3D Robotics

APM 2.0 beta released!

3689393223?profile=originalI'm delighted to announce the release of the first public beta of ArduPilot Mega 2.0. This is a significant upgrade to APM 1.02, and now delivers on full 2-way in-air communications, including real-time mission planning and autopilot control.

 

[UPDATE:Arduino-free code uploading added to features]

 

New features/changes include:

  • --Full support for the MAVlink protocol, which is now APM's default communications method.
  • --Auto-detection of GPS modules. No more requirement to tell APM what GPS module you're using--it will figure it out and configure the module appropriately!
  • 3689393150?profile=original--2-way telemetry.  Dozens of commands can now be sent from the Ground Station to the UAV while it's in the air. (see example from HK GCS at right)
  • --2-way Mission Planning. You can script and change missions in real time while the UAV is flying!
  • --Supports APM boards with the ATMega2560 chip, which has twice as much memory as the current board. The DIY Drones store will begin selling these new boards when the final version of APM 2.0 is released.
  • --Mission Planner now uploads firmware and checks for new versions online. No need for Arduino (unless you want it)!
  • --Magnetometer fully supported.
  • --Current sensor fully supported
  • --Support for the latest HK Ground Control Station and QGroundControl ground stations.
  • --Mission Planning and configuration can now be done wirelessly. No need to use USB if you don't want to.
  • --No more fiddling with a configuration file in Arduino! The software comes ready to go, right out of the box
  • --New command-line tests allow you to check failsafe operation, Xbees, radio inputs and more.
  • --New versions of HK GCS and the Mission Planner operate in MAVLink mode, allowing for wireless operation and compatibility with other MAVLink devices, including those running the Robot Operating System (ROS)

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Huge props to the whole development team: Doug Weibel (project leader), Michael Smith, Jason Short, James Goppert, Michael Oborne (mission planner), Paul Mather (GCS), Lorenz Meier (MAVLink integration), Randy Mackay, Ryan Beall, Darren Corley, Joe Holdsworth, and countless others who have contributed with flight testing and bug catching!

 

Remember that this is an initial beta release, so there may be bugs and undocumented bits. After the beta-testing period (usually about six weeks) we'll release APM 2.0 final version, and retire APM 1.02.

 

Loading the code automatically:

 

Just download the Mission Planner and select "Upload Firmware" from the Tools section of the menu. Make sure APM is plugged into your USB port and you've selected the right port from the Mission Planner menu. Click on "Update Check" and the program will search online for the latest version of the code and load it to APM.

 

If you want to do a simulation with Xplane, follow the instructions below. That will soon be a firmware option with the Mission Planner, too.

 

Loading manually (Optional)

[UPDATE: Ignore this section if you don't want to fiddle with the code. Arduino is no longer required to load the code!]

 

Download the zip file, unzip it to your desktop. You will have two folders inside your APM 2.0 folder, as shown:

 

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Make sure you're using the latest Arduino (0022). Set your Arduino Sketchbook location to the APM 2.0 folder, as shown below. You must exit Arduino and restart it for this to take effect. Within Arduino, open up the ArduPilotMega.pde file within the ArduPilotMega folder, and that will open all the other files. Before you compile, don't forget to select the right board (Arduino Mega 1280 or Arduino Mega 2560)

 

3689393238?profile=original3689393027?profile=original

(Note: in the final version of APM 2.0, you will not have to use the Arduino IDE at all: the Mission Planner will load the firmware for you and check for more recent versions. The Arduino IDE will just be available in case you want to modify or inspect the code. UPDATE: this is now live)

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Additional instructions:

--If you're doing flight simulation with Xplane, instructions for doing it with APM 2.0 are here.

--Make sure you're using the latest Mission Planner and HK GCS. In the Mission Planner, make sure you select APM 2.x modes (MAVLink), shown at right.

 

Known issues:

1) Mission Planner won't write waypoints on Port 0 in HIL mode. Instead, write the waypoints via your Xbee (port 3); remember to change the Mission Planner baud rate to 57k when using the Xbee port.
2) Uploading mission commands is still not fully documented. We'll get to that this week
3) There may be some issues with datalogs not recording. We're looking into it.

4) The manual still describes the 1.02 software. We'll change that to 2.0 during the beta test period, so by the time we release the final of 2.0 the manual is fully updated.

5) This has been mostly tested with 900 Mhz Xbee modules and the XstreamBee adapter, which work great. However, there is an issue with the 2.4 Ghz Xbee modules, which have a slightly different hardware configuration that conflicts with that adapter when sending data upstream. A short term workaround is to solder a jumper from the adapter's CTS to V+ pin. The next version of these adapter boards will include a more graceful fix.

 

If you find any bugs, please file a report in the Issue Tracker. The dev team will not be responding to bug reports filed in blog comments

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Comments

  • So which command were you using?
  • Already reverted, but as one user to one developer (and IMO master guru of my number one project in my life right now) But really? throw me a bone, whats the alternative right now? Has anyone of you guru's reading this got a tip for an old dog :) I mean, like "ya, try issuing command x in qgc" if you know what I mean.

    However I do want to say It has been a pleasure testing 2.0 so far!

  • Darren,

    It is holding steady in each mode.

     

     

  • Darren, I just programmed an old Arduino board to generate the PPM inputs to the APM. Just the control channel is normally sufficient. If I get get enthused enough, I'll write a small application that reads a joystick and sends serial to the Arduino to control all the channels. If I hadn't thrown out my old analogue joystick I could hook that directly to the Arduino.
  • 3D Robotics
    Darren: I suggest you use the previous version of HK GCS. It will still work the way it did.

    I'm glad you found the one command that worked in that list, but everyone else was confused by the dozen that didn't (they were inherited from MAVLink 1.0, which has now been replaced by MAVLink 2.0). We'll add the necessary functionality and re-enable the menu in a week or so.

    This is the way beta testing normally works--thanks for your patience!
  • Chris: this has really put a dampener on my testing, as I usually dont have rc tx/rx even powered up while in hil and safely bench testing with no servos etc. I have like no way to change modes other than breaking out a spare radio and receiver for a dedicated bench setup and/or rewiring in the plane.

    I'm trying to research commands now to create a custom button in qgc to enable auto modes, but to be honest, hk's actions was the golden ticket as far as i was concerned. the crucial ones did work, and at the moment apm planner nor qgc (at least that I can find) can engage auto nav.

  • and how about the modeswitch test in cli, when you flick it back and forth, does it hold steady with each, or does it flicker or change by itself when left alone?
  • Darren here are the ranges i'm reading in cli

     

    pwm for Manual=2073-2075 and Auto=967-968

     

    Radio test Manual=998-1000 and Auto =0-1

     

     

     

  • Marlan, can you run a modeswitch test in cli as well as a pwm test to see what the two positions are doing.

    Sometimes if the pwm is too far off of what apm is expecting, the mode switch can cause the apm to rapidly switch between two modes.

     

  • 3D Robotics
    Darren: this is just a temporary measure during the beta period. The features will be back in the final release
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