bstick Stick

The wired connected transmitter is configured through the following tabs.

PPM

This tab provides the options to configure a Pulse Postion Modulation (PPM) radio controller to control the platform fitted with the autopilot.

../../_images/stick_ppm.png

PPM section

  • Brand, Model and Channels: MEX PDI Builder has been configured to provide the user with the expected parameters to configure different transmitters models.

    Brand

    Models

    Channels

    Futaba

    8J/10J/12K/14SG

    8

    12K/14SG

    12

    T18SZ

    8

    Jeti

    DC 16/DC 24

    16

    FrSky

    Taranis X9D

    8

    Horus X12S

    8

    TBS

    Croosfire

    8

    Embention

    Stick Expander

    16

    Custom

    -

    -

    • Custom: If the user’s transmitter is not among those mentioned above, choose this option and replace the parameter values with the appropriate ones.

  • Pulse polarity: Indicates the pulse polarity.

  • Sync time: Minimum time on the PPM output till the next frame. It tells the receiver to reset its channel counter.

  • Minimum/Maximum pulse: Pulse length, it depends on the system and it is a constant value (usually 0.2-0.5 ms).

  • Position

    • Minimum/Maximum accepted: Pulse length accepted for each channel. Standard for R/C servos uses a pulse of 1 ms for the maximum position at one end, 1.5 ms for the midpoint and 2 ms for the maximum position at the opposite end.

    • Minimum/Maximum encoded: If there is noise and the signal is varying around the minimum/maximum values accepted, 1x autopilot will encode those values to the ones set here. For instance, a pulse length between 0.8-0.9 ms will be considered as one of 0.9 ms.

    • Channels: Sets the number of channels accepted. Besides, it is possible to Disable/Enable/Filter each channel individually.

  • Non linear low pass filter

    • Minimum/Maximum delta: Default parameters are recommended.

    • Minimum/Maximum delta alpha: Default parameters are recommended.

The figure below shows the PPM signal that arrives to MEX:

../../_images/stick_ppm_explanation.png

PPM signal

Exponential

The second tab allows the user to define an exponential stick response for every channel.

The allowed inputs range from 0 to 1 and there is a graph showing the generated response curve, as can be seen in the figure below.

../../_images/stick_exponential.png

Exponential section

The X axis of the graph corresponds to the stick input and the Y axis is the result of applying the exponential function to that stick input.

Trim

The third tab available is the Trim option.

../../_images/stick_trim.png

Trim section

By enabling the Avanced option, the user can set the expected trim values manually. The user should have a deep knowledge on its transmitter if this option is selected.

Finally, on the right hand side, the Reset button puts every parameter back to 0.

Output

In this menu the user sets the receiving port and process the incoming commands.

Once the stick has been configured, the commands that arrive at the ground autopilot have to be sent to the air unit.

../../_images/stick_output.png

Output section

In this menu, the following parameters can be configured:

  • Enable.

  • Initial Channel at destination: The user indicates to which channel of the air autopilot will be sent the first channel received in the ground unit. The channels arrive at the platform in order and without spaces between them.

    For example, if at the GND channels 6,7,8,9 and 10 are enabled, the AIR will receive channels 1,2,3,4 and 5. Therefore channel 6 of the stick will be channel 1 in the AIR configuration.

  • Port: If more than one transmitter is configured, each transmitter must be configured on a different port. This has to match the port set on the air unit.

  • Remote: It has to be enabled if the user wants to allow the delivery of the commands to the platform.

    • UAV: The address of the UAV that receive the commands has to be indicated. The following options are available:

      • App 2: Veronte Ops address.

      • Broadcast: The commands are sent to all units on the network. We recommend this option.

      • 1x v4.X XXXX: The address of a specific air unit.

    • Min period: As the period is the inverse of the frequency, this defines the maximum frequency. Therefore, to give the pilot more control, this defines the frequency that is set when the stick is commanding. We recommend 0.02s.

    • Max period: As the period is the inverse of the frequency, this determines the minimum frequency. Thus, to free up bandwidth, this defines the frequency that is set when the stick is idle. We recommend 0.2s.

    • Delta: This parameter determines whether the frequency is set to the minimum or maximum period set above.

      If MEX detects a change above the delta value, the frequency goes to the maximum frequency (minimum period). While if the changes are less than this value, it switches to the minimum frequency (maximum period). We recommend 10.

Note

An example of how to configure a stick can be found in the Stick -> Integration examples section of the 1x PDI Builder user manual.