PixHawk

[swilker]

Thanks, not sure where to get that info on my system. Looked for a while; keep in mind I'm on a MAC. At this point I'm going to have to give up. 3DRobotics where I got the Pix Hawk won't even e-mail me back. I have no idea what the issue is, but I think others have the same issue, given the thread referenced above. I've spent countless hours on this with no progress. It's OK I'll use the NAZA system, Multi Wii or Flip 32, I have all of those working. Seems like a real shame to buy a product that doesn't work and be unable to get even an e-mail reply from the folks that sold it to me. Oh Well.

 

[makattack]

It does take a bit of work to get APM/Pixhawk working, I'm afraid. I'm not so sure that 3DR support over email works well. I would call or use the DIYDrones or APMForums... You wrote "3DSystems" but I suspect you mean 3DRobotics, right? I actually haven't ever used their support, but have gotten lots of help from the forums when I had problems with a elevon configuration. When it works, it works well. I'm quite happy with my stuff, but it wasn't straightforward to get working.

On your Mac, I believe the "File" menu equivalent is triggered by moving the mouse over to the "Apple" icon on the top left of your screen, and the File menu should either just show up or you need to click on it. Once you get the "Advanced Mode" enabled, you'll be able to see / do more.

 

[swilker]

makattack,
Thanks so much for your help. I think my only hope is to find someone who is using the PixHawk and get some help. Since I live in MD I'll need to find someone local. However, I'm going to USMA West Point this week and I believe they are using these. Since I'm working with them anyhow I might be able to get some help. I think at this point that's my last hope of salvation with the PixHawk. Also, correct it's 3D Robotics... Fixed the post, thanks, Best wishes,
Drew

 

[nilsen]

Hey Swilker,

I had a lot of setup issues with the APM 2.6 on my Mac but got it working eventually.
As makattack pointed out, you have to switch the software to advanced mode in the view menu then you get the CLI screen.

Good luck and please do persevere, the APM and Pixhawk are really brilliant once set up.

Cheers

 

[makattack]

Hi swilker, yes, it would really be helpful to have someone else you can work with locally to sort things out. I joined a RC club near me, and on my first day flying at the field, with my APM equipped Versa Wing, I met a guy who was also just readying his mini-APM powered EPP wing that was probably half the size of my Versa. Since we were using the same 915MHz telemetry radio, we coordinated our flights.

He was having trouble with autotune and the responsiveness of his plane, and I shared some of my experiences -- including what I learned on the APMForums from the tridge about using the newer ELEVON_OUTPUT vs ELEVON_MIXING as a recommended setup for flying wings.

Anyway, as you see on the forums, others have had the same experience as you, and there have been different resolutions it seems to their problems. I recall also having problems calibrating my ACC's at one time, but in that case, it was because I was taking too long orienting the plane and it timed out on me.

Your thread is actually motivating me to take the pixhawk that I ordered with my electrohub kit this past Summer and mounting it one the electrohub tricopter I just finished in Nov. I've only been flying it with an ACRO type board (Flip1.5) to learn with, but feel it might be time to put the more expensive Pixhawk on it now. Space might be a bit of an issue, but I'll figure out how to mount the giant GPS antenna I have for it.

Anyway, good luck with your trip to West Point. That should be a great area to fly around if you're bringing any aircraft. I'm sure some aeronautical or control theory engineering students/faculty there working will have some experience with Pixhawk/APM!

Dave

 

[makattack]

BTW, I wonder if this is a software problem with 3.2 -- you might try loading the previous version of ArduCopter:
http://diydrones.com/forum/topics/p...m-3-2-collecting-data?id=705844:Topic:1853847

Although, there's no mention of this in the main 3.2 Arducopter support forums:
http://ardupilot.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=100&sid=fb81b6b971bfe320e73905764bd4c6c0

 

[swilker]

Making progress
However the only three commands I seem to have are
reset
show
set and
esc_calib

 

[swilker]

Radio is turned off:n but here's everything. I hope someone can help...
FW Ver: 120
----------------------------------------


