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Posted by Chris Anderson on May 1, 2010 at 3:30pm

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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.

 

 

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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).

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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!3689354440?profile=original (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.

 

 

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Comments

  • Michael October 22, 2010 at 2:21pm
    Does anyone know the lowest operating temperature for ArduPilot Mega? I'm working on a project with a weather balloon that will take it over 60,000 feet and temps. as low as -40 C. If we could use ArduPilot for this it would be nice.
  • 3D Robotics
    Chris Anderson October 22, 2010 at 8:00am
    Flying toh: The default gains are set to be appropriate for the standard airframes. But you can change any gain you want with the configuration file. Please see the manual for more.
  • flying toh October 22, 2010 at 12:01am
    Why is the pitch and roll not as responsive as yaw etc? Is there a way to edit the responsiveness of the data? TIA
  • The Old Flyer October 21, 2010 at 12:49pm
    Michael,

    You are so right. I see the APM_Config.h.reference when I list the ArduPilotMega folder.
    I recompiled with
    #define GCS_PROTOCOL GCS_PROTOCOL_LEGACY
    and
    #define GCS_PORT 3
    set in APM_Config.h The upload went OK
    With the USB connection, and the Ardduino Serial terminal set to COM 6 I get the Init ArduPilotMega greeting.
    I checked my XBee connection with X-CTU (on COM8) and get 'T.D...c.aT.D..c.. etc.
    In the DIY DRONES GCS I set the COM Port to 8 and the baud rate to 38400. (I am using UBLOX)
    Comm Status stays red and I get no operation in the Main window.

    Where is the documentation for the ArduPilot GCS use with APM?

    Again, thanks very much.
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    C.AT - Shortest Cat Related Domain For Sale
  • Daniel R Ramirez Rebollo October 21, 2010 at 11:47am
    well i think i just solved the probles if anyone have the same issue this is how i solve it , check with multimeter continuity between each port and you'll hear the sound , for the output pin as it has an 700 something resistor check the multimeter marking that resistor value between pins . if need more help I'll send you pics thanks
  • Developer
    Michael Smith October 21, 2010 at 11:21am
    @Irvin - I downloaded the current Beta zipfile before sending my last reply.

    • The APM_Config.h.reference file is present in the archive.
    • GCS_PROTOCOL_LEGACY is documented in that file.
    • The code that implements GCS_PROTOCOL_LEGACY is also present in the archive.
  • iangl October 21, 2010 at 11:18am
    all right Sandro maaany thanks!
  • The Old Flyer October 21, 2010 at 11:13am
    Michael,
    Have you looked at the files included in the APM_Beta1.0.zip lately? The APM_Config.h.reference is also missing in the release that I downloaded. As I said earlier - GCS_PROTOCOL_LEGACY is not in the release. I did see it in one of the later Alpha releases.
    Thanks for your patience.
  • Developer
    Michael Smith October 21, 2010 at 10:53am
    @irvin - I'm not sure what you're looking for in the way of documentation above and beyond what's there already. GCS_PROTOCOL_LEGACY is quite clearly called out in APM_Config.h.reference, which is described (and included) in the page here:

    http://code.google.com/p/ardupilot-mega/wiki/AdvancedConfig

    A few seconds looking at the GCS_* tabs would have led you to what you were looking for as well. You could also try just selecting the protocol and trying to compile...
  • Daniel R Ramirez Rebollo October 21, 2010 at 10:44am
    Hi , I´m having problems with mi airspeed sensor , I ordered the normal one but I received the ardupilot shield v2 , wich has lots of ports , does anyone knows where the 5v , GND and analog ports are ? or it work different? thanks guys
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