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Which Software To Use with PX4, Qgroundcontrol or APM:Copter?

Posted by Steve on August 10, 2014 at 6:26pm

This is very confusing. I'm trying to setup an F550 hexcopter using the Pixhawk PX4.  The Pixhawk website has a link to Qgroundcontrol 2.0 which is what they seem to want used.  However at 3D Robotics, who sells the PX4, they seem to favor APM:Copter which seems to be a competing but incompatible suite of software.   At first I thought that was only for the Arducopter but it looks like that works for either the PX4 or APM so so which do I use?  So far Qgroundcontrol is a non-starter and won't work in Windows 7 or 8 and when I went to the APM download page I couldn't even figure out what I needed so I'm not getting off to a very good start.  Can anyone list the pros and cons of each software package and recommend one or the other, assuming either one can ever be made to work or is there something else that's better?  Thanks.

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Replies

            • Nicholas Matias > Craig Elder January 18, 2016 at 3:17pm

              Thanks Craig! Sorry I was referring to the px4 code.

              Thanks for the link, I'll have a good look at it.

              All the best.

              • Developer
                Craig Elder > Nicholas Matias January 18, 2016 at 3:21pm

                If you are running PX4 code then QGC works better, but you don't get the same mapping features

                • Pascal P. > Craig Elder February 3, 2016 at 3:13am

                  So QGC for setup and calibration of PX4 coded Pixhawk, then go to Mission Planner to... plan survey mission ?

                  • Matt™ > Pascal P. February 25, 2016 at 1:33pm

                    I'm interested in any responses to this too.  I like the QGC interface better and would like to tinker with the PX4 firmware, but can't give up the grid functionality and other stuff that QGC doesn't have, but Mission Planner does.

                • Nicholas Matias > Craig Elder January 19, 2016 at 6:37pm

                  Thanks Craig I'll Check it out.

    • ZiyangLi > Craig Elder October 21, 2014 at 2:45am

      I am a Linux user. But it seems APM Planner does not upload Pixhawk native software by default. Where can I find the source code?

      • Developer
        Craig Elder > ZiyangLi October 21, 2014 at 12:16pm

        You can use the load custom firmware option in either Mission Planner or APM Planner to load the native PX4 code.  The files to load can be found here http://pixhawk.org/firmware/downloads

        • ZiyangLi > Craig Elder October 21, 2014 at 6:43pm

          Thank you Craig! Can MP or APM Planner also configure the native PX4 code, like calibrating the RC and setting the failsafe? I have tried but it seems they can not. Another question is that where can I find the corresponding source code of the files provided by http://pixhawk.org/firmware/downloads? I want to read the source code since at some point I need to add a custom flight mode.

          • Developer
            Craig Elder > ZiyangLi October 21, 2014 at 9:54pm

            >>>Can  MP or APM Planner also configure the native PX4 code

            You can read and set parameters but don't expect a nice GUI.

            If you want to know about the native code start here http://pixhawk.org/users/first_steps and here https://github.com/PX4

            I have to ask though unless you are a researcher, why do you want the native code?

            • ZiyangLi > Craig Elder October 22, 2014 at 12:46am

              Thanks for your answer. I need to grab sensors data, do fusion and send back data/control signal to the FMU. I am not quite sure how deep should I dive yet but it seems at least I have to control the throttle and torque directly. So I need to know how it is done and how to modify that.

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