I've finally perfected the X-Plane HIL for Ardupilot. This will be a feature on 2.6.3 which will be in beta today.
Flying Waypoints:
Here is missed waypoint detection: (I nudged the plane at the last second with the radio to miss the WPs.)
Here is fully auto take off and landing:
Here is the video of auto takeoff and landing:
Xplane and Ardupilot from Jason Short on Vimeo.
If you want to try this out you have to use some software to glue this all together.
Serproxy - used to talk serial to Ardupilot
Perl - to link Serproxy and X-Plane using "X-Plane.pl"
X-Plane 9 (the free version works fine, but it time limited)
I've only tested this on a Mac, so if anyone can try this on a PC, please let me know of changes to make, if any.
In the config header you will see a new ground station called GCS_Xplane (3). You must also use GPS_protocol 3 for ArduIMU.
Here is the Perl file:X-Plane.pl
Here is Windows Serproxy - Windows
Here is Mac Serproxy - Mac
in the config set:
newlines_to_nils=true
comm_baud=38400
Then set the com port accordingly
Go ahead and download 2.6.3 from the SVN. I'll post a beta soon as a download.
Moving forward I'd like to replace the Perl/Serproxy combination with a single C or Python based solution. If anyone can help, that would make it so much easier to set up!
Bonus:
Comments
Guys could you share your cfg file? Can't manage to run it!
I was never able to get it to work. It would be great to have someone do it and share.
Jason
RE: X-Plane EasyStar
Has anyone followed up on David Ankers suggestion to use the EasyStar.3ds file from the OpenPilot site, import it into AC3D and export it for X-Plane?
If so, how did it work?
I have X-Plane coming soon and would like to "fly" EasyStar with it.
Anyone know whats going on?
The default configuration in X-Plane 9 is: b Toggle Brakes To Regular, v Toggle Brakes To Maximum, and g Toggle Landing Gear. This applies to most aircraft, however custom aircraft files and those with special control sets may not respond in the same manner.
This information, along with all the keyboard shortcuts, are on the last page of the Operation Manual. Unfortunately there isn't an electronic version of this installed. You might explore the installation disc to see if there is a copy there.
Nathaniel
I've a stupid question: do I need to press some buttons to start simulation in X-plane?
I mean break off, set gear and so on.
Get a fresh copy of serproxy from here:
http://download.berlios.de/arduino/serproxy-0.1.3-3.bin.win32.zip
in the config set:
newlines_to_nils=false
comm_baud=38400
The you can set your com port accordingly.
1. Do you have the FTDI drivers installed?
2. Once the USB cable is plugged in, do you see the 'serial' comm port in device manager?
For me, it was Com port 4, so I used com_ports=4.. then I set net_port4 = 5334.
The other lines, I just commented out.
I have not tried ports beyond com port 4 (e.g. com port 9 like you are trying)