joplin-mdbooks-website/content/drone-stuff/ardupilot-setup-checklist.md

+++ title = "Ardupilot setup checklist" weight = 2 sort_by = "weight" insert_anchor_links = "right" +++ This is a short guide for setting up ArduPilot on a flying wing. I use an Omnibus F4 that was previously set up for INAV (so motor on 1, elevons on 3/4), so most of this guide will be geared to that. If you use a different controller, your mileage may vary.

You should keep the full list of ArduPilot parameters open, for your reference while tuning.

Hardware setup

The values in this section are specific to the Omnibus F4, but the settings aren't, so you'll usually need to adjust your outputs to your specific configuration but you probably won't need to skip many of the steps here.

• Connect GPS to UART 6 (SERIAL4). You don't need to do anything else for GPS, it should work out of the box.
• Connect Fport to a UART. I chose UART 3 (SERIAL2). If you want to use UART 1, you should set the RC input jumper to PPM on the F4 to disconnect the SBUS inverter from the pin.
• To get Fport working with UART 3, you need to set BRD_ALT_CONFIG=1, to get UART 3 to act like a UART instead of I2C on the Omnibus F4.
• Change the board orientation with AHRS_ORIENTATION.
• Set the following for Fport on UART 3:

  SERIAL2_PROTOCOL = 23 (RCIN)
  SERIAL2_BAUD=115
  SERIAL2_OPTION=4
  RSSI_TYPE=3
  

• Once Fport works, reverse the elevator with RC2_REVERSED=1.
• Set up your servo functions and trims:

  SERVO1_FUNCTION=70
  SERVO1_MIN=1000
  SERVO1_MAX=2000
  SERVO1_TRIM=1000
  
  SERVO3_FUNCTION=77
  SERVO3_MIN=1000
  SERVO3_MAX=2000
  SERVO3_TRIM=1500
  
  SERVO4_FUNCTION=78
  SERVO4_MIN=1000
  SERVO4_MAX=2000
  SERVO4_TRIM=1500
  

  All these values are necessary, because usually the SERVOn_TRIM won't be at 1500.
• Set SERVO_BLH_OTYPE=4 for DShot150 and SERVO_BLH_MASK=1 to enable it for the motor.
• Set COMPASS_ENABLE=0 if you don't have a compass, otherwise calibrate it (not detailed here).
• Set TERRAIN_ENABLE=0 to get rid of the terrain warning.
• Set the board orientation with AHRS_TRIM_Y and check that FBWA mode flies level.
• If you don't use logging, set LOG_BACKEND_TYPE=0.
• Check the preflight errors to warn on, though usually leaving it set to "all" is fine.
• Set up the OSD (Mission Planner has a very nice UI for that). Keep in mind that ArduPilot's airspeed and windspeed estimation are quite good, so you may want to add those even if you don't have an airspeed sensor. You may also want to set up multiple screens, I use a potentiometer to switch between the four different screens of the OSD:
  • One with everything on (for debugging), which is also set as the OSD_ARM_SCR/OSD_DSARM_SCR.
  • One with the artificial horizon, system messages and some basic info like RSSI, battery, ground speed and altitude.
  • A minimal screen with just system messages and battery/RSSI/speed/altitude.
  • A screen with just system messages, for when I want to enjoy the scenery.

Radio-related

• Set your radio channels to AETR and run the radio calibration in the calibration section of ArduPilot.
• Add arming switch with RCn_OPTION=41 (on whatever channel you want).
• Set up modes, possibly having switches override the mode channel to the mode you want.
  What I do is set a given channel as the mode channel, and make that channel always output -100% on the radio. Then, I set up channel overrides for each switch, keeping in mind that overrides in OpenTX are executed in order (so the bottom override has the highest priority).
  That way, I set MANUAL/ACRO/FBWA to be lowest priority (on the same switch), then CRUISE to override those, then LOITER, AUTO, AUTOTUNE in that order.
  Finally, I add RTL to a switch on its own channel, with the highest priority of all overrides. I also add an override for that switch to the mode channel to -100%, so moving any other stick won't exit RTL mode as long as RTL is enabled.

Auto modes

• Set SERVO_AUTO_TRIM=1 so the aircraft trims itself while flying.
• Set FS_SHORT_ACTN/FS_SHORT_TIMEOUT/FS_LONG_ACTN/FS_LONG_TIMEOUT. I tend to disable the short action and set long to RTL.
• Set RTL_CLIMB_MIN=30 so the aircraft climbs first before starting to return to home.
• Set ACRO_LOCKING=1 to avoid drifting when you aren't moving the sticks.
• Change AUTOTUNE_LEVEL according to how aggressive you want the tune.
• Set ACRO_PITCH_RATE/ACRO_ROLL_RATE according to your craft.
• Set THR_PASS_STAB=1 so you have total throttle control in ACRO/FBWA/STABILIZE.
• Set ARSPD_FBW_MIN/ARSPD_FBW_MAX to the minimum and maximum airspeed you want auto modes to fly.
• Set MIN_GNDSPD_CM so the craft makes an effort to return even under high winds. WARNING: Might make throttle pulse or have other unwanted side-effects.

Auto takeoff

• Change TKOFF_THR_MAX to the desired max takeoff throttle.
• Change TKOFF_ALT to the altitude you want takeoff to reach.
• Set THR_SUPP_MAN=1 so you can manually set the autolaunch "idle" throttle (before the throw).
• Set TKOFF_THR_MINACC=18 for the takeoff throw to activate takeoff with a minimum of 2g.
• set TKOFF_LVL_PITCH to your desired angle (20 is a good value).
• Set TKOFF_THR_DELAY to the number of deciseconds that you want the motor to wait before it starts up.
• Potentially set TKOFF_THR_SLEW=127 to make the throttle spin up to full faster (within 0.8 sec).

Tuning the TECS

To tune the TECS, read the TECS tuning guide. It's very well-written and comprehensible. Note the maximum pitch up/down you want your plane to fly at (depending on the max vertical speed you want), and tune based on that.

In the field

• Run an autotune.
• Fly in FBWA and see if you're gaining/losing altitude. Pitch up/down to fly level, check the pitch on the OSD, and use the formula old_value+pitch*π/180 to get the new value (in radians).

(Many thanks to Michel Pastor for his help with everything in this note.)

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Last updated on January 24, 2021. For any questions/feedback, email me at hi@stavros.io.