Which firmware version is currently best

Posted by RoboBill on October 18, 2014 at 5:06pm

I read somewhere the official 2.46 had track steering problems. I understand the current beta fixes that issue. Many thanks to all developers. But the current beta now seems to have disabled the GPS's. Since I'm working with Piksis, I really don't know how far back I can go where I have track steering and my Pixhawk recognizes the Piksi RTK.... so which version is best?

BTW is backing up on the horizon?

Thanks 

RoboBill

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Replies

  • Admin
    Thomas J Coyle III October 18, 2014 at 8:07pm

    @Robobill,

    The ArduRover v2.47 beta 1 and versions 2.44 and 2.45 correctly implement the skid (differential) steering, however I have not had any success getting the rangefinder (sonar) function to work correctly and I have informed Tridge about my rangefinder issue. Versions 2.44 and 2.45 lack some of the new functions implemented in v2.46.

    The primary GPS worked just fine with v2.47 beta 1. I would have to look at the data flash log to see if the secondary GPS is working.

    Did you enable the secondary GPS with the GPS_TYPE2 parameter?

    As far as backing up goes, it will be up to Tridge to implement that function.

    Regards,

    TCIII AVD 

    • RoboBill > Thomas J Coyle III October 18, 2014 at 9:37pm

      @TCIII

      Using the latest 2.47 beta, I enabled both GPS' and the auto switch. I plugged the 3DR into 1 and the Piksi is on 2. I toyed around with the type setting trying both Auto and specific. I could not get the Pixhawk to recognize either GPS... the LED stayed blue. If I went back to the original 2.46, the LED went to green and I got 3DR Fix on the HUD. (I still have yet to get RTK, but that's another issue). 

      Thanks

      RoboBill

    • Admin
      Thomas J Coyle III > RoboBill October 19, 2014 at 10:05am

      @Robobill,

      Can you please provide a data flash log recorded during the time that you had that issue?

      As I said in my post above, the primary GPS worked fine and I got the green led after a few minutes.

      I have reviewed my data flash logs and both GPSs are indicating an Instance of 1 for that parameter. Therefore the Pixhawk is receiving data from both GPSs.

      How are you powering your Pixhawk? I am supplying my Pixhawks using a 2 amp 5vdc supply tied into a USB breakout box. My laptop does not supply any power to the Pixhawk. Only the breakout box.

      Regards,

      TCIII AVD

    • RoboBill > Thomas J Coyle III October 19, 2014 at 1:51pm

      @TCIII

      I've never dealt with any log stuff. When reading about it, I got completely lost... i.e. the mission planner is looking for a *.log file. I found the tlog and rlog files. The rlog files go empty after I disconnect.  So sorry, it's just too confusing. I just could not find a simple "for dummies" description on how to create the file you want. So I'll just have to wait. 

      For what its worth, I noted that the Pixhawk LED went green on start up as it should for ~ 10 seconds then went blue.

      Thanks

      RoboBill

    • Admin
      Thomas J Coyle III > RoboBill October 19, 2014 at 2:43pm

      @RoboBill,

      There is a function bar under the HUD in the MP.

      One of the functions is for the Data Log.

      Click on that Tab and it will open a window allowing you to download the data logs that are on the SD card.

      The downloaded data logs should be found in the MP/log/ArduRover/ directory once the download is complete.

      Regards,

      TCIII AVD

    • RoboBill > Thomas J Coyle III October 19, 2014 at 5:29pm

      @TCIII

      I clicked on "Download Dataflash via MavLink" and got the error "Cannot find Log List". After restarting the Pixhawk several times, I was finally able to get the screen you referred to. A whole bunch of files were created but I think I've attached the log file you want.

      Thanks

      RoboBill

      2014-10-19 16-46-19 3.bin.log

    • Admin
      Thomas J Coyle III > RoboBill October 20, 2014 at 5:32am

      @RoboBill,

      An analysis of your data flash log indicates that neither GPS is giving an Instant parameter of 1 which means that the Pixhawk is not communicating with the GPSs.

      Once question: why is your GPS_NAVFILTER parameter set to 3 when the default is 8?

      Otherwise, I cannot tell from the data flash log why your GPSs are not communicating with the Pixhawk.

      Regards,

      TCIII AVD

    • RoboBill > Thomas J Coyle III October 20, 2014 at 8:39am

      @TCIII

      Thanks for the quick analysis.

      I set the gps_navfilter according to this ublox manual I found. After I changed the gps_navfilter to 8, the Pixhawk LED did turn green for a second but then went back to blue.

      Since I can make the Pixhawk LED turn green with an older firmware, can I assume its a FW bug? If so, how can I help expedite the fix? Do I need to report it somewhere?

      Thanks

      RoboBill

    • Admin
      Thomas J Coyle III > RoboBill October 20, 2014 at 8:47am

      @RoboBill,

      Since I cannot duplicate your issue using the same ArduRover2 v2.47 beta 1 firmware, it might not be a firmware bug.

      Do both of your GPSs show a flashing blue led as well as the red power led when you have been doing this testing?

      I have asked Tridge and Linus Penzlien, one of our Developers, to take a look at your data log to see if he can spot anything unusual.

      Regards,

      TCIII AVD

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