The CC3D Revolution flight controller is an amazingly powerful brain that is capable of controlling many different types of remote controlled craft. We need to train the flight software on the kind of vehicle we have, where
the motors for each propeller will engage and begin
spinning, the level point of the craft, and how our
transmitter is connected. This is often done through a
menu interface on the controller, or by just connecting
things in a well-defined way. The LibrePilot ground control
software (GCS) is a really versatile utility that we will use to
perform all of these actions in about 45 minutes!
Software and Firmware
Upgrade
The first step in setting up our controller is to
download the GCS. Head over to the LibrePilot website
( librepilot.org) and download the version appropriate for
your operating system. (See the sidebar to avoid potential
confusion.) All of the screenshots I will be showing were
done on a MacBook Air running OSX 10. 11. 3 and LibrePilot
15.09. I also have the software installed on a Microsoft
Surface Pro 4 for field use.
Go ahead and install the software like you would any
other, and open the application. Upon launch, you will be
prompted to answer if you would like to share usage
information with the developers. This is a decision that will
not affect the functionality of the software at all, but I
generally accept it so that I can help the developers make
the software better.
Attach your flight controller to your computer using a
micro-USB cable. Be careful! These tiny connectors are
great for their small footprint, but they are also very easy to
rip right off a printed circuit board, and make for a very
difficult repair. Do not force any connections or torque on
the connector in any way! It is very likely that you will
receive a message “GCS and firmware versions of the UAV
objects set do not match which can cause configuration
problems.” Simply click okay — we will be addressing that
concern.
Vehicle Setup
You will find yourself in the “Welcome” tab of the
application (tabs are located in a strip along the bottom of
the window). Click on the setup wizard; a window will pop
up that will guide us through the basic vehicle
configuration. The first warning is very important. Make
sure there are no propellers on your aircraft! We haven’t
actually put them on yet, but I know a few people surely
did to see what it looks like; maybe even took photos to
show at their hackerspace, etc. Do not proceed with any
propellers on the vehicle. These are powerful motors and
large props that would easily injure you.
The next step addresses that error message we initially
received. The firmware on your flight controller is probably
out of date, but luckily you just need to press the upgrade
button. Make sure the flight controller is only powered by
the USB port at this point and is not attached to the main
battery. The firmware will download to your machine, then
upload to the memory on the controller (Figure 1). When
you are done, there should be a confirmation message and
the navigation buttons will be enabled again.
Last month, we left our quad on the workbench with beeping electronic speed
controllers and no idea about how the transmitter was connected. This month, we
will train the flight controller to our hardware and take our quadcopter on its
official maiden flight!
The
Multi-Rotor
Hobbyist
Training for Flight
By John Leeman
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