Ac3.5 rc roll not configured

CAO_MUQING · July 17, 2017, 2:25pm

Problem summary: MP shows 'prearm: RC ROLL not configured’
Hardware: Pixhawk2.1
Problem description: One of my Pixhawk2.1 is having a strange issue. When i load arducopter3.4, it is able to arm completely fine. However, when I load beta AC3.5 rc11, the mission planner HUD shows ‘prearm: RC ROLL not configured’ whenever I try to arm. I have tried to calibrate RC a few times but it still shows the error.

Really appreciate anyone to help with this issue.

dkemxr · July 17, 2017, 8:11pm

It will show that error if it sees the default values for RC1 PWM because it thinks the radio is not calibrated.

CAO_MUQING · July 18, 2017, 1:19am

Thanks for your information! If that is the case, how should I address it, changing the RC1 PWM parameter? Since I have tried calibrating RC for a few times…

rmackay9 · July 18, 2017, 3:12am

CAO,

In some rare cases it’s possible that a transmitter produces exactly 1100 as the minimum and 1900 as the maximum in which case the regular rc calibration will not make the warning go away. One work around is to manually change the RC1_MIN to 1101 and RC1_MAX to 1901. You should only do this though if you see that the RC1_MIN is 1100 and RC1_MAX is exactly 1900. If it’s not then there is a different problem.

Another possible cause, for example, is the min, max or trim values are far away from the expected values. It’s impossible to be sure about this though without seeing a dataflash.

CAO_MUQING · July 18, 2017, 3:49am

randy,

thanks for the reply! I will try to change the value.
Strange thing is that on 3.4 there is no error, but 3.5 will show the error.

peterbarker · July 18, 2017, 4:21am

In some rare cases it’s possible that a transmitter produces exactly 1100 as
the minimum and 1900 as the maximum in which case the regular rc calibration
will not make the warning go away. One work around is to manually change the

Ah, actually, my reading is that we don’t use these values to determine
whether your (e.g.) ROLL is configured.

Here’e the call we make to see if the channel is configured:

github.com

ardupilot/ardupilot/blob/master/ArduCopter/AP_Arming.cpp#L352


      
          fence_requires_gps = (copter.fence.get_enabled_fences() & (AC_FENCE_TYPE_CIRCLE | AC_FENCE_TYPE_POLYGON)) > 0;
          #endif
          
          // check if flight mode requires GPS
          bool mode_requires_gps = copter.flightmode->requires_GPS() || fence_requires_gps || (copter.simple_mode == Copter::SimpleMode::SUPERSIMPLE);
          
          // call parent gps checks
          if (mode_requires_gps) {
              if (!AP_Arming::gps_checks(display_failure)) {
                  AP_Notify::flags.pre_arm_gps_check = false;
                  return false;
              }
          }
          
          // run mandatory gps checks first
          if (!mandatory_gps_checks(display_failure)) {
              AP_Notify::flags.pre_arm_gps_check = false;
              return false;
          }
          
          // return true if GPS is not required

Here’s the definition of that call:

github.com

ardupilot/ardupilot/blob/master/libraries/RC_Channel/RC_Channel.h#L102


      
          // set and save trim if changed
          void       set_and_save_radio_trim(int16_t val) { radio_trim.set_and_save_ifchanged(val);}
          
          // check if any of the trim/min/max param are configured, this would indicate that the user has done a calibration at somepoint
          bool       configured() { return radio_min.configured() || radio_max.configured() || radio_trim.configured(); }
          
          ControlType get_type(void) const { return type_in; }
          
          AP_Int16    option; // e.g. activate EPM gripper / enable fence
          
          // auxiliary switch support
          void init_aux();
          bool read_aux();
          
          // Aux Switch enumeration
          enum class AUX_FUNC {
              DO_NOTHING =           0, // aux switch disabled
              FLIP =                 2, // flip
              SIMPLE_MODE =          3, // change to simple mode
              RTL =                  4, // change to RTL flight mode
              SAVE_TRIM =            5, // save current position as level

And here are the AP_Param objects that’s calling methods on:

github.com

ardupilot/ardupilot/blob/master/libraries/RC_Channel/RC_Channel.h#L113


      
          void init_aux();
          bool read_aux();
          
          // Aux Switch enumeration
          enum class AUX_FUNC {
              DO_NOTHING =           0, // aux switch disabled
              FLIP =                 2, // flip
              SIMPLE_MODE =          3, // change to simple mode
              RTL =                  4, // change to RTL flight mode
              SAVE_TRIM =            5, // save current position as level
              SAVE_WP =              7, // save mission waypoint or RTL if in auto mode
              CAMERA_TRIGGER =       9, // trigger camera servo or relay
              RANGEFINDER =         10, // allow enabling or disabling rangefinder in flight which helps avoid surface tracking when you are far above the ground
              FENCE =               11, // allow enabling or disabling fence in flight
              RESETTOARMEDYAW =     12, // UNUSED
              SUPERSIMPLE_MODE =    13, // change to simple mode in middle, super simple at top
              ACRO_TRAINER =        14, // low = disabled, middle = leveled, high = leveled and limited
              SPRAYER =             15, // enable/disable the crop sprayer
              AUTO =                16, // change to auto flight mode
              AUTOTUNE =            17, // auto tune
              LAND =                18, // change to LAND flight mode

“configured” on an AP_Int16:

github.com

ardupilot/ardupilot/blob/master/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.h#L389


      
          /// Find key of top level group variable by pointer
          ///
          ///
          /// @param  p               Pointer to variable
          /// @return                 key for variable
          static bool find_top_level_key_by_pointer(const void *ptr, uint16_t &key);
          
          
          /// Find a object in the top level var_info table
          ///
          /// If the variable has no name, it cannot be found by this interface.
          ///
          /// @param  name            The full name of the variable to be found.
          ///
          static AP_Param * find_object(const char *name);
          
          /// Notify GCS of current parameter value
          ///
          void notify() const;
          
          /// Save the current value of the variable to storage, synchronous API

And I’m sure we really don’t want to go digging deeper into AP_Param, for
there be dragons. Suffice to say that AP_Param doesn’t know anything
about magic PWM values

RC1_MIN to 1101 and RC1_MAX to 1901. You should only do this though if you
see that the RC1_MIN is 1100 and RC1_MAX is exactly 1900. If it’s not then
there is a different problem.

