Hello,
I have an Orange Cube with the Rover firmware installed. I want to send waypoints to the Rover using an Arduino. I have serial communication received from the pixhawk, just heartbeat without decoding.
So I know the hardware is done, but I can seem to figure out how to arrange the bytes in the packet correctly to actually send it to pixhawk using the MAVLink protoco.
Please help.
Hi Vik,
Lot’s of useful reading can be found here:
[MAVLink and Arduino: step by step]
(mavlink-and-arduino)
All the needed documentation of the MAVLink commands and the architecture can be found here:
[mavlink]
(https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html)
Good luck!!
Hi VRquaeler,
Thank you for your response.
I have followed that tutorial and uploaded that code and took out all the unnecessary FastLED stuff out of it. I also changed the second softSerial to the USB debug to the computer. Here is the code:
/* MAVLInk_DroneLights
* by Juan Pedro López
*
* This program was developed to connect an Arduino board with a Pixhawk via MAVLink
* with the objective of controlling a group of WS2812B LED lights on board of a quad
*
* The current version of the program is working properly.
*
* TO DO:
* - Move STREAMS request to RC_CHANNELS to use values in logic
* - Add RC_CHANNLES_RAW messages monitoring: move #30 to RC_CHANNELS_RAW (#35)
* http://mavlink.org/messages/common#RC_CHANNELS_RAW
* - Look for message on low battery:
* To be tested: http://mavlink.org/messages/common#PARAM_REQUEST_READ
* To be checked: http://mavlink.org/messages/common#SYS_STATUS
* - Potential implementation of other alarms, like high intensity
*
* You can restrict the maximum package size with this parameter in mavlink_types.h:
#ifndef MAVLINK_MAX_PAYLOAD_LEN_
// it is possible to override this, but be careful! Defa_
#define **MAVLINK_MAX_PAYLOAD_LEN 255 ///< Maximum payload length_
#endif_
*/
// In case we need a second serial port for debugging
#define SOFT_SERIAL_DEBUGGING // Comment this line if no serial debugging is needed
#ifdef SOFT_SERIAL_DEBUGGING
// Library to use serial debugging with a second board
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
SoftwareSerial pxSerial(2,3); // RX, TX
#endif
#include "mavlink.h"
//#include "common/mavlink_msg_request_data_stream.h"
// Mavlink variables
unsigned long previousMillisMAVLink = 0; // will store last time MAVLink was transmitted and listened
unsigned long next_interval_MAVLink = 1000; // next interval to count
const int num_hbs = 60; // # of heartbeats to wait before activating STREAMS from Pixhawk. 60 = one minute.
int num_hbs_pasados = num_hbs;
// Lights flashing adjustment
unsigned long previousMillis = 0; // will store last time LED was updated
unsigned long next_interval = 0; // next interval
const long tiempo_on = 20;
const long tiempo_off = 80;
const long tiempo_descanso = 880;
void setup() {
// MAVLink interface start
Serial.begin(57600);
#ifdef SOFT_SERIAL_DEBUGGING
// [DEB] Soft serial port start
Serial.begin(57600);
Serial.println("MAVLink starting.");
Serial.begin(57600);
#endif
}
void loop() {
// Lights management
// Light pulses: 2 quick flashes per second. 100 ms each cycle
unsigned long currentMillis = millis();
int i=0;
// MAVLink
/* The default UART header for your MCU */
int sysid = 1; ///< ID 20 for this airplane. 1 PX, 255 ground station
int compid = 158; ///< The component sending the message
int type = MAV_TYPE_QUADROTOR; ///< This system is an airplane / fixed wing
// Define the system type, in this case an airplane -> on-board controller
// uint8_t system_type = MAV_TYPE_FIXED_WING;
uint8_t system_type = MAV_TYPE_GENERIC;
uint8_t autopilot_type = MAV_AUTOPILOT_INVALID;
uint8_t system_mode = MAV_MODE_PREFLIGHT; ///< Booting up
uint32_t custom_mode = 0; ///< Custom mode, can be defined by user/adopter
uint8_t system_state = MAV_STATE_STANDBY; ///< System ready for flight
// Initialize the required buffers
mavlink_message_t msg;
uint8_t buf[MAVLINK_MAX_PACKET_LEN];
// Pack the message
//mavlink_msg_heartbeat_pack(sysid,compid, &msg, type, autopilot_type, system_mode, custom_mode, system_state);
mavlink_msg_heartbeat_pack(1,0, &msg, type, autopilot_type, system_mode, custom_mode, system_state);
// Copy the message to the send buffer
uint16_t len = mavlink_msg_to_send_buffer(buf, &msg);
// Send the message with the standard UART send function
// uart0_send might be named differently depending on
// the individual microcontroller / library in use.