Radio
----------------------------------------
CH1: 1019 | 1980
CH2: 1019 | 1980
CH3: 1099 | 1901
CH4: 1019 | 1980
CH5: 1099 | 1901
CH6: 1099 | 1901
CH7: 1099 | 1901
CH8: 0 | 1500


Frame
----------------------------------------
Quad frame



Batt Mon:
----------------------------------------
volts and cur

Flight modes
----------------------------------------
Pos 0: STABILIZE, Simple: OFF
Pos 1: ALT_HOLD, Simple: OFF
Pos 2: POSHOLD, Simple: OFF
Pos 3: STABILIZE, Simple: OFF
Pos 4: STABILIZE, Simple: OFF
Pos 5: STABILIZE, Simple: OFF


INS
----------------------------------------
G_off: 0.00, 0.21, -0.05
A_off: 0.00, 0.00, 0.00
A_scale: 1.00, 1.00, 1.00



Compass
----------------------------------------
enabled
Mag Dec: 39.6000
Mag0 off: -121.0000, 123.0000, 52.0000
Mag1 off: -8.0000, -155.0000, -564.0000
Motor Comp: Throttle
ComMot0: -0.23, 0.61, -27.59

ComMot1: 0.02, -0.24, 0.39

SYSID_SW_MREV: 120
SYSID_SW_TYPE: 10
SYSID_THISMAV: 1
SYSID_MYGCS: 255
SERIAL0_BAUD: 115
SERIAL1_BAUD: 57
SERIAL2_BAUD: 57
SERIAL2_PROTOCOL: 1
TELEM_DELAY: 0
RTL_ALT: 88
RNGFND_GAIN: 0.800000
FS_BATT_ENABLE: 0
FS_BATT_VOLTAGE: 10.50000
FS_BATT_MAH: 0.000000
FS_GPS_ENABLE: 1
FS_GCS_ENABLE: 1
GPS_HDOP_GOOD: 200
MAG_ENABLE: 1
FLOW_ENABLE: 0
SUPER_SIMPLE: 0
RTL_ALT_FINAL: 0
RSSI_PIN: -1
RSSI_RANGE: 5.000000
WP_YAW_BEHAVIOR: 2
RTL_LOIT_TIME: 5000
LAND_SPEED: 50
PILOT_VELZ_MAX: 250
PILOT_ACCEL_Z: 250
THR_MIN: 130
THR_MAX: 1000

FS_THR_ENABLE: 0
FS_THR_VALUE: 975
TRIM_THROTTLE: 450
THR_MID: 500
THR_DZ: 100
FLTMODE1: 0
FLTMODE2: 2
FLTMODE3: 16
FLTMODE4: 0
FLTMODE5: 0
FLTMODE6: 0
SIMPLE: 0

