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.

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Comments

Brett Glossop November 4, 2010 at 4:28am

bob ma and daniel
some of the answers are in a recent arcticle on the wiki http://code.google.com/p/ardupilot-mega/wiki/Onboard
waypoints, channel to use etc.
Brett
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson November 3, 2010 at 10:24pm

Privanka, waypoints and GPS hold will be coming to the ArduCopter code over the next month. As for your second question, I'm not sure what you mean by "flight sensors". The ArduCopter kit comes with everything you need.
Priyanka Garigipati November 3, 2010 at 4:17pm

hi everyone,
i have the built the arducopter board and i have a quick question about flight

i was wondering if there is anyway to make the quadcopter with the Arducopter completely autonomous?
if so, is there a way to switch back to manual mode during flight if needed?

Are there any flight sensors needed for a quadcopter in order for the autopilot to work?

Thank You
hoopty November 3, 2010 at 2:33pm

Hey Guys, I am flip-flopping back and forth between heli's and planes. This week it is time to take out the plane. The Mega Planner is a really nice tool and I get a kick out of the resolution but something changed recently. I do not seem to be able to zoom in as well as I used to with previous versions. Can someone clue me in on why it changed?
Daniel R Ramirez Rebollo November 3, 2010 at 12:36pm

I dont think so , but as I understood the library reads all 8 inputs , so just have to make and if statemen or so , but not sure about this , you better check the library were it reads channels
bob ma November 3, 2010 at 11:27am

that's what in my mind. But is there anyone has already written the program?
Daniel R Ramirez Rebollo November 3, 2010 at 11:09am

I havent found any but if your read the code there are many loops mediom loop ,loop , slow loop maybe you can create a function and call it from some where that reads one RC chanel and activate a servo for pushing the camera button just dont know if it will affect any timing and sync
bob ma November 3, 2010 at 10:54am

guys, does anyone know how to take a photo on certain gps point with the ardupilot mega? is there any thread about it?
Tero Koivunen November 2, 2010 at 2:00pm

Ok, when comes next APM software vesion (about), or should I try trunk version?
I think I'm soon ready to try APM in my airframe, eg. Stabilize, Fly by wire modes.
I have done some testing with 1.0 Beta, and its looks usable.
George October 31, 2010 at 3:09pm

Thanks Chris and Micheal.

I am using the whats available now with Legacy, although are having a few problems with the ArduPilotGCS-B2, the log file is 'temperamental', it doesn't like to shutdown and although GPS data in is good, GE doesn't seem to track (more likely a GE setting.....). That said I haven't had much of a chance to play around with it.

Yes Micheal I have loaded up ArduStationM and have a play, the only issue there is my lack of C/C++ skills. From what I understand with that one is it's up to me to determine what data I want to use and code accordingly??

Anyway, 'soon' sounds good.

Thanks guys.

George

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