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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

  • Whooper March 6, 2011 at 11:10pm

    Hi,

    I am looking for help on the correct operation for AUTO.

    For example:

    It seems to fly waypoints only once and ends up circling over the home position. Is this correct? Is there a way to automatically repeat the pattern?

    After completing the route for the first time, switching to MANUAL and back to AUTO the plane flies a random pattern approximately around the home position. Should this operation reset AUTO to fly the pattern again?

     

  • Jim Haliburton February 22, 2011 at 2:32pm

    I am not clear if the reference quoted below re firmware 2.51 is to the version of code on the IMU or the version of the code on the ArduPilot.  Could someone clarify?  Thanks

    Note 1: This IMU can serve as a replacement for ArduPilot's thermopile sensors with the 2.51 code and above

  • Distributor
    Martint BuildYourOwnDrone.co.uk February 19, 2011 at 3:30am

    Hello Dercio,

    It might be worth looking here, there is some information on helicopters. I have no experience with the APM and helicopter, but if you would like to order any items in the EU you could take a look here at www.buildyourowndrone.co.uk.

     

    Regards

     

    Martin.

     

  • Dercio Guia February 19, 2011 at 1:19am
    Hello, i'm from Portugal, and i woul like to know if ardu pilot con make a r/c helicopter fly from the floor and land it... and i would also like to know the price for the full solution...where can i see it? Thanks.
  • Brett Glossop February 17, 2011 at 10:56pm

    thanks for th vid Darren! its certainly been something that I thought was missing from all the marvelous efforts so far.

    brett

  • iw28 February 15, 2011 at 6:29am

    Thats great ! 

    Chris, hehe I dont have any APM yet but ist on the way :) I was just a bit nervous how difficult it may be to use the planner.

    Thank you everyone ! :)     

  • Darren February 14, 2011 at 2:47pm
    I also have the logs for those flights posted on here somewhere... :)
  • Distributor
    Martint BuildYourOwnDrone.co.uk February 14, 2011 at 2:16pm

    Hello iw28,

    I don't have a camera rigged on my plane at this time but I put a log for people to see here and it's very very easy to use the planner!

     

    Regards

     

    Martin.

  • Darren February 14, 2011 at 1:59pm

    really? theres tons that ive seen posted here, and below are a couple i've made

    I have one that ended in a crash, but havent posted it :)

    First stabilazation tests

    Full test 5 waypoints and RTH

     

     

     

  • 3D Robotics
    Chris Anderson February 14, 2011 at 1:54pm
    iw28: that's a good idea. We take it for granted now, but it would be useful for newcomers to see how it works. Is that something you can make? I'm happy to feature a good video that walks through the steps.
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