LOG_BITMASK: 43006
ESC: 0
TUNE: 0
TUNE_LOW: 0
TUNE_HIGH: 1000
FRAME: 1
CH7_OPT: 0
CH8_OPT: 0
ARMING_CHECK: 1
ANGLE_MAX: 4500
RC_FEEL_RP: 100
PHLD_BRAKE_RATE: 8
PHLD_BRAKE_ANGLE: 3000
LAND_REPOSITION: 1
EKF_CHECK_THRESH: 0.800000
DCM_CHECK_THRESH: 0.800000
RC1_MIN: 1019
RC1_TRIM: 1500
RC1_MAX: 1980
RC1_REV: 1
RC1_DZ: 30
RC2_MIN: 1019
RC2_TRIM: 1500
RC2_MAX: 1980
RC2_REV: 1
RC2_DZ: 30
RC3_MIN: 1099
RC3_TRIM: 1500
RC3_MAX: 1901
RC3_REV: 1
RC3_DZ: 30
RC4_MIN: 1019
RC4_TRIM: 1500
RC4_MAX: 1980
RC4_REV: 1
RC4_DZ: 40
RC5_MIN: 1099
RC5_TRIM: 1500
RC5_MAX: 1901
RC5_REV: 1
RC5_DZ: 0
RC5_FUNCTION: 0
RC6_MIN: 1099
RC6_TRIM: 1500
RC6_MAX: 1901
RC6_REV: 1
RC6_DZ: 0
RC6_FUNCTION: 0
RC7_MIN: 1099
RC7_TRIM: 1500
RC7_MAX: 1901
RC7_REV: 1
RC7_DZ: 0
RC7_FUNCTION: 0
RC8_MIN: 0
RC8_TRIM: 1500
RC8_MAX: 1500
RC8_REV: 1
RC8_DZ: 0
RC8_FUNCTION: 0
RC9_MIN: 1100
RC9_TRIM: 1500
RC9_MAX: 1900
RC9_REV: 1
RC9_DZ: 0
RC9_FUNCTION: 0
RC10_MIN: 1100
RC10_TRIM: 1500
RC10_MAX: 1900
RC10_REV: 1
RC10_DZ: 0
RC10_FUNCTION: 0
RC11_MIN: 1100
RC11_TRIM: 1500
RC11_MAX: 1900
RC11_REV: 1
RC11_DZ: 0
RC11_FUNCTION: 0
RC12_MIN: 1100
RC12_TRIM: 1500
RC12_MAX: 1900
RC12_REV: 1
RC12_DZ: 0
RC12_FUNCTION: 0
RC13_MIN: 1100
RC13_TRIM: 1500
RC13_MAX: 1900
RC13_REV: 1
RC13_DZ: 0
RC13_FUNCTION: 0
RC14_MIN: 1100
RC14_TRIM: 1500
RC14_MAX: 1900
RC14_REV: 1
RC14_DZ: 0
RC14_FUNCTION: 0
RC_SPEED: 490
ACRO_RP_P: 4.500000
ACRO_YAW_P: 4.500000
ACRO_BAL_ROLL: 1.000000
ACRO_BAL_PITCH: 1.000000
ACRO_TRAINER: 2
ACRO_EXPO: 0.300000
RATE_RLL_P: 0.150000
RATE_RLL_I: 0.100000
RATE_RLL_D: 0.004000
RATE_RLL_IMAX: 1000
RATE_PIT_P: 0.150000
RATE_PIT_I: 0.100000
RATE_PIT_D: 0.004000
RATE_PIT_IMAX: 1000
RATE_YAW_P: 0.200000
RATE_YAW_I: 0.020000
RATE_YAW_D: 0.000000
RATE_YAW_IMAX: 1000
LOITER_LAT_P: 1.000000
LOITER_LAT_I: 0.500000
LOITER_LAT_D: 0.000000
LOITER_LAT_IMAX: 1000
LOITER_LON_P: 1.000000
LOITER_LON_I: 0.500000
LOITER_LON_D: 0.000000
LOITER_LON_IMAX: 1000
THR_RATE_P: 5.000000
THR_ACCEL_P: 0.500000
THR_ACCEL_I: 1.000000
THR_ACCEL_D: 0.000000
THR_ACCEL_IMAX: 800
OF_RLL_P: 2.500000
OF_RLL_I: 0.500000
OF_RLL_D: 0.120000
OF_RLL_IMAX: 100
OF_PIT_P: 2.500000
OF_PIT_I: 0.500000
OF_PIT_D: 0.120000
OF_PIT_IMAX: 100
STB_RLL_P: 4.500000
STB_PIT_P: 4.500000
STB_YAW_P: 4.500000
THR_ALT_P: 1.000000
HLD_LAT_P: 1.000000
CAM_TRIGG_TYPE: 0
CAM_DURATION: 10
CAM_SERVO_ON: 1300
CAM_SERVO_OFF: 1100
CAM_TRIGG_DIST: 0.000000
RELAY_PIN: 54
RELAY_PIN2: -1
CHUTE_ENABLED: 0
CHUTE_TYPE: 0
CHUTE_SERVO_ON: 1300
CHUTE_SERVO_OFF: 1100
CHUTE_ALT_MIN: 10
COMPASS_OFS_X: -121.0000
COMPASS_OFS_Y: 123.0000
COMPASS_OFS_Z: 52.00000
COMPASS_DEC: 0.691150
COMPASS_LEARN: 0
COMPASS_USE: 1
COMPASS_AUTODEC: 1
COMPASS_MOTCT: 1
COMPASS_MOT_X: -0.239492
COMPASS_MOT_Y: 0.612039
COMPASS_MOT_Z: -27.58927
COMPASS_ORIENT: 8
COMPASS_EXTERNAL: 1
COMPASS_OFS2_X: -8.000000
COMPASS_OFS2_Y: -155.0000
COMPASS_OFS2_Z: -564.0000
COMPASS_MOT2_X: 0.025320
COMPASS_MOT2_Y: -0.244487
COMPASS_MOT2_Z: 0.394071
COMPASS_PRIMARY: 0
COMPASS_OFS3_X: 0.000000
COMPASS_OFS3_Y: 0.000000
COMPASS_OFS3_Z: 0.000000
COMPASS_MOT3_X: 0.000000
COMPASS_MOT3_Y: 0.000000
COMPASS_MOT3_Z: 0.000000
COMPASS_DEV_ID: 73225
COMPASS_DEV_ID2: 131594
COMPASS_DEV_ID3: 0
INS_PRODUCT_ID: 5
INS_ACCSCAL_X: 1.000000
INS_ACCSCAL_Y: 1.000000
INS_ACCSCAL_Z: 1.000000
INS_ACCOFFS_X: 0.000000
INS_ACCOFFS_Y: 0.000000
INS_ACCOFFS_Z: 0.000000
INS_GYROFFS_X: 0.000292
INS_GYROFFS_Y: 0.211685
INS_GYROFFS_Z: -0.054558
INS_MPU6K_FILTER: 0
INS_ACC2SCAL_X: 1.000000
INS_ACC2SCAL_Y: 1.000000
INS_ACC2SCAL_Z: 1.000000
INS_ACC2OFFS_X: 0.000000
INS_ACC2OFFS_Y: 0.000000
INS_ACC2OFFS_Z: 0.000000
INS_GYR2OFFS_X: -0.004381
INS_GYR2OFFS_Y: 0.030902
INS_GYR2OFFS_Z: -0.005580
INS_ACC3SCAL_X: 0.000000
INS_ACC3SCAL_Y: 0.000000
INS_ACC3SCAL_Z: 0.000000
INS_ACC3OFFS_X: 0.000000
INS_ACC3OFFS_Y: 0.000000
INS_ACC3OFFS_Z: 0.000000
INS_GYR3OFFS_X: 0.000000
INS_GYR3OFFS_Y: 0.000000
INS_GYR3OFFS_Z: 0.000000
INAV_TC_XY: 2.500000
INAV_TC_Z: 5.000000
WPNAV_SPEED: 500.0000
WPNAV_RADIUS: 200.0000
WPNAV_SPEED_UP: 250.0000
WPNAV_SPEED_DN: 150.0000
WPNAV_LOIT_SPEED: 500.0000
WPNAV_ACCEL: 100.0000
WPNAV_ACCEL_Z: 100.0000
WPNAV_LOIT_JERK: 1000.000
CIRCLE_RADIUS: 1000.000
CIRCLE_RATE: 20.00000
ATC_RATE_RP_MAX: 18000.00
ATC_RATE_Y_MAX: 9000.000
ATC_SLEW_YAW: 1000.000
ATC_ACCEL_RP_MAX: 0.000000

