New ArduPilot methodic configurator GUI

[amilcarlucas]

v0.9.3

Latest

github-actions released this 16 Aug 12:41

v0.9.3

881ca90

Commits

• avoid crashing when no vehicle_components.json file is present (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• Save Program Version into vehicle_components.json (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• update the Blog post (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• Add more sequence whys (do Carmo Lucas)
• Fixed documentation links (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• 0fe5b4a: IMPROVEMENT use parameter metadata if available instead of harcoding (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas) #39
• Implement TODOs #39 (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• handle banner length issues better #39 (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• correctly handle reading connection information from the FC #39 (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• remove code duplication #39 (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• also restore the [‘Motors’][‘Specifications’][‘Poles’] from FC if possible #39 (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• pylint fixes #39 (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• ComponentEditorWindow initialization #39 (do Carmo Lucas)
• Output less error messages when opening the com port for the first time #39 (do Carmo Lucas)
• Older versions used receiver instead of Receiver, rename it for consistency with other fields #39 (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• set_values_from_fc_parameters when the parameter value is 0 #39 (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• Simplify the code that populates “component editor” from FC parameters #39 (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• prepare code simplification #39 (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• Bump version info (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)

Many thanks to @lida2003 for helping out in testing this release

[amilcarlucas]

The latest development version supports automatic lua scripting uploading. You no longer need to:

• download lua scripts from the internet
• upload lua scripts to your flight controller

The software does all that for you.

[amilcarlucas]

v0.9.5 Latest

Commits

• better FC info warnings (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• do not copy tempcal_*.png files from template (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• do not copy last_uploaded_filename.txt from template, if it exists (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• add a Tarot X4 template that uses FFT based notch filter (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• add a --skip-welcome-popup option #43 (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• Add dynamic filtered parameter name suggestions to the add parameter button #43 (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• re-order the blog post test to follow a more natural and structured flow (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• Add more screenshots (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• The tuning guide should have a proper name and be vehicle type dependent (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• Subdivide IMU temperature calibration into two steps (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• Add step 21 (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• Add more fine granual sections (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• Each vehicle type has it’s own TUNING_GUIDE (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)
• Bump version information (Dr.-Ing. Amilcar do Carmo Lucas)

[O_K1 (O. K.)]

Hello.

I would like to ask about the step 5 of the Methodic Confgurator guide. It is mentioned the following:

Fom the existing templates, select the one most similar to your vehicle:

But in Linux I don’t have the \vehicle_template folder at all.

In MS Windows I have such folder but there is no template for SpeedyBee-F405-v3. What I can do in this case? Should I just use “Use paramteres values from connected FC, not from template files” and no other option I have?

If yes, after that I see the window with Vehicle Component editor. If I don’t have for example ESP32 WROOM for Telemetry or I don’t have GNSS Receiver then how to disable Telemetry or GNSS?

Thanks in advance

[amilcarlucas]

@O_K1

but there is no template for SpeedyBee-F405-v3. What I can do in this case?

ArduPilot supports around 110 different flight controllers. Sorry, I can not and will not create templates for every single one. What you should do is to take a look at the existing templates and select the most similar to your vehicle and use that one.

@O_K1

use “Use parameters values from connected FC, not from template files”

No, that is for the case when your FC has already been correctly configured, and that is not the case.

@O_K1

If I don’t have for example ESP32 WROOM for Telemetry or I don’t have GNSS Receiver then how to disable Telemetry or GNSS?

If you do not have that delete the information on those fields.

[O_K1 (O. K.)]

@amilcarlucas

ArduPilot supports around 110 different flight controllers. Sorry, I can not and will not create templates for every single one. What you should do is to take a look at the existing templates and select the most similar to your vehicle and use that one.

with my SpeedyBee F405 V3, the props and other components are quite different from what I see in the templates. So, if I choose a template, almost everything will be changed anyway. I’d like to know what this information is needed for. Does it need to be very precise?

Thanks in advance for an answer.

If you do not have that delete the information on those fields.

What about ports? There is no option just to remove information.

[amilcarlucas]

@O_K1

I’d like to know what this information is needed for. Does it need to be very precise?

It is used to set the values of parameters that depend on it. Yes it needs to be very precise.
Feed the tool with wrong/incomplete information and the parameters will be wrong.

The exact dependencies and their formulas are described in the “forced_parameters” and “derived_parameters” of the configuration_steps_ArduCopter.json file

@O_K1

What about ports? There is no option just to remove information.

Then leave them unchanged

[O_K1 (O. K.)]

In ESC part of Vehicle Component Editor there ESC part and in FC Connection is mentioned SERIAL5 but in my case ( SpeedyBee F405 V3 BLS 50A 30x30 FC&ESC Stack - Speedy Bee ) I am using stack and it seems to me that not SERIAL5 is used but a separate port for connection and it is not really clear what SERIAL is there. What should I do in this situation?

