Ardupilot flight mode setting

The Ardupilot has 1 input channel to select the flight modes. To be able to select all six modes, you have to configure your RC transmitter to do this.

That is usually accomplished by mixing a two position switch and a three position switch on the transmitter. You have to set your switch(es) to (ideally) produce PWM pulse widths of 1165, 1425, and 1815 microseconds for 3 modes or 1165, 1295, 1425, 1555, 1685, and 1815 milliseconds for 6 modes.

Does anyone has an idea how to do this for 6 modes on the Deviation software? (I know how to do for 3 modes)

Information about the settings can be found here:
code.google.com/p/ardupilot-mega/wiki/APM2RCSetup

I think I got it. But I think it has to be 5 pages. If use 4 pages, it doesn't go down enough. The 5th page will add minus value to minus value, so reach to minus 100%.

Thanks, I now understand the system.

Can you show me how you programmed that?
Thank you.

Go to the mixers
Select the channel you want to use as an output
Select 5 mixers
Set the 5 pages as per the pictures. Your "Fmode" switch selects 3 stages, the "Hold" switch selects like 2 pages. So in this example, it is +100%, +50%, 0%, when you toggle "Hold" it is -100%, -50%, 0%.

Fantastic. Thank you a lot.

its to bad there is no way to add a 6 position rotary switch to the Devo8 ...on rcg they were adding them to other tx's but not sure it could be done to the devo8...

I have refined the way the switches are allocated and came up with this solution (applicable for the Devo12S):

The FMOD switch defines 3 stages: MAN-STAB-AUTO
The RUDD D/R switch defines 3 stages: CIRC-FMOD-RETL

The RUDD D/R switch is kind of a "panic" button and either lets the FMOD switch define the mode or overrides whatever mode has been selected to either circle or return to launch.

The programming is very simple:

Choose whatever channel you have dedicated to your fly mode and choose "Complex", 6 mixers

Page 1: Switch - FMODE0, Curve - Fixed, Scale - 70, MUX - Replace
Page 2: Switch - FMODE1, Curve - Fixed, Scale - 45, MUX - Replace
Page 3: Switch - FMODE2, Curve - Fixed, Scale - 10, MUX - Replace
Page 4: Switch - RUD DR1, Curve - Fixed, Scale - 0, MUX - add
Page 5: Switch - RUD DR2, Curve - Fixed, Scale - -73 (Minus 73), MUX - Replace
Page 6: Switch - RUD DR0, Curve - Fixed, Scale - -47 (MInus 47), MUX - Replace

This will give you 5 flight modes where the RUDD D/R switch overrides the FMOD switch in position 0 and 2. Position 1 leaves the modes to the FMOD switch.

On the mission planner, define as follows:

Flight mode 1, RTL
Flight mode 2, CIRCLE
Flight mode 3, STABILIZE (Will not be selected)
Flight mode 4, Auto
Flight mode 5, STABILIZE
Flight mode 6, Manual (cannot be changed)

So flight mode 3 will not be selected by any position of any switch and can be set to anything. Fight mode 6 is the default manual flight mode and cannot be changed.

This works fine on the Devo12S. Sure it can be implemented on others as well, I'm just don't know how as I only have the 12S.

Hope this helps anyone flying with the APM 2.5.

Do you know of any YouTube videos on this setup? I'm new to the deviation firmware and have no idea how to do any of this lol.