ATC_ACCEL_Y_MAX: 0.000000
ATC_RATE_FF_ENAB: 0
POSCON_THR_HOVER: 450.0000
SR0_RAW_SENS: 0
SR0_EXT_STAT: 0
SR0_RC_CHAN: 0
SR0_RAW_CTRL: 0
SR0_POSITION: 0
SR0_EXTRA1: 0
SR0_EXTRA2: 0
SR0_EXTRA3: 0
SR0_PARAMS: 0
SR1_RAW_SENS: 0
SR1_EXT_STAT: 0
SR1_RC_CHAN: 0
SR1_RAW_CTRL: 0
SR1_POSITION: 0
SR1_EXTRA1: 0
SR1_EXTRA2: 0
SR1_EXTRA3: 0
SR1_PARAMS: 0
SR2_RAW_SENS: 0
SR2_EXT_STAT: 0
SR2_RC_CHAN: 0
SR2_RAW_CTRL: 0
SR2_POSITION: 0
SR2_EXTRA1: 0
SR2_EXTRA2: 0
SR2_EXTRA3: 0
SR2_PARAMS: 0
AHRS_GPS_GAIN: 1.000000
AHRS_GPS_USE: 1
AHRS_YAW_P: 0.100000
AHRS_RP_P: 0.100000
AHRS_WIND_MAX: 0
AHRS_TRIM_X: 0.000000
AHRS_TRIM_Y: 0.000000
AHRS_TRIM_Z: 0.000000
AHRS_ORIENTATION: 0
AHRS_COMP_BETA: 0.100000
AHRS_GPS_MINSATS: 6
AHRS_EKF_USE: 0
MNT_MODE: 0
MNT_RETRACT_X: 0.000000
MNT_RETRACT_Y: 0.000000
MNT_RETRACT_Z: 0.000000
MNT_NEUTRAL_X: 0.000000
MNT_NEUTRAL_Y: 0.000000
MNT_NEUTRAL_Z: 0.000000
MNT_CONTROL_X: 0.000000
MNT_CONTROL_Y: 0.000000
MNT_CONTROL_Z: 0.000000
MNT_STAB_ROLL: 0
MNT_STAB_TILT: 0
MNT_STAB_PAN: 0
MNT_RC_IN_ROLL: 0
MNT_ANGMIN_ROL: -4500
MNT_ANGMAX_ROL: 4500
MNT_RC_IN_TILT: 0
MNT_ANGMIN_TIL: -4500
MNT_ANGMAX_TIL: 4500
MNT_RC_IN_PAN: 0
MNT_ANGMIN_PAN: -4500
MNT_ANGMAX_PAN: 4500
MNT_JSTICK_SPD: 0
BATT_MONITOR: 4

