Firmware loading confirmation

ArduCopter Copter 4.4
1

I have been studying the ArduPilot docs for a while now and I think I know what is happening. However, I would still like to get some verification as to the process of uploading firmware to a FC.

FC firmware consists of two parts. One is the bootloader that provide a way to upload different versions of ArduPilot. The second part is the ArduPilot software itself. When starting with a new board or an existing one with different controller software, the Ardupilot boot program must be uploaded along with the ArduPilot versikon that you want to run. This is done by using the STM32CubeProgrammer software and the file name will have a bt at the end of it. Once STM32 uploads this file, then Mission Planner can upload newer versions ofArdupilot by interacting with the boot loader that is installed and doesn’t change.

It looks like the Ardupilot files that end with a bt contain the bootloader and the specified ArduPilot file ver ???. A file named “arducopter.hex” is just the ArduPilot program but “arducopter with bl.hex” has the ArduPilot software AND the boot loader.

Before I purchased a new FC board, I must make sure that the firmware for this particular board is available from the ArduPilot firmware section.

Am I correct on these issues?

2

Hi @hamil_cooper,

That sounds about right although I’d always use the .apj file which I think is the same as the .hex file.

Also it is only the smaller autopilots commonly used for drone racing that have this issue. Many other boards (including those from CubePilot, CUAV, Holybro, etc) coming with bootloaders pre-installed.

3

Great. I just received a MATEK H743 Slim V3. I will check with GetFPV to see if they already have loaded the ArduPilot boot loader. Otherwise I will go according to my above plan. I do not have my ESC board as yet but I have been told I can load the ArduPilot firmware into the FC via the USB and start working with it. I would expect some of the flight attitude to be shown on the MP.

ArduPilot is a great learning tool!

4

No chance of that I don’t think. It will come with Betaflight. I have bought many a flight controller from them and other sources. They are not flashing firmware, it’s whatever is supplied from the manufacturer. And Matek is not supplying them flashed with Ardupilot.
No big deal just follow the procedures to install Ardupilot.

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