Simulating transmitter switches

Ground Control Software Mission Planner
1

When doing MP SITL, is there a way to simulate transmitter switch movements. Lets say on my transmitter I have SwA set up for Ch 6 to turn GeoFence on/off and say I use SwB set up for Ch 7 to turn Simple on/off, is there a way to simulate this?

Put another way perhaps, is there a way in MP SITL to set Ch6 to 2000 and Ch 7 to 2000 to simulate turning on the fence and Simple mode?

Maybe simple mode does not apply to MP STIL but geo fence does. Os can I turn it on and off as my simulated copter moves around?

2

You can either connect a joystick:
Joystick/Gamepad — Copter documentation (ardupilot.org)

Or use the aux function tab to trigger any given function:
image

If all you need to do is enable or disable fences, there’s a parameter for that (FENCE_ENABLE) that can be changed without the use of any switch or aux function button.

3

Thanks, I never noticed that tab.

When I enable geo fence, is the fence supposed to appear on the plan screen?
Also, I just enabled geo fence and it seemed like the polygon mode is not an option.
I will look further.

Yesterday, I crashed because I had my transmitter set to enable simple and super simple at the same time. I got weird results. In this case, I wonder what mode AP will select simple or super simple or try to do both and get confused.

4

If you use a cylindrical fence defined by the onboard parameters, I don’t think MP displays it.
Fences — Copter documentation (ardupilot.org)

If you want to define arbitrary geometries (that will be displayed), see here:
Inclusion and Exclusion Fences — Copter documentation (ardupilot.org)

No idea what happens when you select conflicting flight mode behaviors. Sounds like you found out the hard way.

5

When I select geo fences under config at the top, the option for fence type is blank. Under the fence type in the config parameter list it is listed as a 7 meaning bits 1,2 and 4 are set. I would like to do a polygon fence if possible. This is the case using STIL or actual.

Yesterday, I crashed into my neighbors house because of conflicting simple/super modes. Fortunately, there was little damage, one broken prop.

I’ll keep looking.

6

Put them on one 3 position switch is easy enough. Off/Simple/Super Simple.

7

I guess that on MP there is no indication as to if you are in simple or super simple or neither.

8

It shows on the messages screen. It’s also announced if you Enable Speech.

9

I noticed that when speech is enabled that mode changes will be announced (if the button is clicked). I did not hear anything going to/from simple

10

I hear it. How did you configure them? You didn’t click those boxes on the Flight Mode screen did you? If so unselect them and configure an RCx_OPTION for them.

11

I am confused now. I thought the RC_ options were what the transmitter switches set. Also, there are the AUX functions on the Data screen. I do not know what control what. I guess I best read some more.

Also, I posted a question about creating a polygon geofence. Maybe you can look at my post and comment.

12

Read the links I sent about fences and then ask more specific questions if you get stuck.

13

I have read the links. They say that i can have a cylindrical or a polygon fence. When I select config>geofence a screen pops up like I posted in my other post. It has a box to select what type of fence. I assume the box should have the cylindrical or poly option but the box is blank. When I watch a You tube video, the box has options. Somehow, I do not see the options. I did configure a cylindrical fence by setting the proper parameters in the Config>parameter list. I have not yet tested the option as yet. A polygon option is better for me if I can see how to implement it.