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Flight Controller Configuration

Reccomended parameter files can be found in the table below, please select the most appliciable file for your application. Please ensure the suggested parameter changes are suitable before applying the parameter files. Applying one of these parameter files to your flight controller will allow ARC flight testing to be performed.

Application File link
ArduPilot Static Landing www.todo.com
ArduPilot Moving Landing www.todo.com
PX4 Static Landing www.todo.com
PX4 Moving Landing www.todo.com

If you would like to learn more about the parameter which affect precision landing, a summary along with recommended defaults is included below. The names of parameters often change between ArduPilot/PX4 software versions, so ensure the correct one is selected.

Serial Interface

Parameter Value Description
SERIAL*_PROTOCOL 2 MAVLink
SERIAL*_BAUD 57 57600

These set the serial configuration required for the ARC Primary device.

Enabling Precision Land (PLND)

Parameter Value
PLND_ENABLE 1
PLND_BUS -1
PLND_TYPE 1

Setting PLND_ENABLE to 1 enables the precision landing parameter. After enabling, a reboot is required to see the rest of the parameters.

PLND_BUS shall be set to -1, as the I2C bus isn’t applicable here.

PLND_TYPE shall be set to 1, as ARC primary radar acts as a companion computer in interacting with the flight controller.

Kalman Estimation Technique

Parameter Value
PLND_EST_TYPE 1
PLND_ACC_P_NSE 0.5

Kalman filter is used here to locate the target, so PLND_EST_TYPE is set to 1.

For PLND_ACC_P_NSE, 0.5 gives better stability than the default setting of 2.5.

Sensor Lag and Disabling Rangefinger

Parameter Value
PLND_LAG 0.1
PLND_ALT_MAX 0
PLND_ALT_MIN 0

The sensor lag is set to 0.1 and setting PLND_ALT_MIN / PLND_ALT_MAX to 0 disables the dependency on the rangefinder.

Loss of Precision Landing Target (PLT)

Parameter Value
PLND_OPTIONS 7

The PLND_OPTIONS bitmask is as follows: Bit1:

The PLND_OPTIONS shall be set to 7 to enable these features.

Enable Moving/Fast/After-Manual-Reposition Landing

Precision Land Trajectory

Primary Radar Positioning

Other (Default) Parameters

Rangefinder Configuration

Disabling Rangefinder furing Arming Checks

Reception of ATTITUDE messages from the FC

Serial Interface

Enabling Precision Land (PLND)

Kalman Estimation Technique

Sensor Lag and Disabling Rangefinger

Loss of Precision Landing Target (PLT)

Enable Moving/Fast/After-Manual-Reposition Landing

Precision Land Trajectory

Primary Radar Positioning

Other (Default) Parameters

Rangefinder Configuration

Disabling Rangefinder furing Arming Checks

Reception of ATTITUDE messages from the FC

Serial Interface

Parameter Value
MAV_*_CONFIG GPS 2
MAV_*_FLOW_CONTROL Auto-detected
MAV_*_FORWARD Enabled
MAV_*_MODE Custom
MAV_*_RADIO_CTL Enabled
MAV_*_RATE 0 B/s

Swap * and GPS2 for your chosen MAVLink Instance and serial interface. MAVLink forwarding must be enabled to allow ARC Status messages through to the GCS.

Enabling Precision Land (PLND)

Parameter Value
PLD_BTOUT 2.0s
PLD_FAPPR_ALT 1.5m
PLD_HACC_RAD 1.0m
PLD_MAX_SRCH 4
PLD_SRCH_ALT 20.0m
PLD_SRCH_TOUT 10.0s