I have an unresponsive throttle in all flight modes (I have a 3-way switch and use Auto, Manual, and Stabilize). I am trying to figure out if it is a hardware or software issue. The Auto mode is giving me all sorts of trouble too, but address that once I get the throttle problem sorted out.
I've used a logic analyzer that tells me that no matter which flight mode I'm in, my input PWMs are valid (so the transmitter & receiver are good); and the APM outputs show to be valid PWM signals as well, with the exception of the throttle output. The throttle output seems to be stuck in a constant "high" mode, so the voltage reads as a continuous output.
Equipment includes an airspeed sensor, GPS unit (properly programmed since the telemetry is correct in Mission Planner 1.0.81), magnetometer, and XBee. The firmware is 2.24. This was also the case in MP version 1.0.65 and firmware 2.23.
So far I am unable to tell whether the software or hardware has issues. My guess is the latter.
-Johnny
Replies
If you're getting no throttle in manual mode (which is a direct electrical pass-through from your receiver), you've probably made a soldering error. There's no software in that loop at all in manual mode--it's a direct hardware connection from Input to Output. Try plugging the ESC into CH3 of your Rx. If that works, but it doesn't work on RC Out 3 on APM in manual mode, then you know where to look for the bad solder joint.