How important is a magnetometer or compass in small drone?

ArduCopter
1

I realized that fpv builds usually build only with gps but not compass. I been having a lot of problem with compass in a small size drone.

I wonder anyone here did build a drone without compass. How well it affects mission planning and navigating to waypoints? Any issue you faced?

2

While compass-less navigation is supported to some extent, see Compass-less Operation β€” Copter documentation, Ardupilot can do motor compensation significantly reducing influence of motor current on compass measurements, see Advanced Compass Setup β€” Copter documentation

3

Thanks. But for a drone the size of a palm it seems the calibration doesn’t do much.

4

what size is it? is it fast? if it’s using a lot of power it’s going to be generating a powerful magnetic field.

5

Yes, so frustrated over it.

6

You could mount the compass on a small mast to give it clearance.

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7

Or hang it out front away from the battery lead. If you check Andy’s 7" LR build he mounted an external compass on the front of the craft.

Anyway Magfit is the best you can do. On my smallest craft it helps but I still get compass errors and just ignore them.

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