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

dusl July 31, 2011 at 8:33pm

OK thanks
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson July 31, 2011 at 7:03pm

As explained in the manual, you should use a v-tail mixer:
http://code.google.com/p/ardupilot-mega/wiki/RC
dusl July 31, 2011 at 6:54pm

I have a V-tail plane ,how can i config the Ardupilot mega to cantrol this v tail plane ,Thank you very much!!
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson July 5, 2011 at 3:20pm

Hooper: yes, the Arduino IDE throws in some error checking code that pushes it over the limit. Use the Mission Planner to load the hex file (which is smaller) or if you want to play with the code, consider upgrading to APM2560. We've been keeping support for the older 1280 boards as long as we can, but to continue innovating we'll have to sunset them soon. That's why APM is modular: so you can upgrade the (cheaper) processor board while keeping the (more expensive) sensor board. It's the best way to allow the pace of innovation to continue while minimizing the upgrade cost for users.
Hooper July 5, 2011 at 2:46pm

The latest code APM2.2 only compiles in arduino if the 2560 board is selected. Selecting 1280 gives the error message "sketch too big".
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson June 16, 2011 at 9:14am

Jordon: Yes! The ArduCopter link is right on the front page of the site, but here is the Trex 450 version:
http://code.google.com/p/arducopter/wiki/ArduCopter_TradHeli
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson June 14, 2011 at 1:14pm

hoopty: please note that on one of Michael Oborne's Mission Planner threads. He won't see it here.
hoopty June 14, 2011 at 12:53pm

Not sure if it has been mentioned but the new APM Planner does not zoom properly on the east coast of the United States. Not sure if anyone cares but it makes it hard to plan without good resolution.
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson June 1, 2011 at 6:41am

Alan: Good catch--fixed. It was correct lower on that page (and everywhere else), but wrong there.
3D Robotics

Alan Sanchez June 1, 2011 at 12:33am

@Chris, I thought it had 16MB for data logging :S 4 gigs!?

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