ArduPlane home page

Convert any RC airplane into a fully-autonomous UAV!

Just add the APM 2 autopilot to any RC aircraft and it becomes a fully-programmable flying robot with a powerful ground station and Mission Planner.

Features include:

Return to Launch with a flick of your RC toggle switch or a mouse click in the graphical Ground Station
Unlimited 3D GPS waypoints
Built-in camera control
Fully-scriptable missions
One-click software load, and easy point-and-click configuration in the powerful Mission Planner. NO programming required!
Replay recorded missions and analyze all the data with a graphing interface
Supports two-way telemetry with Xbee wireless modules.
Point-and-click waypoint entry or real-time mission commands while the UAV is in the air
Fly with a joystick or gamepad via your PC--no need for RC control!
Built-in failsafe will bring your aircraft home in the case of radio loss

All instructions and software are here.

APM 2 is an open source, Arduino-compatible, pro-quality autopilot. It is the most advanced IMU-based open source autopilot available today, and provides an entire UAV control system with scriptable missions with 3D waypoints, in-flight uploading of commands and powerful ground station software.

APM 2 supports any kind of of vehicle with a one-click change of code. Available code include ArduPlane (fixed wing), ArduCopter (rotary wing), ArduRover (ground vehicles) and more.

Everything you need to create an ArduPlane UAV:

* APM 2.5 autopilot with GPS ($179)

* [Optional] Telemetry kit ($75).

You'll also need a at least a five-channel RC radio setup, a soldering iron, a mini USB cable and of course something that flies! (We're partial to the SkyFun delta wing (right) and
Bixlee 2 powered glider (left) or its equivalents ourselves).

Resources:

Manual
Source code/firmware

Note: ArduPilot Mega requires no programming, but it's open source and you're welcome to modify it if you'd like. If you are going to play with the code, you can use the free Arduino IDE to edit and upload the code to the ArduPilot board.

Hey Guys.

Has anyone attempted to upgrade the chip on their APM1280 board to a ATMega2560 by hand soldering? Are the boards the same other than the chip, or are there revisions to the PCB that make this direct chip replacement impossible?

I strongly doubt this would be supported by the team, but seeing as the chips are fairly cheap on there own, I thought it could be an option to give it a go. If I destroy the board/chip in the process, then it's no huge disaster as the alternative was to upgrade to the APM2560 anyway. (I really appreciate keeping the CPU/RC separate to the expensive sensors!)

Sorry If this has been discussed before, I've been away from DIYd for a few months and find we are already talking about 'sunsetting' the 1280! I checked the forums and recent blog posts but couldn't find any reference to a hand soldered frankenpilot. :)

Jim

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Comments

Bill September 16, 2011 at 5:44pm

Are there plans to release a new version of the hardware or is it mature and now only the software is being developed?

Thanks, Bill
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson September 16, 2011 at 2:28am

Jonny: Yes, it's easy with the Mission Planner. Please see the manual for more. You can use 2.4 Xbees, but the setup process is a bit more complicated (and the range shorter) than the 900 ones we recommend. It's in the manual too.
dusl August 19, 2011 at 5:00am

yes i can
alex jack August 18, 2011 at 8:57pm

can you use Ultrasonic Range Finders sensor with the ArduPilot Mega
John C. August 17, 2011 at 10:32am

There are quite a few other differences in the board from what I saw.

In all honesty, the 1280 still has legs.

Under Construction
Jim August 17, 2011 at 10:14am

Hey Guys.

Has anyone attempted to upgrade the chip on their APM1280 board to a ATMega2560 by hand soldering? Are the boards the same other than the chip, or are there revisions to the PCB that make this direct chip replacement impossible?

I strongly doubt this would be supported by the team, but seeing as the chips are fairly cheap on there own, I thought it could be an option to give it a go. If I destroy the board/chip in the process, then it's no huge disaster as the alternative was to upgrade to the APM2560 anyway. (I really appreciate keeping the CPU/RC separate to the expensive sensors!)

Sorry If this has been discussed before, I've been away from DIYd for a few months and find we are already talking about 'sunsetting' the 1280! I checked the forums and recent blog posts but couldn't find any reference to a hand soldered frankenpilot. :)

Jim
Cool Dude August 9, 2011 at 4:33pm

I was interested in the schemtics of the "MediaTek MT3329 GPS 10Hz". I want to use this outside the APM to get raw GPS data. The board has 6 wires using JST connector but I have no idea which wire is what signal. If someone has it can you please pass it on to me.

Thanks
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson August 8, 2011 at 7:43am

Andrew: I'm not sure. If you were powering the board through a BEC that should be fine. Even if the other battery was undervoltage, it would just cause a brownout, not damange.

I suggest you go through a setup process again (reset, radio calibration etc) and try those tests again.
Ahmed Rehan August 7, 2011 at 1:42pm

can apm handel deep stall landing?
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson August 6, 2011 at 7:34am

Andrew: did you connect the battery directly to the board or via an ESC? Power input must be 5v through an ESC unless you've configured APM to use the internal power regulator. If you connect a high voltage battery directly to APM, without an ESC, you will destroy the board.

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