New ArduPilot methodic configurator GUI

Luciano_Andreani · April 27, 2024, 4:21pm

Hi, since this program was released I have never been able to go beyond the screen present here…every time it tells me that it can’t find the intermediate parameters…if someone can teach me in a simple way how to do it to be able to go further I would be grateful to him otherwise I will abandon that is, I will continue as I have always done in recent years…manually doing the various steps…I’m sorry that I would have liked to have a tool that would make it easier for me and direct me to the various steps to follow to do… I’ve been trying and trying for days but I can’t go any further…

amilcarlucas · April 27, 2024, 4:35pm

Sure, Here it is.

Use option 1
As template source Select the diatone_taycan_mxc directory and after that the 4.5.1-params
Leave the destination base directory unchanged
Edit the text “My vehicleName” to something more descriptive.
Press the button “Create vehicle directory from template”

Done

Next time you get stuck, ask for help instead of waisting your time.

The files get created on the directory you specified. So the next time you open the program, use option 2 and open the directory you just created

Luciano_Andreani · April 28, 2024, 10:15am

Thank you amilcarlucas for allowing me to continue using the program…I arrived at this window following your instructions…but I see that another tab is set (The problem is that the intermediate parameter files created are for a Matek H743 flight controller ) and not my pixhwak… .how do I set up my pix in the program.
Thanks again for helping me improve my learning.

amilcarlucas · April 28, 2024, 1:07pm

Hello Luciano,

The matek is a template. As all templates it is a starting point that you need to modify to meet your needs.

You need to change all the values to match your vehicle.

amilcarlucas · April 29, 2024, 12:27pm

Version 0.2.10 has a critical bugfix, please update ASAP

Simplify and update the README.md (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
use the new windows installer filename explicitly (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Spellcheck in GUI text (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Simplify the test code and remove a FIXME (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
allow configuring option2 initial directory (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
cope with out-of-order and missing/unused BITMASK key entries (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Bump version (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)

amilcarlucas · April 30, 2024, 12:54am

Version 0.3.0 introduces forced and derived parameter support it is now possible to implement the initial parameters spreadsheet inside the methodic configurator without changing a single line of python code!
Currently around 35 parameters get automatically set without user intervention, but the number will grow.

Improve the Bitmask bugfix in corner cases (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Remove code duplication, make it easier to add modular command line parameters (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
allow selection none as flight controller device on the command line (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
allow skipping the component editor windows via command line parameter (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
add component editor command line description (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Small parameter file values changes (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Force the value of 30 parameters, the user is not supposed to change these (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Make sure only one bitmask window is possible at a time (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Refactor parameter table to it’s own file (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
prepare validation of derived parameters (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Move template files to vehicle type subdirectory, to allow future expansion with ArduPlane, Rover, etc (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
remember last selected directories on windows #5 (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
pylint fixes (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Initial work on derived parameters, derive 5 parameters from the information inputted in the component editor (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Bump the version (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)

amilcarlucas · April 30, 2024, 10:08am

You need to manually give write permissions for your user to the file:

C:\Users\YOURNAME\AppData\Roaming\.ardupilot_methodic_configurator\settings.json

sorry for that, It will get fixed in the next version.

Brianoconner · April 30, 2024, 12:40pm

Hello Amilcarlucas, I am using the 0.3.0 version of Methodic Configurator. I have connected my FC to computer and editing the parameters. However i am not writing them to FC, i am choosing skip parameter file and everytime it asks whether i want to save those values in that particular param file, so i click yes and it moves on to next param file. This was what i wanted but when i did the same for ESC.param file and clicked on “skip parameter file” instead of asking to save the params the program shut down. When i reopened the ESC param file the values and the reason that i had written were saved but when i manually select bat1.param file from drop down above the program again shut down. Can you please look at this.
I am using 4.4.4 param files as template. And my vehicle directory is in D folder whereas the application is installed in C folder in case this info is needed.

Thankyou

amilcarlucas · April 30, 2024, 12:52pm

There is something wrong with your bat1.param file. post it here.

Brianoconner · April 30, 2024, 12:54pm

I have just created the directory by copying files from template. So right now it is default. However first 7 files i was able to edit. This 8th one is crashing

08_batt1.param (4.7 KB)

amilcarlucas · April 30, 2024, 12:58pm

Did you correctly fill all the values in the component editor window?
Battery voltages need to be filled with . decimal separator, not ,

Brianoconner · April 30, 2024, 1:10pm

This is the first window i am getting after selection option 2 in setting up directory.

amilcarlucas · April 30, 2024, 1:55pm

you need a vehicle_components.json file that you can copy from one of the provided templates.
Then it will open a component editor window before that one.

amilcarlucas · May 7, 2024, 10:41am

v0.3.1 Latest

Commits

fix linting by adding eval-used exception (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
two more forced parameters (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
write permissions to the %APPDATA%.ardupilot_methodic_configurator\settings.json file (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
cope with un-existing vehicle_components.json file (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Windows site configuration directory fix (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Bump version (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)

amilcarlucas · May 7, 2024, 11:13am

v0.3.2

Commits

Rename file_documentation into configuration_steps #8 (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Remove duplicated code #8 (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Automatically set the FC Firmware Type and version if available #8 (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
e11208d: IMPROVEMENTS pylint fixes. Refractor to remove duplicated code (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas) #8
MAVFTP add testing code. Does not work yet #8 (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Add comboboxes and input validation to some of the component editor fields #8 (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Validate battery voltages #8 (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Bump version info #8 (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)

amilcarlucas · May 7, 2024, 4:29pm

For those curious about the architecture, here it is:

amilcarlucas · May 11, 2024, 1:42am

v0.4.0

Commits

Add a way to get release statistics (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Update the Architecture picture and text (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Update the usermanual (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Move documentation data detail to the backend (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Remove pylint exception (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
reduce code duplication in configuration step parameter validation (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
move forced and derived parameter calculation to the backend (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Improve gramar in comments (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Make the list of supported vehicle types available (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Add a class to validate the battery cell voltages (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
More pylint fixes in test code (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
moved component editor to a base class and the validation to a child class (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
add 3 more component editor derived parameters (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
Bump version (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)

Oli1 · May 11, 2024, 11:16am

Issue with v0.4.0 on launch:

PS C:\Program Files (x86)\MethodicConfigurator> .\ardupilot_methodic_configurator.exe
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "ardupilot_methodic_configurator.py", line 27, in <module>
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'frontend_tkinter_component_editor'
[22436] Failed to execute script 'ardupilot_methodic_configurator' due to unhandled exception!

amilcarlucas · May 11, 2024, 11:18am

Strange one. Can you try the latest release (not the 0.4.0) in a few minutes?

Oli1 · May 11, 2024, 11:36am

Yep, works with the dev release