unsigned long currentMillisMAVLink = millis();
if (currentMillisMAVLink - previousMillisMAVLink >= next_interval_MAVLink) {
// Guardamos la última vez que se cambió el modo
previousMillisMAVLink = currentMillisMAVLink;
#ifdef SOFT_SERIAL_DEBUGGING
pxSerial.write(buf,len);
//Serial.println("Ardu HB");
#else
Serial.write(buf, len);
#endif
//Mav_Request_Data();
num_hbs_pasados++;
if(num_hbs_pasados>=num_hbs) {
// Request streams from Pixhawk
#ifdef SOFT_SERIAL_DEBUGGING
Serial.println("Streams requested!");
#endif
Mav_Request_Data();
num_hbs_pasados=0;
}
}
// Check reception buffer
comm_receive();
}
void Mav_Request_Data()
{
mavlink_message_t msg;
uint8_t buf[MAVLINK_MAX_PACKET_LEN];
// STREAMS that can be requested
/*
* Definitions are in common.h: enum MAV_DATA_STREAM
*
* MAV_DATA_STREAM_ALL=0, // Enable all data streams
* MAV_DATA_STREAM_RAW_SENSORS=1, /* Enable IMU_RAW, GPS_RAW, GPS_STATUS packets.
* MAV_DATA_STREAM_EXTENDED_STATUS=2, /* Enable GPS_STATUS, CONTROL_STATUS, AUX_STATUS
* MAV_DATA_STREAM_RC_CHANNELS=3, /* Enable RC_CHANNELS_SCALED, RC_CHANNELS_RAW, SERVO_OUTPUT_RAW
* MAV_DATA_STREAM_RAW_CONTROLLER=4, /* Enable ATTITUDE_CONTROLLER_OUTPUT, POSITION_CONTROLLER_OUTPUT, NAV_CONTROLLER_OUTPUT.
* MAV_DATA_STREAM_POSITION=6, /* Enable LOCAL_POSITION, GLOBAL_POSITION/GLOBAL_POSITION_INT messages.
* MAV_DATA_STREAM_EXTRA1=10, /* Dependent on the autopilot
* MAV_DATA_STREAM_EXTRA2=11, /* Dependent on the autopilot
* MAV_DATA_STREAM_EXTRA3=12, /* Dependent on the autopilot
* MAV_DATA_STREAM_ENUM_END=13,
*
* Data in PixHawk available in:
* - Battery, amperage and voltage (SYS_STATUS) in MAV_DATA_STREAM_EXTENDED_STATUS
* - Gyro info (IMU_SCALED) in MAV_DATA_STREAM_EXTRA1
*/
// To be setup according to the needed information to be requested from the Pixhawk
const int maxStreams = 2;
const uint8_t MAVStreams[maxStreams] = {MAV_DATA_STREAM_EXTENDED_STATUS, MAV_DATA_STREAM_EXTRA1};
const uint16_t MAVRates[maxStreams] = {0x02,0x05};
for (int i=0; i < maxStreams; i++) {
/*
* mavlink_msg_request_data_stream_pack(system_id, component_id,
* &msg,
* target_system, target_component,
* MAV_DATA_STREAM_POSITION, 10000000, 1);
*
* mavlink_msg_request_data_stream_pack(uint8_t system_id, uint8_t component_id,
* mavlink_message_t* msg,
* uint8_t target_system, uint8_t target_component, uint8_t req_stream_id,
* uint16_t req_message_rate, uint8_t start_stop)
*
*/
mavlink_msg_request_data_stream_pack(2, 200, &msg, 1, 0, MAVStreams[i], MAVRates[i], 1);
uint16_t len = mavlink_msg_to_send_buffer(buf, &msg);
#ifdef SOFT_SERIAL_DEBUGGING
pxSerial.write(buf,len);
#else
Serial.write(buf, len);
#endif
}
// Request: PARAM_REQUEST_LIST. Only for full log recording
/*
* Primitive: mavlink_msg_param_request_list_pack(uint8_t system_id, uint8_t component_id, mavlink_message_t* msg,
uint8_t target_system, uint8_t target_component)
*/
/*
// Configure
uint8_t system_id=2;
uint8_t component_id=200;
// mavlink_message_t* msg;
uint8_t target_system=1;
uint8_t target_component=0;
// Pack
mavlink_msg_param_request_list_pack(system_id, component_id, &msg,
target_system, target_component);
uint16_t len = mavlink_msg_to_send_buffer(buf, &msg);
// Send
#ifdef SOFT_SERIAL_DEBUGGING
pxSerial.write(buf,len);
#else
Serial.write(buf, len);
#endif
*/
}
void comm_receive() {
mavlink_message_t msg;
mavlink_status_t status;
// Echo for manual debugging
// Serial.println("---Start---");
#ifdef SOFT_SERIAL_DEBUGGING
while(pxSerial.available()>0) {
uint8_t c = pxSerial.read();
#else
while(Serial.available()>0) {
uint8_t c = Serial.read();
#endif
// Try to get a new message
if(mavlink_parse_char(MAVLINK_COMM_0, c, &msg, &status)) {
