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Components.md

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# Components and FC connections editor usage
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Here you should enter information about you vehicle components and their respective connection to the flight controller.
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Most optional information fields are only visible in `normal` GUI complexity mode.
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All components have **optional** information about the product itself:
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![product](images\blog\component_editor_product.png)
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The URL can be used to store a link to a datasheet or a link to a shop product page.
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Some components have **optional** information about their firmware:
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![firmware](images\blog\component_editor_firmware.png)
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All components have an **optional** notes field.
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## Flight Controller
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![flight controller](images\blog\component_editor_flight_controller.png)
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Some information, if available, is automatically filed in by the software as seen in the example above.
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## Frame
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![frame](images\blog\component_editor_frame.png)
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The minimum take off weight and the maximum take off weight in Kilo are entered here.
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If you have variable payload configure the vehicle at the minimum take off weight.
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Only after completely tuned can you add the additional payload.
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## Battery Monitor
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All supported connection types and their corresponding protocols are:
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| Connection Type | Protocol |
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|----------------|----------|
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| `None` | `Disabled` |
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| `Analog` | `Analog Voltage Only` |
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| `Analog` | `Analog Voltage and Current` |
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| `Analog` | `FuelLevelAnalog` |
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| `Analog` | `Synthetic Current and Analog Voltage` |
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| `I2C1``I2C4` | `Solo` |
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| `I2C1``I2C4` | `Bebop` |
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| `I2C1``I2C4` | `SMBus-Generic` |
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| `I2C1``I2C4` | `FuelFlow` |
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| `I2C1``I2C4` | `SMBUS-SUI3` |
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| `I2C1``I2C4` | `SMBUS-SUI6` |
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| `I2C1``I2C4` | `NeoDesign` |
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| `I2C1``I2C4` | `SMBus-Maxell` |
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| `I2C1``I2C4` | `Generator-Elec` |
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| `I2C1``I2C4` | `Generator-Fuel` |
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| `I2C1``I2C4` | `Rotoye` |
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| `I2C1``I2C4` | `MPPT` |
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| `I2C1``I2C4` | `INA2XX` |
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| `I2C1``I2C4` | `LTC2946` |
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| `I2C1``I2C4` | `EFI` |
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| `I2C1``I2C4` | `AD7091R5` |
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| `CAN1``CAN2` | `DroneCAN-BatteryInfo` |
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| `PWM` | `FuelLevelPWM` |
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| `SPI` | `INA239_SPI` |
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| `other` | `ESC` |
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| `other` | `Sum Of Selected Monitors` |
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| `other` | `Torqeedo` |
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| `other` | `Scripting` |
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It is strongly recommended to use a battery monitor.
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But if you do not have one select `none` in the flight controller connection:
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![battery monitor none](images\blog\component_editor_battery_monitor_none.png)
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If your battery monitor has an analog connection to the FC, select `analog` and one of the possible protocols:
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![battery monitor analog](images\blog\component_editor_battery_monitor_analog.png)
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If your battery monitor has an I2C connection to the FC, select the I2C bus and one of the possible protocols:
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![battery monitor i2c](images\blog\component_editor_battery_monitor_i2c.png)
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If your battery monitor has a CAN connection to the FC, select the CAN bus:
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![battery monitor can](images\blog\component_editor_battery_monitor_can.png)
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If your battery monitor has a SPI connection to the FC, select the SPI bus:
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![battery monitor spi](images\blog\component_editor_battery_monitor_spi.png)
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If your battery monitor has a PWM connection to the FC, select the PWM:
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![battery monitor pwm](images\blog\component_editor_battery_monitor_pwm.png)
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Otherwise select `other` and one of the possible protocols:
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![battery monitor other](images\blog\component_editor_battery_monitor_other.png)
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## Battery
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![battery](images\blog\component_editor_battery.png)
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Select the correct battery chemistry, doing so will automatically set typical voltage thresholds for that battery chemistry.
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Afterwords you should tweak the voltage thresholds to meet your requirements.
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- `Volt per cell max` - PID values will only scale when below this voltage
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- `Volt per cell arm` - vehicle will only arm if battery voltage is above this threshold
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- `Volt per cell low` - first failsafe level gets triggered when below this value
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- `Volt per cell crit` - second failsafe level gets triggered when below this value
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- `Volt per cell min` - PID values will only scale when above this voltage
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They must obey `Volt per cell crit` < `Volt per cell low` < `Volt per cell arm` < `Volt per cell max`
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`Number of cells` is the number of cells connected in series.
