receiver right? If so I believe this is an added benefit of setting up throttle FS via the GCS not just the 'custom' FS through the Taranis.
Bill
Check this
https://github.com/diydrones/ardupilot/issues/691