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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

  • iw28 January 30, 2011 at 1:22pm

    OK thank you very much! 

     

    I am getting the APM :)

  • 3D Robotics
    Chris Anderson January 30, 2011 at 12:45pm
    iw28: we recommend ArduPilot Mega (APM). The original ArduPilot is harder to set up and will eventually be phased out.  APM will support in-flight waypoint loading in the next code release, in a couple weeks.
  • Greg Fletcher January 30, 2011 at 12:27pm
    @ jnuts, The old flat IMU board for the origional Ardupilot has a avr 328 chip doing the DCM calculations. This board has extra output pins that can conrtol servos or what ever. The oil pan has no processor. I just sends serial data from the ADC on the oilpan  to the APmega. So no, it can't work stand alone. I think you will find that the v2 imu board has flown a tricopter here.
  • iw28 January 30, 2011 at 11:52am
    Just a quick question: what do you guys recommend, ardupilot mega or just ardupilot?, is it possible to add exstra waypoints while the plane is flying in AP mode or shall I do it while disconnecting it from gps on the ground like the ardupilot?
  • 3D Robotics
    Chris Anderson January 23, 2011 at 11:11pm
    jnuts: I don't know what you mean by "stand alone". Do you mean without APM? I suppose you could (but why??). You'll have to be able to read a schematic, however. Start here.
  • jnuts January 23, 2011 at 11:06pm

    I've read in multiple places that the Ardupilot Mega IMU / Oilpan can be used stand alone... which is exactly what I want to do.  For the life of me, I can find any single source document that shows what lines I need to apply power to and what lines would be the various sensor IO to read.  Google is failing me.... and I can't find it in the wiki.  Any help ?

  • 3D Robotics
    Chris Anderson January 22, 2011 at 3:23pm

    Earl, 

     

    It works fine for me. Please delete all of your old libraries and redownload the code. I think you've got some old libraries there.

  • Earl January 22, 2011 at 12:39pm

    I can't get the jan version to compile with the GCS set to LEGACY. Compiles ol with GCS set to STANDARD.

    I need LEGACY because I use the data to display on my er9x TX lcd screen.

    Any ideas ?

    Earl

     

  • George January 18, 2011 at 4:30pm

    Morning all,

     

    Just looking for some information regarding interfacing the APM with an OSD. I currently do this using an OSD and logger from EagleTree, however "interfaced" is for want of a better term. I am unable to access data from the IMU for the OSD without butchering the EagleTree products or another 4 years at Uni.

    I am fond of the products from Dragon Labs and their DOSD+ V2. I have seen the documentation from their site showing how to interface the ArduIMU+ V2 with their product and read accounts of this working very effectively.

     

    My question basicly, is anyone working on interfacing the APM with an OSD (of any desrciption), and are they willing to share thier experiences and progress.

     

    Thanks

     

    George.

  • ^^Johnny5 January 14, 2011 at 4:03pm
    It would be nice if there was a complete kit for purchase.
This reply was deleted.