// Handle message
switch(msg.msgid) {
case MAVLINK_MSG_ID_HEARTBEAT: // #0: Heartbeat
{
// E.g. read GCS heartbeat and go into
// comm lost mode if timer times out
#ifdef SOFT_SERIAL_DEBUGGING
//Serial.println("PX HB");
#endif
}
break;
case MAVLINK_MSG_ID_SYS_STATUS: // #1: SYS_STATUS
{
/* Message decoding: PRIMITIVE
* mavlink_msg_sys_status_decode(const mavlink_message_t* msg, mavlink_sys_status_t* sys_status)
*/
//mavlink_message_t* msg;
mavlink_sys_status_t sys_status;
mavlink_msg_sys_status_decode(&msg, &sys_status);
#ifdef SOFT_SERIAL_DEBUGGING
Serial.print("PX SYS STATUS: ");
Serial.print("[Bat (V): ");
Serial.print(sys_status.voltage_battery);
Serial.print("], [Bat (A): ");
Serial.print(sys_status.current_battery);
Serial.print("], [Comms loss (%): ");
Serial.print(sys_status.drop_rate_comm);
Serial.println("]");
#endif
}
break;
case MAVLINK_MSG_ID_PARAM_VALUE: // #22: PARAM_VALUE
{
/* Message decoding: PRIMITIVE
* mavlink_msg_param_value_decode(const mavlink_message_t* msg, mavlink_param_value_t* param_value)
*/
//mavlink_message_t* msg;
mavlink_param_value_t param_value;
mavlink_msg_param_value_decode(&msg, ¶m_value);
#ifdef SOFT_SERIAL_DEBUGGING
Serial.println("PX PARAM_VALUE");
Serial.println(param_value.param_value);
Serial.println(param_value.param_count);
Serial.println(param_value.param_index);
Serial.println(param_value.param_id);
Serial.println(param_value.param_type);
Serial.println("------ Fin -------");
#endif
}
break;
case MAVLINK_MSG_ID_RAW_IMU: // #27: RAW_IMU
{
/* Message decoding: PRIMITIVE
* static inline void mavlink_msg_raw_imu_decode(const mavlink_message_t* msg, mavlink_raw_imu_t* raw_imu)
*/
mavlink_raw_imu_t raw_imu;
mavlink_msg_raw_imu_decode(&msg, &raw_imu);
#ifdef SOFT_SERIAL_DEBUGGING
Serial.println("PX RAW IMU");
Serial.println(raw_imu.xacc);
#endif
}
break;
case MAVLINK_MSG_ID_ATTITUDE: // #30
{
/* Message decoding: PRIMITIVE
* mavlink_msg_attitude_decode(const mavlink_message_t* msg, mavlink_attitude_t* attitude)
*/
mavlink_attitude_t attitude;
mavlink_msg_attitude_decode(&msg, &attitude);
#ifdef SOFT_SERIAL_DEBUGGING
Serial.println("PX ATTITUDE");
Serial.println(attitude.roll);
#endif
}
break;
default:
#ifdef SOFT_SERIAL_DEBUGGING
Serial.print("--- Otros: ");
Serial.print("[ID: ");
Serial.print(msg.msgid);
Serial.print("], [seq: ");
Serial.print(msg.seq);
Serial.println("]");
#endif
break;
}
}
}
}
The only output I get out of the serial monitor is the following:
MAVLink starting.
Streams requested!
And letting it run for a few minutes only results in more “Streams requested!”.
If I use softSerial alone and I port the messages (heartbeats) from Pixhawk straight to the USB debugger I get the packets. So I am sure that my serial connection is correctly working.
What should I do now?
Alright so it looks like in his code he never initialized the pxSerial port.
After changing that, I get a bunch of data. Now how do I send data?
Hi,
in a similar way you already made a STREAM REQUEST.
Thanks for your response again @VRquaeler.
I understand that I need to do the same thing like sending the packet that contains the system IDs and such. But I am unsure which message ID and what message I should send to actually get a response. Am I waiting for a response? etc…
Hi Vik,
You have to achieve a row of commands:
MAVLink mission
Some other things I learned the hard way:
With the real Arduino (ATmega328) you will run out of flash/memory.
The full blown MAVLink libraries are too big for the atm328 mcu.
I would recommend the switch to a faster/newer dev-board like a “SAMD21 M0” based Arduino or a Teensy 3.2 or similar.