Howto use BeagleBone Blue with ArduPilot

Since 17.01.2018 you can use the DSM2 connector or connector E4 pin 4 on your BealgeBone Blue.

Before 17.01.2018 the RC receiver signal has to be connected to connector E4 pin 4. This pin is a multi protocol pin (S.BUS, PPM-Sum, Spektrum Satellit DSM), the protocol will be automatically detected. Make sure the signal does not exceed 3.3 volts, otherwise your BeagleBone Blue can be damaged.

If you connect servos to the BeagleBone Blue than keep in mind that power is not applied by default because it is not necessary for ESCs. To enable power add: /bin/echo 1 > /sys/class/gpio/gpio80/value to /etc/rc.local.

I recommend to use a u-blox M8N GPS. Connect the GPS to the GPS connector. Make sure the signal does not exceed 3.3 volts, otherwise your BeagleBone Blue can be damaged.

You can follow this guide, but @imfatant has written a realy great ArduPilot Blue beginners guide https://github.com/imfatant/test.

1. Update software: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
2. Install software: sudo apt install -y bb-cape-overlays cpufrequtils
3. Set clock to 1GHz: sudo sed -i 's/GOVERNOR="ondemand"/GOVERNOR="performance"/g' /etc/init.d/cpufrequtils
4. Update scripts: cd /opt/scripts && sudo git pull
5. Maximize the microSD card's existing partition: sudo /opt/scripts/tools/grow_partition.sh
6. Install RT Kernel 4.9: sudo /opt/scripts/tools/update_kernel.sh --ti-rt-channel --lts-4_9
7. Specify device tree binary to be used at startup: sudo sed -i 's/#dtb=/dtb=am335x-boneblue.dtb/g' /boot/uEnv.txt
8. Reboot system: sudo reboot

1. Download ready compiled ArduPilot file from http://bbbmini.org/download/blue/
2. Copy file via SCP or microSD on your BeagleBone Blue

ArduCopter: sudo /home/debian/arducopter (plus parameter)

ArduPlane: sudo /home/debian/arduplane (plus parameter)

ArduRover: sudo /home/debian/ardurover (plus parameter)

Parameter mapping:

Check http://ardupilot.org/copter/docs/parameters.html#serial0-baud-serial0-baud-rate to set the right value for SERIALx_BAUD and SERIALx_PROTOCOL

To connect a MAVLink groundstation with IP 192.168.178.26 add -C udp:192.168.178.26:14550

To use MAVLink via radio connected to UART4 add -C /dev/ttyO4.

If there is a GPS connected to UART5 add -B /dev/ttyO5.

Example: MAVLink groundstation with IP 192.168.178.26 on port 14550 and GPS connected to /dev/ttyO5 UART5.

sudo /home/debian/arducopter-quad -C udp:192.168.178.26:14550 -B /dev/ttyO5

Example: MAVLink groundstation via radio connected to UART4 and GPS connected to /dev/ttyO5 UART5.

sudo /home/debian/arducopter-quad -B /dev/ttyO5 -C /dev/ttyO4

BeagleBone Blue ArduPilot by Mirko Denecke is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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