New firmware 2.52rc2 is ready to download and test. Some minor bugs were found and fixed since 2.52rc1  was released. Also one new parameter “Altitude stabilisation” was added for better altitude keeping algorithm customization,

This version is still intensively tested before official release.

Link for download is (as usual) in the Download menu on the left side of this page.

New firmware 2.52rc1 is ready to download and test. This time status of firmware is “release candidate”, it means all functions were implemented and tested internally and with external testers, and no known bugs exists in this release.

Now it’s time for final test and if no further bugs will be foud, this version may become official release.

Link for download is (as usual) in the Download menu on the left side of this page.

New  firmware 2.52Beta6 for testers  is available!

There are some improvements and bug removed in this release:

OSD:

• Added new information in telemetry data:
  – Control (steering) signals (RC input in OFF/STAB mode and internal control signals in AUTO mode)
  – Statistics of most important GPS incoming data (latitude, longitude, course, speed)
• Removed old GPS settings for 1Hz (4800/9600 bps) update rate.

AP:

• In parallel mode AP sometimes detects short, false PPM pulses.
• In parallel mode AP may detect false PPM pulses on inputs not connected to receiver.
• Removed diagnostics data on OSD screen in fixed throttle mode

FPV_Manager:

• Support for new telemetry data from log exported to .csv file

New firmware 2.52 beta5 is available now!

Major changes:

-fixed problem introduced in beta4 with SBUS single input  (not diversity).

-Added new statistics Watt*hour/kilometer (or mile)

-Improved current calibration with micro adjustment option

-fixed rounding error (-1%) for path travelled.

-Runway name extended to 3 characters

-servo unparking (and first initialisation after startup) is performed from parking position and with proper speed.

New firmware 2.52 Beta4 is available for all users.

There are two main functionalities added:

1. RC diversity with two options available: Two CPPM receivers or  SBUS and CPPM receivers. Diversity increases system reliability and fault tolerance.
2. Configurable low pass filtering for Aux outputs, and  pitch/roll  output (mixer) for Aux outputs. This reduces RC noises impact on camera pan/tilt  and allows to build simple/cheap servo gimbal (stabilisation) for video camera.

Note: This Firmware is not an official release yet and may have some bugs and do not work properly. Use it on your own risk.

As usual firmware is available from Download menu.

I’m pleased to introduce new distributor of our system in México:

We hope our new partner will make system more available to all customers in South and North America.

Firmware 2.52 BETA3  is available.

• New feature in OSD layout: minimap with airplane position relative to base
• Fixed bug in FPV_manager: latest changes in Google maps API causes former application to hang in Map page.

(No changes in Autopilot and GrounStation firmware).

Some people asked me to do OSD control to show airplane position relative to base. Just to know that airplane is north or west from base. Of course groundstation shows it on map screen, but OSD don’t. Eventualy I’ve decided to build such functionality in version 2.52bta3.
For this purpose I have extended existing “back to home” control, which shows runway (base) position relatively to airplane. Now, with new property [x] airplane location this control may show airplane position relatively to base (operator), like on paper map (north is up, and base is at the center).

Arrow icon shows airplane position relatively to base (center point), on picture above airplane is south-west. Arrow direction shows airplane course. On picture airplane flies north-west.

Today something was changed in Google Maps API and former versions  of FPV_manger  will hang when opening OSD::Map   or Ground Station::Track page.

This issue is fixed in new FPV_manager v250c available on Pitlab’s website or here:

http://www.bigaj.com.pl/fpvsystem/FPV_manager250c.zip

Firmware 2.5x is compatible with all OSD boards (v2.0, v2.1, v2.2 and v2.3).

Firmware 2.5x is compatible with all autopilot boards (v2.0, v2.1 and v2.2).

Firmware 2.5x is compatible with all Ground Station boards (v1.0 and 1.1).

Note: This is the last firmware version that will be compatible with OSD boards v2.0 and 2.1.
All future major releases will work only with board v2.2 and v2.3 (produced and sold since July 2013).

The FPV_manager can be used to determine the version of the OSD board if you are using bootloader version 1.2 or later. In the FPV_manager, hardware version 2 means v2.2, and value 3 means v2.3. Any other value (0 or “unknown”) means boards v2.0 or v2.1.

Figure 13 – FPV_manager with hardware and bootloader version

Alternatively, during OSD startup when using firmware 2.50, the hardware version is presented on the screen regardless of the bootloader version. The text (hw 2) means v2.2, (hw 3) means v2.3  and the text (hw 0) means boards v2.0 or v2.1.

Figure 14 – OSD screen during startup with firmware 2.50

New BETA2 is available (to download use link from download menu on the left).

BETA1 has two bugs which are fixed in BETA2 :

• changing circling radius did not work properly for V-tail  airplane
• Magnetometer did not work properly