Autopilot lab introduction
Lab overview
This autopilot lab provides you with an introduction and overview to open-source autopilots (with focus on the ArduPilot eco-system). The lab gives you an opportunity to configure a multirotor using open-source autopilot firmware and hardware. The skills developed should be directly applicable to future autopilot configurations and act as a stepping-stone to more complex configurations and applications.
This lab is designed to work in conjunction with Soton UAV's Autopilot Lab kit and as part of the taught module SESA6084 - which contains a multirotor iron-bird and ancillary equipment.
Lab aims and learning outcomes
The aims of the autopilot lab are to:
- Set up an autopilot with its key components in the context of a multirotor
- Explore the functionalities of a ground control system and use it to configure a multirotor's autopilot
By the end of the lab, you should be able to:
- Identify and summarise the key components required for a multirotor autopilot system.
- Configure a Cube autopilot to the latest stable ArduCopter firmware and have it boot with no pre-arm warnings.
- Identify key resources to further your knowledge about autopilot systems, and to visit as a first step for problem solving autopilot issues.
Lab pages layout
The following pages will walk you through details about the necessary hardware and software to get started. Throughout the pages you will see the following boxes which represent:
Some extra details that might be of interest...
Some important information...
Some action to do...
An extra task to do should you want to go beyond the basics...
A warning to adhere to...
Incorrectly following an action could result in harm...