So when you explicity set those to a value that’s different to the default
value it will result in a write to storage, meaning “configured” will
return true, fixing the problem.

However - why is MP not getting that same effect from its calibration
screen? Perhaps it isn’t sending through a param-set if the value hasn’t
changed?

peterbarker · July 18, 2017, 4:54am

Ah, actually, my reading is that we don’t use these values to determine
whether your (e.g.) ROLL is configured.

It does occur to me that perhaps the “force save” parameter might not be
being set, however.

https://github.com/ardupilot/ardupilot/blob/defered-message-fix/libraries/GCS_MAVLink/GCS_Param.cpp#L267

mingf · July 30, 2017, 3:50am

I am having the exactly same problem. Pixhawk 2.1, with AC3.4, there was NO problem. loaded AC3.5, “Prearm: RC Roll not confgiured”.

after I calibrate RC, this error mesg went away. HOWEVER, when I fly my copter ( quad ), the roll does not work correctly. it led to crashes, I tested several times.

also, I upgraded mission planner to 1.3.49, it is not able to load AC3.5 onto my pixhawk 2.1

I had to use qgroundcontrol to load ac3.5, set the frame using qgroundcontrol. Otherwise, mission planner 1.3.49 keeps saying: prearm: check platform or frame_class.

so I would have to say: AC3.5 is a failure, stay with 3.4, do NOT go 3.5. hopefully these fatal bugs can be fixed as quickly as possible.

my same pixhawk 2.1, NO issue with AC3.4. Sadly becomes a piece of junk with AC3.5, 100% useless now.

mingf · July 30, 2017, 3:55am

with AC3.5, when I use roll function, the quadcopter got messed up, crashed, I tested multiple times. with AC3.4, no issue, flying very smooth. so AC3.5 roll portion must have serious fatal flaws which, I hope, can be fixed quickly.

mingf · July 30, 2017, 4:02am

another funny weird thing of AC3.5: you have to turn on RC first, otherwise, it keeps saying: prearm: throttle below failsafe value… AC3.4, it doesn’t matter, no issue if you turn on RC after connecting mission planner…

So AC3.5 is seriously wrong, no go! or wasting a lot time, multiple crashes, regret.

mingf · July 30, 2017, 7:27pm

Re-verified by fall-back to 3.4.6, so thos 3.5 issues are gone. So the 3.5 PROBLEMS I run into are ( mine is Pixhawk 2.1, the cube ):

RC roll issue. “Prearm: RC Roll not configured”. even after I calibrate RC, this mesg went away, the roll actually doesn’t work correctly. The roll crashed my quadcopter several times once I used the “roll” stick. with using the roll stick, the copter still flys OK.
so 3.5’s roll crashed my copter several times, broke two props.
it can NOT determine the frame type, mine is quad/X, 3.4 tells it NO issue at all. For 3.5, I have to manually set it.
Prearm: throttle below failsafe.
I have to turn on RC before connecting mission planner to avoid this error mesg. On 3.4, I do NOT have to do this. I can turn on RC at any time, before or after connecting mission planner.

RC roll problem is fatal, is the killer. I can NOT go 3.5. it crashes my cube pixhawk 2.1. again, fall back to 3.4, everything is back to normal good.

I am hoping these issues can be fixed as quickly as possible.

Didzis_Kristaps_Stur · December 12, 2017, 4:13pm

Where can get AC 3.4 to download. I got the same problem. I have Solo with Green Cube on rc3 upgraded from rc1. Got fly 2 times and today the same error. After factory settings reset do to problem with Wi-Fi.

Quadzilla · February 2, 2018, 5:27am

I not tested it on my Cube but 3.5 works well on my Pixhawlk. I think its a good idea to reset your setting to Default and recalibrate all when things go south sometimes could be as simple as bad wright to the sim card.

bisenberger · June 12, 2018, 12:34am

Same problem. Looks like APM:Copter V3.5.5 isn’t compatible with Pixhawk 1.

Back to V3.4.6.

bisenberger · August 26, 2018, 2:40am

Tried APM:Copter V3.5.7, same issue. For me this is not rare occurrence. It happens with two different flight controllers (bound to the same radio).

Transmitter Spektrum DX7S.

Also my compass is off by 90 degrees (270 north) with V3.5.7 GPS/compass Hoybro Pixhawk 4.

Helmet · August 28, 2018, 2:09pm

It is possible that the configuration files are corrupt, Try installing Rover then reinstall copter 3.5.7
When you install Rover it will erase all the copter config files allowing you to start with fresh configs

bisenberger · August 28, 2018, 2:54pm

Hi Fred,
I had installed ArduPlane prior to installing APM:Copter to clear settings.

barneyliftoff · September 7, 2018, 2:15am

I loaded 3.5.7 and now i cannot configure frame type.