Blogs

3D Robotics

APM: the Universal Autopilot

Posted by Chris Anderson on December 20, 2011 at 3:30pm

3689438274?profile=original

I just had to a share a bit of pride that I got checking out the latest release (1.1.11) of the Mission Planner. Look at all those vehicles APM now supports!!! To say nothing of all the hardware-in-the-loop simulations at the bottom left of that screen. And ArduRover, ArduBoat, and coming soon, ArduBlimp (successor to Blimpduino) and ArduTank (!).

I think we just need to add ArduSub and ArduRocket and we've got the entire world of vehicles covered. Not bad for $200 ;-)

This why we call APM the Universal Autopilot. As far as I know, this sort of one-autopilot-does-everything has never been accomplished before. So proud of the dev teams!

E-mail me when people leave their comments –
Follow

You need to be a member of diydrones to add comments!

Join diydrones

Comments

  • Anish December 21, 2011 at 5:53am

    @bill I am on the udb-dev list ( have udb 4 - so far only HIL), I have to thank Peter for introducing the same to me. I do keep track of your blogs and do listen to some of your adventures from Peter :)

  • T3
    William Premerlani December 21, 2011 at 5:36am

    @Anish,

    Like Brian Wolfe, I joined "UAV Anonymous" (so I wonder, is that autonomous anonymous?), took a 12 step program, kicked my addiction. But, alas, I fell of the wagon, I am back doing research. (See the UDB page for a list of my recent blogs.)

    I am presently doing research on two "insanely hard" problems that have not yet  been yet solved by the community. I have them solved theoretically, now I am working on implementation. The weather in the northeast United States has slown me down, I hope to have things working early next year.

    Best regards,

    Bill

  • Jonis Maurin Ceara December 21, 2011 at 3:05am

    That's a great software! Te only problem that i can see is that is made for windows! For us (Mac users) it's su!#s to have an virtual machine running only for one software (an essential software!)

  • Jason Wise December 21, 2011 at 1:17am

    Ardusub/ROV? that would be a can of awesome!

  • Jason Wise December 21, 2011 at 1:14am

    arducopter = APM :)

  • Jason Wise December 21, 2011 at 1:12am

    Love your mojo Chris and the work you have put in to introducing me to the world of mulirotors made possible by arducopter and the mission planner and all the tinkering in between, Cheers bud!

  • Anish December 20, 2011 at 11:03pm
    @bill I thought u left research a while back :), hats off to you. We are hoping on more algo's and optimisations flowing out of u to the community. Or even mentoring a few newbies in the art and craft ;)
  • Anish December 20, 2011 at 11:00pm
    @garry they are awesome, the only downside to electric is duration ( 8s dual pack 15-20 min)
    @chris another crazy idea a cycle stabilisation unit, just APM with reversible motor and flywheel ;)
  • AKRCGUY December 20, 2011 at 10:54pm

    Dennis, check out this link Avatar Heli

  • Moderator
    Brian December 20, 2011 at 10:22pm

    Yea Chris, two wheeled autonomous cycles like on Terminator Salvation...

This reply was deleted.