And what is the way to update the configutaion if I already pressed “create…”?

Thanks in advance

[amilcarlucas]

@O_K1

What should I do in this situation?

You should find which port is used and enter it.

What exactly do you mean with update?
What do you expect the software to do?

[O_K1 (O. K.)]

You should find which port is used and enter it.

There is no specific port. The special connector is used to connect FC and ESC:

What exactly do you mean with update?

For example, for ESC I decided to keep what was in vehicle template. ( SERIAL5 ) but if I will need to update this value should I re-create template from the scratch?

What do you expect the software to do?

Help/automate configuration of a drone.

[Jai.GAY]

@O_K1

I am using stack and it seems to me that not SERIAL5 is used but a separate port for connection and it is not really clear what SERIAL is there. What should I do in this situation?

Are you referring to ESC Telemetry? If yes, your ESC BLS 50A 4-in-1 ESC does not support that.

UART	6 sets(UART1, UART2, UART3, UART4(Dedicated for Bluetooth connection)), UART5(Dedicated for ESC telemetry),UART6
ESC Telemetry	UART R5(UART5)

ESC Telemetry	Not supported

BL32 50A 4-in-1 ESC supports ESC Telemetry.

[O_K1 (O. K.)]

@Jai.GAY

Are you referring to ESC Telemetry? If yes, your ESC BLS 50A 4-in-1 ESC does not support that.

UART	6 sets(UART1, UART2, UART3, UART4(Dedicated for Bluetooth connection)), UART5(Dedicated for ESC telemetry),UART6
ESC Telemetry	UART R5(UART5)

ESC Telemetry	Not supported

BL32 50A 4-in-1 ESC supports ESC Telemetry.

I am speaking about SERIAL5 and Protocol inside ESC.

[amilcarlucas]

If you change something in the esc configuration on the component editor window then you need to select the esc.param in the parameter editor window combobox and validate the changes and press upload.

If you change a gnss configuration in the component editor you need to do the same on the gnss.param file.

So no need to start from scratch.

[O_K1 (O. K.)]

Thanks for clarification.

Could you please help me with “FC Connection” ( type and protocol) which is mentioned in ESC? I can’t find in the speedybee doc what is type and protocol used between FC and ESC… Even if look at available options in “Type” ( SERIAL{0-8}, CAN{1-2} ) then I am not sure what shoud be choosen… The same for “protocol” I don’t see any of mentioned options there in the doc of my ESC. The only word connected to protocol and my ESC Protocol is DSHOT300/600 but I guess it is something different from what should in “Protocol” in configurator as available options are {FETecOneWire, Torqeedo, CoDevESC}.

[amilcarlucas]

Choose

main out
Dshoht600

[O_K1 (O. K.)]

During configuration of 05_remote_controller.param I found the following:

Is it an issue if it is mentioned Matek H743? I don’t know from where Configurator took this information.

My vehicle_components.json doesn’t have such information:

{
“Format version”: 1,
“Components”: {
“Flight Controller”: {
“Product”: {
“Manufacturer”: “SpeedyBee”,
“Model”: “speedybeef4v3”,
“URL”: “SpeedyBee F405 V3 BLS 50A 30x30 FC&ESC Stack - Speedy Bee”,
“Version”: “V3”
},
“Firmware”: {
“Type”: “ArduCopter”,
“Version”: “4.4.4 official”
},
“Notes”: “”
},
“Frame”: {
“Product”: {
“Manufacturer”: “Mark4-7inch 295mm\n”,
“Model”: “Mark4”,
“URL”: “”,
“Version”: “”
},
“Specifications”: {
“TOW min Kg”: 0.6,
“TOW max Kg”: 0.6
},
“Notes”: “”
},
“RC Controller”: {
“Product”: {
“Manufacturer”: “TBS”,
“Model”: “tbs tango 2 pro”,
“URL”: “https://www.team-blacksheep.com/products/prod:tbs_tango2_pro”,
“Version”: " 2 pro"
},
“Firmware”: {
“Type”: “Tango 2 XF”,
“Version”: “6.17”
},
“Notes”: “”
},
“RC Transmitter”: {
“Product”: {
“Manufacturer”: “TBS”,
“Model”: “tbs tango 2 pro”,
“URL”: “https://www.team-blacksheep.com/products/prod:tbs_tango2_pro”,
“Version”: " 2 pro"
},
“Firmware”: {
“Type”: “Crossfire TX”,
“Version”: “4.0.0”
},
“Notes”: “Built-in trasmitter”
},
“RC Receiver”: {
“Product”: {
“Manufacturer”: “TBS”,
“Model”: " TBS Crossfire Nano SE",
“URL”: “https://www.team-blacksheep.com/products/prod:crossfire_nano_se”,
“Version”: “?”
},
“Firmware”: {
“Type”: “Crossfire”,
“Version”: “7”
},
“FC Connection”: {
“Type”: “SERIAL6”,
“Protocol”: “CRSF”
},
“Notes”: “This receiver is on the vehicle and is connected to the flight controller”
},
“Telemetry”: {
“Product”: {
“Manufacturer”: “”,
“Model”: “”,
“URL”: “”,
“Version”: “”
},
“Firmware”: {
“Type”: “”,
“Version”: “”
},
“FC Connection”: {
“Type”: “SERIAL3”,
“Protocol”: “MAVLink1”
},
“Notes”: “”
},
“Battery Monitor”: {
“Product”: {
“Manufacturer”: “”,
“Model”: “”,
“URL”: “”,
“Version”: “”
},
“Firmware”: {
“Type”: “ArduCopter”,
“Version”: “4.4.4”
},
“FC Connection”: {
“Type”: “None”,
“Protocol”: “Disabled”
},
“Notes”: “”
},
“Battery”: {
“Product”: {
“Manufacturer”: " Tattu ",
“Model”: “Tattu R-Line Version 3.0 1300mAh 22,2V 120C 6S1P XT60”,
“URL”: “Akumulator Tattu R-Line Version 3.0 1300mAh 22,2V 120C 6S1P XT60 - MegaDron.pl”,
“Version”: “”
},
“Specifications”: {
“Chemistry”: “Lipo”,
“Volt per cell max”: 4.2,
“Volt per cell low”: 3.6,
“Volt per cell crit”: 3.55,
“Number of cells”: 6,
“Capacity mAh”: 1300
},
“Notes”: “A normal battery”
},
“ESC”: {
“Product”: {
“Manufacturer”: "SpeedyBee “,
“Model”: “BLS 50A 30x30 4-in-1 ESC”,
“URL”: “SpeedyBee F405 V3 BLS 50A 30x30 FC&ESC Stack - Speedy Bee”,
“Version”: “1”
},
“Firmware”: {
“Type”: “BLHeli_S JH50”,
“Version”: “32.10”
},
“FC Connection”: {
“Type”: “Main Out”,
“Protocol”: “DShot600”
},
“Notes”: “Runs BDshot600”
},
“Motors”: {
“Product”: {
“Manufacturer”: " EMAX”,
“Model”: “EMAX ECOII Series ECO II 2807 6S 1300KV 5S 1500KV 4S 1700KV Brushless Motor”,
“URL”: “https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004905551761.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.25.3c381802zQTaAO&gatewayAdapt=glo2pol”,
“Version”: “”
},
“Specifications”: {
“Poles”: 14
},
“Notes”: “”
},
“Propellers”: {
“Product”: {
“Manufacturer”: "Gemfan ",
“Model”: “Gemfan Flash 7040 7X4X3 3-Blade PC Propeller for RC FPV Freestyle 7inch Long Range LR7 Drones”,
“URL”: “https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33051616437.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.35.3c381802zQTaAO&gatewayAdapt=glo2pol”,
“Version”: “”
},
“Specifications”: {
“Diameter_inches”: 7
},
“Notes”: “”
},
“GNSS Receiver”: {
“Product”: {
“Manufacturer”: “”,
“Model”: “”,
“URL”: “”,
“Version”: “”
},
“Firmware”: {
“Type”: “”,
“Version”: “”
},
“FC Connection”: {
“Type”: “CAN2”,
“Protocol”: “None”
},
“Notes”: “”
}
},
“Program version”: “0.9.5”,
“Configuration template”: “4.4.4-params”
}

[O_K1 (O. K.)]

Sometimes I see the following erros:

Where can I read what is the reason for such failure?

[Jai.GAY]

@O_K1

Is it an issue if it is mentioned Matek H743? I don’t know from where Configurator took this information.

it is a sample template embedded during installation, users are supposed to understand what things are integrated and make edits to the sample template where the configurator brings it out from the more than 1000 parameters that are commonly needed to change according to your drone components setup to achieve successful flight minimize crashes. read more about it here.

It is under your work directory and has the filename example 05_remote_controller.param

Matek H743-specific: Hardware-Pin Rx6 is Rx from UART 7

BRD_ALT_CONFIG,1  # Matek H743-specific: Hardware-Pin Rx6 is Rx from UART 7

[Jai.GAY]

@O_K1

There is a high chance your SpeedyBee FCU does not support it. you have to read the FCU/ESC manual.

I do not think your ESC is supported.

[amilcarlucas]

Directly to the left of that parameter, there is a “Del” button press it and select yes.