BATT_VOLT_PIN: 2
BATT_CURR_PIN: 3
BATT_VOLT_MULT: 12.02000
BATT_AMP_PERVOLT: 39.87700
BATT_AMP_OFFSET: 0.000000
BATT_CAPACITY: 3300
BATT_VOLT2_PIN: -1
BATT_VOLT2_MULT: 1.000000
BRD_PWM_COUNT: 4
BRD_SER1_RTSCTS: 2
BRD_SER2_RTSCTS: 2
BRD_SAFETYENABLE: 1
GND_ABS_PRESS: 101206.3
GND_TEMP: 30.08750
GND_ALT_OFFSET: 0
GPS_TYPE: 1
GPS_TYPE2: 0
GPS_NAVFILTER: 8
GPS_AUTO_SWITCH: 1
GPS_MIN_DGPS: 100
SCHED_DEBUG: 0
FENCE_ENABLE: 0
FENCE_TYPE: 3
FENCE_ACTION: 1
FENCE_ALT_MAX: 100.0000
FENCE_RADIUS: 300.0000
FENCE_MARGIN: 2.000000
RALLY_TOTAL: 0
RALLY_LIMIT_KM: 2.000000
GPSGLITCH_ENABLE: 1
GPSGLITCH_RADIUS: 200.0000
GPSGLITCH_ACCEL: 1000.000
BAROGLTCH_ENABLE: 1
BAROGLTCH_DIST: 500.0000
BAROGLTCH_ACCEL: 1500.000
MOT_TCRV_ENABLE: 1
MOT_TCRV_MIDPCT: 52
MOT_TCRV_MAXPCT: 93
MOT_SPIN_ARMED: 70
RCMAP_ROLL: 1
RCMAP_PITCH: 2
RCMAP_THROTTLE: 3
RCMAP_YAW: 4
EKF_VELNE_NOISE: 0.500000
EKF_VELD_NOISE: 0.700000
EKF_POSNE_NOISE: 0.500000
EKF_ALT_NOISE: 1.000000
EKF_MAG_NOISE: 0.050000
EKF_EAS_NOISE: 1.400000
EKF_WIND_PNOISE: 0.100000
EKF_WIND_PSCALE: 0.500000
EKF_GYRO_PNOISE: 0.015000
EKF_ACC_PNOISE: 0.250000
EKF_GBIAS_PNOISE: 0.000001
EKF_ABIAS_PNOISE: 0.000100
EKF_MAGE_PNOISE: 0.000300
EKF_MAGB_PNOISE: 0.000300
EKF_VEL_DELAY: 220
EKF_POS_DELAY: 220
EKF_GPS_TYPE: 0
EKF_VEL_GATE: 6
EKF_POS_GATE: 10
EKF_HGT_GATE: 10
EKF_MAG_GATE: 3
EKF_EAS_GATE: 10
EKF_MAG_CAL: 1
EKF_GLITCH_ACCEL: 150
EKF_GLITCH_RAD: 15
MIS_TOTAL: 0
MIS_RESTART: 0
RNGFND_TYPE: 0
RNGFND_PIN: -1
RNGFND_SCALING: 3.000000
RNGFND_OFFSET: 0.000000
RNGFND_FUNCTION: 0
RNGFND_MIN_CM: 20
RNGFND_MAX_CM: 700
RNGFND_STOP_PIN: -1
RNGFND_SETTLE_MS: 0
RNGFND_RMETRIC: 1
TERRAIN_ENABLE: 1
TERRAIN_SPACING: 100
setup]

