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.

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

Join diydrones

Comments

Lisa Aston February 9, 2012 at 7:36pm

I get an 3D GPS lock in 30 seconds when connected using the USB cable, but after 30 minutes using XBEE I get no GPS lock at all. I can't look at satellites in the GCS terminal using the XBEE so I don't know what's going on. Thank you for your help.
MIGUEL JUAREZ TAPIA February 1, 2012 at 7:58am

if only i have the ardupilot mega, it is forced use de IMU shield?
Ed Stewart January 8, 2012 at 3:23am

Adi,

Welcome to the group. It's my understanding that a 'shield' in this case is basically a daughter board attached to the main processor board to add additional functions, a Gyro would measure degrees of rotation in any particular direction and an Accelerometer would measure changes in speed and the rate of change in any particular direction.
Adi Membala January 3, 2012 at 9:57pm

hello everyone.. i am a student and i want to ask about ardupilot mega and IMU.:)

1. What the meaning of "shield" from IMU shield??.

2. To measure the output of Pitch degree, we use gyro or accelerometer??.

3. what the different of gyro and accelero??.

thanks for help.

regard
Julian Davidson November 20, 2011 at 10:16am

Thanks Chris!
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson November 20, 2011 at 10:13am

You should have used https://code.google.com/p/ardupilot-mega/ (you forgot the "s)

You can find the details of what you need to enter on the source code top page.

We can't do Git support here beyond what's in the manual. There are loads of Git tutorials out there
Julian Davidson November 20, 2011 at 10:06am

Hi,

Any Idea what I've done wrong? In using the GitGUI after select Clone Existing Repository:

Source location:http://code.google.com/p/ardupilot-mega/

TArget Directory : c:/users/JLT/Desktop/APM

After press ENTER ... I have a new window and state "working... Please Wait..." (And been waiting for hours..nothing happening...normal?)

Wanted to follow the MP development... what is the Source location should I enter?

Thanks in advance... :)
Julian Davidson November 20, 2011 at 8:44am

Hi Chris,

For the Magnetic Declination, e.g 14 13 EAST .... is enter as "14.13"

What if it is 0 -6 EAST ..... Enter as "-0.6" ?

Thanks!
Julian Davidson November 20, 2011 at 7:47am

Thanks!

Will go through it. Wow ... lots to learn ....
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson November 20, 2011 at 7:33am

Julian: Git is the version control system used in our Google Code repository. A intro on how to use it with ArduPlane is in the manual.

of 71

This reply was deleted.