Anyone tried editing the code for the Arducopter APM 2.5?

[maddog7]

Anyone tried editing the code for the Arducopter APM 2.5?
I';m having shed loads of issues trying to change 4 simple values,
I can get it to compile but it won';t display the live outputs (ie artificial horizon etc) in the APM.
If I dl std code using the apm, it works fine?

Any ideas?
D

[Jumpy07]

Yep.. lots of times.. no issues..

What are you trying to change..  ?

For APM2 uncomment APM_config.h line 5
//#define CONFIG_APM_HARDWARE APM_HARDWARE_APM2
like so:
#define CONFIG_APM_HARDWARE APM_HARDWARE_APM2


In arduino select Tools>Board>Arduino Mega 2560 or Mega ADK

[maddog7]

Yep.. lots of times.. no issues..

What are you trying to change..  ?

For APM2 uncomment APM_config.h line 5
//#define CONFIG_APM_HARDWARE APM_HARDWARE_APM2
like so:
#define CONFIG_APM_HARDWARE APM_HARDWARE_APM2


In arduino select Tools>Board>Arduino Mega 2560 or Mega ADK

Cheers for the reply Jumpy.
I';m trying to change the values in AP_motorsquad.cpp to better reflect the offset config of the TBS Disco.

I';m relatively computer literate but I';m no programmer!
It';s been a bit of a trial to get to the stage I';m at!

I didn';t realise about the uncommenting thing, I made a silly assumption that it was no longer necessary! doh!

I was having issues with errors during compilation.
I';ll have a go uncommenting and report back in a bit.

Thanks so much for the pointers.
:-)
D

[maddog7]

Jumpy,
Tried what you said but I still seem to have about 30 warnings?
Is this normal?

Being a noob I have visions of my £££ TBS having a brain fart when I flip into RTL and buggering off to scotland!
:-)
Cheers
D

[Jumpy07]

Nothing wrong with Scotland lol
You have probably saved a file by error..
Start from fresh files.. d
PS: I have a reptile style frame that is find on default X Quad layout.. so do think you need to edit config files btw

[maddog7]

TBH fella,
It does seem to fly ok on std X, I';ve hovered it for 10 minutes in my (smallish) bedroom without any "moments"

I';d read somewhrere that putting in the motor offsets improves the balance of pitch to roll which made some sense to me.
D
:-)

[bunnygirl80]

Hi,

If you';re not a programmer and you';re new to it, I would recommend that you don';t change the CPP files and stick to changing the configuration in the CONFIG.H file. As previously mentioned, you should start with a clean install and just uncomment the relevant lines. You will notice the CONFIG.H has lots of lines with // at the beginning. These lines with // are ignored by the compiler and you remove the // for the lines which are relevant to you.

Stef

[maddog7]

Stef,
Thanks for the help!
I';ve always shied away from programmaticalistic stuff but my interest in the way multis fly has given me the desire to learn.

I actually didn';t want to mess with anything at all at this early stage of the game but considered I';d probably have to do it at some point and thought changing only 4 values in 1 file might not be too bad 

It was a very steep learning curve just to get to that point and it';s still not there yet.

I did actually start from fresh, DL';ing only the V2.9 firmware and a new copy of the ardupilot IDE on a brand new laptop with a fresh install of 7 64 but there are quite a few red herrings in this APM business are there not!

I even tried to compile the untouched 2.9 but to no avail (probably because I didn';t realise I had to un-rem the APM2 line )
In actual fact the only changes I';ve made to any of the FW/IDE was to set the sketch folder and replace the 4 motors values in the AP_motorsquad.cpp library file. After Jumpy mentioned the un-rem thing I tried that too, it would compile but there were warnings mee noo understandee

I did most of my initial looking for answers on the DIY drones forum which is packed with info but much of it pertains to older FW versions and different hardware, not to mention a discussion I found where many folks were saying that the newest version of the ardupilot IDE was not compiling properly and they';d had to use either older versions or the STD Arduino IDE....

I can easily revert to the untouched version of 2.9 at anytime so a little experimentation with editing should only cause sliced flesh/walls and or a lost investment as it disappears of to (beautiful BTW Jumpy! we visit quite a lot ) Scotland!

I really would like to get to the bottom of this simple change since I can';t help feeling that if I want the best from the APM I';m gonna need to learn it sooner or later however, tomorrow if it';s not bloody snowing I';m going to take heed and fly the damn thing as it is!


D