Persistant Compass Variance

ArduPlane VTOL Plane
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1

I’m having a rough time getting rid of “Compass Variance” warnings during flight. When I click on the EKF, the Compass bar is red and topped out. The compass calibration completes without a problem, but then we fly and the variance warning appears again during the entire flight.

I tried to disable the internal compass, by setting COMPASS_USE=0 and COMPASS_USE2=1

This was assuming COMPASS_USE is internal and COMPASS_USE2 is external. Can someone please confirm which is which from this screen? I’m not sure I’m reading it right.

WhatsApp Image 2023-02-28 at 17.42.11
WhatsApp Image 2023-02-28 at 17.42.111034×693 86.2 KB

Many thanks
Hein

2

if I’m not mistaken, the UAVCAN is the external compass, I also have a problem with my compass, when the plane accelerates, the battery discharge generates a magnetic field that interferes with the compass, I don’t know how to smooth it out.

3

You might try running a “magfit”.

https://ardupilot.org/plane/docs/common-compass-setup-advanced.html#common-compass-setup-advanced-compassmot-compensation-for-interference-from-the-power-wires-escs-and-motors

https://ardupilot.org/copter/docs/common-magfit.html

1 Like
4

I had the same problem couple weeks ago asking something similar. You try runing the throttle/interference to see if your compass is affected by anything first. Could be the position of your compass too near power cable or anything magnetic

5

Thanks, we made sure no high current cables run near the compass. Will try to identify if it’s the motors.