 

[makattack]

I'll have a closer look and compare with mine later tonight when I get home from work. In the meantime, this thread does seem to point to a bad board:
http://www.dronetrest.com/t/accelerometer-calibration/699

 

[swilker]

Thanks much, going to the Academy tomorrow so Maybe I'll get some help there too. I'll post once I have a solution. I still think it's a software issue not a bad board. Can't understand why the 3drobotics guys don't respond. Weird
Drew

 

[makattack]

This may explain the problem... with AC3.2, they added in a feature to utilize the redundant ACC sensor chips. This may be the problem you're experiencing. So, yes, it is likely a software problem, but not with your ground station. You might try installing either the newest (unstable version) which is supposed to have a fix, or an older version like 3.1:

http://diydrones.com/forum/topics/p...-data?id=705844:Topic:1853847&page=3#comments

 

[swilker]

Makattack,
Thanks will give this a try tomorrow. At USMA West Point now. They have a bunch of these PixHawk systems here. I should know more tomorrow. Tried on a PC last night with the Beta version and it didn't work either. I guess well see. Still no reply from the 3dRobotics guys.
Drew

 

[swilker]

Mattack,
Thanks again. It's almost certain both boards have bad accelerometers. We ran the wizard on one of USMA's PixHawks today and it went smoothly, then we ran it on both of mine and no luck from the same computer. Tomorrow I'll do the setup on his with my MAC and then I'll know for sure. This really pisses me off. I've spent a lot of time on these two systems. I haven't gotten a single reply from 3D Robotics so tomorrow I'm turning contracting loose on them. I'll do one more post tomorrow when I'm 100% certain. Again thanks, I hope I can help you out sometime in the future, Best wishes,
Drew

 

[makattack]

Swilker,

Yeah, sorry to hear about your problems with the Pixhawk. It's a real shame that you've not been able to get support from 3DR either. Best wishes for resolving this quickly!

 

[swilker]

Thanks, I still think the 3DR system is a good system to use, they have 10 or more of them here at USMA. Older ones but they work. I'm taking one of those with me. Ran some more tests today and I think the accelerometers on the two new ones are just bad. Everything else is fine. Unfortunately it renders them unflyable. Two steps back one forward... Thanks again,
Drew