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.

Larry,

That's old language from the original ArduPilot manual--I've removed it. Sparkfun has recently screwed up their Xbees by ordering them with mesh networking firmware, which needs to be overwritten for our purposes. The manual explains how:

Note: recent Xbee modules may ship with different firmware and X-CTU may try to download new code, which will probably fail (cancel it). If your Xbee module is reporting that it's an XBP09-DM (rather than the correct XBP09-DP), do the following:

In the Modem Configuration tab select XBP09-DP from the drop-down menu and write it to the module. It will work for a while, then give you an error. Go to the first tab, select 9600baud and read it, which should work. Now go back the Modem Configuration tab, read it and it should now say XBP09-DP. Change the VID and baud rate to what you want (999 and 56k for me) and write it. Now it should work.

Because of this, we're going to start offering Xbees and other wireless modules that are set up right, straight from the factory. People shouldn't have to deal with that nonsense. But if you follow the above instructions, it should be fine.

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Comments

Kelvin V April 10, 2011 at 9:28am

How's the Rembizi/APM integration project going? Chris said about a month or so on RCGroups (that was a month or so ago).
Darren April 2, 2011 at 1:34pm

oic said the blind man! ;) sorry about the damage, but glad you found a work around.
Darren April 2, 2011 at 11:28am

im confused, why would you need to? are you saying both ports are damaged?
Darren April 2, 2011 at 11:02am

you can use the 4 pin header next to that port for your gps. the 4 pins are marked next to the gps connector. see pic,

http://ardupilot-mega.googlecode.com/svn/ArduPilotMegaImages/IMG_47...

you can make a cable out of your old gps cable.
Developer

Sandro Benigno March 27, 2011 at 6:25am

@eng.a.ramdan: currently, we can command up to eight motors through APM outputs. You can take a look at this ArduPirates page, they have Hexa and Octo ones there:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1286011
Developer

Sandro Benigno March 23, 2011 at 2:18pm

@eng.a.ramdan, actually you don't need necessarily to increase the size of frame, motors and propellers. However, you would to add motors.

Hexa and OctoCopters are more strong and more efficient than Quads. The "efficiency" part sounds weird, I know that... but is a fact. When the copter have more than 4 motors they all will work at less RPM, so you will deal with the best part of the motor's drag curve (power vs efficiency). So when dragging that payload, your hexa/octocopter will for sure drain less battery than a super-big quad. ;)
Developer

Sandro Benigno March 23, 2011 at 11:42am

@end.a.ramdan, if your frame is too bigger than normally is... you will probably need to change the PID values.
The more it is bigger, the more it will delay to tilt. It could be good in terms of stabilization by the same way it could be very bad, when you need to correct the angle quickly. So, think about adopt one of the standard ArduCopter sizes, and you'll be fine.
Alex March 21, 2011 at 9:37am

@Chris now i can upload info(software) to Ardupilot/oilpan but i cannot receive info from it. It exists a method to test if the solderings were done ok, connection between PC and Ardupilot is ok ? In this stage i am right now : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdDreoL0klU Thanks
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson March 20, 2011 at 8:57pm

Larry: aside from doing an unbricking procedure, I'm not sure what to do with your modules. I've never seen that issue, even with the latest modules from Sparkfun.
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson March 20, 2011 at 8:36pm

Larry,

That's old language from the original ArduPilot manual--I've removed it. Sparkfun has recently screwed up their Xbees by ordering them with mesh networking firmware, which needs to be overwritten for our purposes. The manual explains how:

Note: recent Xbee modules may ship with different firmware and X-CTU may try to download new code, which will probably fail (cancel it). If your Xbee module is reporting that it's an XBP09-DM (rather than the correct XBP09-DP), do the following:

In the Modem Configuration tab select XBP09-DP from the drop-down menu and write it to the module. It will work for a while, then give you an error. Go to the first tab, select 9600baud and read it, which should work. Now go back the Modem Configuration tab, read it and it should now say XBP09-DP. Change the VID and baud rate to what you want (999 and 56k for me) and write it. Now it should work.

Because of this, we're going to start offering Xbees and other wireless modules that are set up right, straight from the factory. People shouldn't have to deal with that nonsense. But if you follow the above instructions, it should be fine.

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