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For a 6S battery this is 6.
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## ESC
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Electronic speed controllers have a `FC->ESC Connection` for control of the motor speed and an optional `ESC->FC Telemetry` for telemetry feedback from the ESC to the flight controller.
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![esc main out](images\blog\component_editor_esc_main_out.png)
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The `FC->ESC Connection` type can be `Main Out`, an `AIO` integrated output, a serial port, or a CAN bus.
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The protocol is determined by the `MOT_PWM_TYPE` parameter (e.g. `Normal`, `DShot600`) for PWM outputs,
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or the serial/CAN protocol (e.g. `FETtecOneWire`, `DroneCAN`) for digital connections.
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The `ESC->FC Telemetry` type and protocol describe the return path:
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| Protocol | Type | Notes |
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|----------|------|-------|
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| `None` | `None` | No telemetry |
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| `BDShot` | same as FC->ESC | Bidirectional DShot on the same PWM wire |
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| `DroneCAN` | CAN port | Telemetry over CAN bus |
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| `ESC Telemetry` | serial port | Dedicated UART telemetry |
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| `FETtecOneWire` | serial port | Bidirectional FETtec protocol on the same wire |
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![esc telemetry placeholder](images\blog\component_editor_esc_telemetry.png)
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## Motors
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![motors placeholder](images\blog\component_editor_motors.png)
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Enter the number of magnetic **poles** of the motor rotor.
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This is the **P** number in the common `nNmP` motor winding notation (e.g. `12N14P` → 14 poles).
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The value must be an even integer.
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It is used by ArduPilot to calculate the actual motor RPM from the ESC telemetry electrical frequency.
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## Propellers
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![propellers placeholder](images\blog\component_editor_propellers.png)
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Enter the propeller **diameter in inches**.
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This value affects automatic PID tuning (AutoTune) and is used for thrust and performance calculations.
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## GNSS Receiver
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![gnss placeholder](images\blog\component_editor_gnss.png)
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Select the FC connection **type** (serial port or CAN bus) and the matching **protocol**:
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| Protocol | Connection |
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|----------|------------|
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| `AUTO` | serial port — auto-detect |
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| `uBlox` | serial port |
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| `DroneCAN` | CAN bus |
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| other | serial port — vendor-specific |
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If you do not have a GNSS receiver, select `None` as the connection type.
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## RC Controller
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![rc controller placeholder](images\blog\component_editor_rc_controller.png)
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The hand-held controller used by the pilot.
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Enter the manufacturer and model for documentation purposes.
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This component has no FC connection — it communicates wirelessly via the RC Transmitter and RC Receiver pair.
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## RC Transmitter
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![rc transmitter placeholder](images\blog\component_editor_rc_transmitter.png)
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The RF transmitter module (may be integrated in the RC Controller or a separate module).
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Enter the manufacturer and model for documentation purposes.
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This component has no FC connection.
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## RC Receiver
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![rc receiver placeholder](images\blog\component_editor_rc_receiver.png)
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Select the FC connection **type** and **protocol** that match how the receiver is wired to the flight controller:
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| Protocol | Connection |
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|----------|------------|
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| `All` | RCin/SBUS — auto-detect all protocols |
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| `PPM` | RCin/SBUS |
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| `SBUS` / `SBUS_NI` | RCin/SBUS or serial |
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| `DSM` | serial port |
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| `CRSF` | serial port |
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| `FPORT` | serial port |
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| `MAVRadio` | serial port |
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| other | serial port — vendor-specific |
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If your receiver is connected to a dedicated RC input pin, choose `RCin/SBUS` as the type.
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If it is connected to a UART (e.g. CRSF, FPORT, DSM), choose the corresponding serial port.
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## Telemetry
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![telemetry placeholder](images\blog\component_editor_telemetry.png)
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Select the FC connection **type** (serial port or CAN bus) and the matching **protocol**:
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| Protocol | Notes |
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|----------|-------|
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| `MAVLink2` | recommended for most ground stations |
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| `MAVLink1` | legacy ground stations |
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| `MAVLink High Latency` | satellite / low-bandwidth links |
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| `DDS XRCE` | ROS 2 micro-XRCE-DDS bridge |
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| other | vendor-specific |
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If you do not have a telemetry radio, select `None` as the connection type.
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