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Getting Started

The Lua Graph Editor is a visual scripting environment for ArduPilot. Instead of writing Lua code by hand, you connect nodes in a data-flow graph. The editor compiles your graph into a valid ArduPilot Lua script that you can upload to your flight controller's SD card.

How It Works

  1. Add nodes from the palette on the left by clicking them
  2. Connect ports by dragging from an output port to an input port
  3. Configure properties by selecting a node and editing its properties in the inspector panel on the right
  4. Export Lua to compile the graph into a .lua file

The Interface

Area Purpose
Toolbar File operations, undo/redo, export, templates, docs
Node Palette All available nodes grouped by category
Canvas The graph editor where you arrange and connect nodes
Inspector Properties and details for the selected node
Lua Preview Live preview of the compiled Lua output

Toolbar Actions

  • New - Create a blank graph
  • Open - Load a .adgraph file
  • Save - Save to a .adgraph file
  • Templates - Load a pre-built example graph
  • Export Lua - Compile and save a .lua file
  • Undo / Redo - Standard undo/redo for all graph changes

Your First Script

  1. Click Battery in the Sensors category to add a battery node
  2. Click Compare in Logic to add a comparison node
  3. Connect Voltage output to A input
  4. Add a Constant node, set its value to 11.1
  5. Connect the constant's Value output to B input
  6. Set the Compare operator to < (less than)
  7. Add a Send GCS Text node in Actions
  8. Connect the Compare Result to the GCS text Trigger
  9. Click Export Lua to generate your script

This script sends a GCS message whenever battery voltage drops below 11.1V.

Saving & Loading

Graphs are saved as .adgraph JSON files. These contain the full node layout, connections, properties, and viewport position. You can share .adgraph files with other ArduDeck users.

The Export Lua button compiles the graph and saves a standard .lua file that runs on ArduPilot. Copy the .lua file to your flight controller's scripts/ directory on the SD card.