ArduPilot main page
The hardware is available from Sparkfun for $24.95. An expansion board ("Shield") kits that includes an airspeed sensor, a 3.3v power regulator for 3.3v GPS modules and other sensors and cables and connectors for easy attachment of the XY and Z sensors, is available from our own store for $57.20.
ArduPilot features include:
- Can be used for an autonomous aircraft, car or boat.
- Built-in hardware failsafe that uses a separate circuit (multiplexer chip and ATTiny processor) to transfer control from the RC system to the autopilot and back again. Includes ability to reboot the main processor in mid-flight.
- Multiple 3D waypoints (limited only by memory)
- Altitude controlled with the elevator and throttle
- Comes with a 6-pin GPS connector for the 4Hz uBlox5, 10Hz MediaTek or or 1hz EM406 GPS modules.
- Has six spare analog inputs (with ADC on each) and six spare digital input/outputs to add additional sensors
- Supports addition of wireless modules for real-time telemetry
- Based on a 16MhZ Atmega328 processor. Total onboard processing power aprox 24 MIPS.
- Very small: 30mm x 47mm
- Can be powered by either the RC receiver or a separate battery
- Four RC-in channels (plus the autopilot on/off channel) can be processed by the autopilot. Autopilot can also control four channels out.
- LEDs for power, failsafe (on/off), status and GPS (satellite lock).
Resources:
ArduPilot requires the free Arduino IDE to edit and upload the code to the ArduPilot board.
In aircraft mode, the code is currently optimized for the Mutiplex EasyStar three-channel powered glider and FMA sensors, but can be modified for other aircraft and sensors. It uses the rudder/ailerons and elevator to maintain level flight and navigate to GPS waypoints. It supports a desktop setup utility and ground station software. It also includes a "fly-by-wire" mode that simply stabilizes RC flight. The main code is ArduPilot2.x.zip in the download section of our Google Code repository, where x is the latest version.
What you need to make a fully-functional autopilot:
- ArduPilot board
- Shield expansion kit with airspeed sensor
- GPS module (MediaTek or uBlox5+adapter and cable recommended)
- XY and Z sensors or ArduIMU+
- FTDI cable for programming
- [Optional] Two Xbee modules for wireless telemetry: This one with this adapter in the air and this one with this antenna and this adapter board (or, even better, our ArduStation) on the ground/laptop side
ArduPilot's vehicle (car or boat) mode can also be used for ground testing aircraft navigation or as a simple navigation-only autopilot for aircraft with a separate stabilization system to provide a full autopilot solution. It is enabled by setting "Walkaround mode" in the configuration settings.
What you need to make a navigation-only autopilot:
- ArduPilot board
- GPS module (uBlox5 and adapter recommended)
- FTDI cable for programming
- For aircraft use, a FMA Co-Pilot for wing-leveling and stabilization
Open source extras:
- If you want to build your own board from scratch, the necessary files and component lists are here.
- [Note: you shouldn't need this, since this code is loaded on the ArduPilot board at the factory] Latest multiplexer code (for the board's second processor, an Attiny, which runs the failsafe system) is here.
Instructions for loading this code are here.
Recommended UAV setup:
Airframe option one: Hobbico SuperStar (49" wingspan, $95, shown above). This is an inexpensive, good flying high-wing trainer with ailerons. It can be hand launched in a park or take off from a runway, and replacement parts are readily available in case of a crash. If you want much better performance with this aircraft, you can upgrade it to a brushless motor, speed controller and a LiPo battery. [If you don't already have one, you'll also need a balancing charger and power supply.] Note: any stable aircraft with both ailerons (for stabilization) and rudder (for navigation) can work, so feel free to experiment with what you've got.
Airframe option two (recommended for ArduPilot 2.x): EasyStar (shown above). Performance can be improved with the modifications described in this post.
You'll also need:
- A six or seven channel RC transmitter and receiver, with at least one toggle switch (ideally three-position but two-position will work, too, although you will have to mix channels to have access to both autopilot modes in the air), such as the Futaba 7C.
- Some servos (at least three for ArduPilot 1.0; at least two for ArduPilot 2.x) and at least three female-to-female servo cables to connect the RC receiver to ArduPilot.
Cool optional extras for your UAV:
- A GPS logger to record your mission and play it back in Google Earth
- A tiny video camera to record the flight
- A wireless video setup to see realtime video from the air
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Comment by Jordi Muñoz on June 22, 2009 at 10:03am - Yeah the first =P
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Comment by Brent West on June 22, 2009 at 5:23pm - That was quick, thanks guys.
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Comment by Bill Eason on June 23, 2009 at 8:11pm -
So with the home built Thermopile sensor (ArduIR), can it be used with the Parallax Propeller systems? I'm looking to make an autopilot from scratch with that system and was wondering if it would work.
Are the Z sensors close to being in stock?
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Comment by Reto on June 24, 2009 at 1:51pm -
I have a question to Chris and Jordi: the manual states mounting the XY sensor diagonally and plug in front. Is there a way to tweak latest code to use the sensor in "straight" orientation (sensor pairs parallel to fuselage, respectively wings? This would let me keep my GPS/XY sensor turret as is.
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Comment by Jerry LeDrew on July 8, 2009 at 9:35am -
I flew my EasyStar this morning with Ardupilot 2.2.x . A little windy ....
When I put the plane in the auto mode and it started porposing towards
earth ....I recovered in manual position ....Ii tried it several times and the same
thing ... I do not have a LapTop yet so have to return home to make changes
,.... Never had time to see if the GPS was controlling the rudder or not .....Any
one know what changes to make and how much using a Standard EasyStar
with a Brushless motor ...
De Jerry (VO1ET )
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Comment by Thomas J Coyle III on July 8, 2009 at 10:17am -
Jerry,
Did you do a ground check to ensure that your elevator servo moves in the correct direction when you manually pitch the plane on the ground with the Ardupilot engaged?
Just a thought.
Regards,
TCIII
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Comment by Jerry LeDrew on July 8, 2009 at 10:36am
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Tnx Tom....
Tried that the day before .... It was wrong but then it just dove strait down ..... Caught it on manual ....I think it may have something to do with the gain setting for the elevator ....
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Comment by Earl on July 11, 2009 at 12:34am -
Jordi, is it possible to upload new waypoints to the airframe while the airframe is flying ? We want to change the target waypoint in flight.
I am using 60mw 2.4ghx XBee. They sure have range !
Oh.. I have the ArdiStation also. Send new waypoints with it ??
Earl
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Comment by Danilo Marques Figueiredo on July 18, 2009 at 8:13am -
Hi Guys, I'm with a problem, how I find the FTDI drivers?!!What I do if it don' install automatically?
Regards.
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Comment by Thomas J Coyle III on July 18, 2009 at 9:11am
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Danilo,
Go to this website and select FTDI version 2.04.16 : http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm
Download and install the driver and you should be up and running.
Regards,
TCIII
© 2010 Created by Chris Anderson.
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