Installing ArduCopter Software (Mission Planner and Arducopter Firmware) (Old)

6/4/2012

This guide will show you how to quickly install he required software for arducopter. Once the software is installed you will then load the firmware onto your arduopter flight controller board

This guide is now old and outdated, please see the new version here

1. Download and Install Mission Planner

Click for larger image

Go to the Arducopter Downloads page here. and download the latest version of the Mission planner installer. It will be called APMPlanner.msi, download the 32, or 64 bit version depending on which windows you are using.

Click for larger image

Once you have downloaded the installer, run it and follow the on screen instructions.

Please note that the mission planner installer will also install all of the system drivers required by arducopter, if any warning messages appear, please select "Install this driver software anyway" button

2. Connect ArduPilot to your computer and open Mission Planner

Once the install has completed, you can now plug in your ArduPilot Mega board to your computer. Wait a few moments while windows recognised and installs the drivers for the board.

Dont connect your APM board via a USB HUB as it might not get enough power

Now you can open the mission planner software, but do not click the connect button,you must first load the correct firmware.

To do this click on the firmware icon as shown, and select the relevant code you want to load. In this case, load the Arducopter Code that is relevant to your frame.

When you click on the relevant icon to load the code, a progress bar how the firmware update is progressing, you may also notice many lights flashing on your ardupilot board. Once the firmware has loaded the bar will be completely green.

The firmware upload status bar will be full once the arducopter firmware has been loaded onto your board

APM should now be recognized and show up in your Windows Device Manger (which you can find in the Windows Control Panel)

On the mission planner, go to the firmware tab to upload the arducopter firmware onto your board

Congratulations, you have now loaded the latest firmware onto your ardupilot mega board. The next guide will show you how to connect everything on arducopter together.

If you have any questions or comments, please add them below.

9 Comments

jeevan

6/18/2012 07:46:18 pm

sir i purchased a used APM1 which is purchased by him in jan 2012.
when i try to upload the code arducopter v2.5.3 it shows please upgrade your hardware and memory is not enough in 1280 board.what should i do now.please help me!

Admin

6/18/2012 10:11:09 pm

Unfortunately you cannot run the latest code on your boards because there is not enough memory. You will need to upgrade to the Ardupilot Mega 2560 board (http://unmannedtechshop.co.uk/UAV-Components/Ardupilot-Mega-UK/Ardupilot-Mega), or just use an older version of the code which should still work great.

hamzaoztas link

2/3/2013 11:25:09 pm

Thank you.. it is very important for the people or student who try to do it firstly and using the interface of the missing planner help us about the every configuration about the arducopter..

2/4/2013 12:53:21 pm

hi, i want to ask a question, now, i have arducopter apm 1.0 and IMU sheld and sensors,there is enough information about the assembly of the sensors to the apm 1.0. i known where to attach the magnetometer, xbee radio to the IMU shield, and also gps is attached on the APM 1.0 but i could not find where to attach sonar and air speed kit. According to the informotion which is from the internet, there is pitot port on the IMU shield and sonar sensor is attached to the this port, if it is true, where should i attach the air speed kit? and lasltly, there is expansion port on the IMU shield, can i use this port for the sonar or air speed kit? thank you..

2/4/2013 01:58:55 pm

To attach the telemetry kit to your APM 1 board, you can see the details at http://code.google.com/p/arducopter/wiki/APM1Wireless

you dont need to use a pitot tube if you are flying the arducopter code. Pitot tube is only used to measure airspeed for fixed wing UAV's

Mustafa Y

10/4/2013 04:31:48 am

Hi. I want to ask you that my APM USB zener diode is burnt off. Before burning I was using arduplane and so arduplane`s firmware, But after burning I cant us the usb socket again. And morever I bought a hexacopter, so to run with same ardupilot I have to change the firmware for hexacopter. Could you suggest me how can I do that. Because by telemetry the apm does not allow me to change firmare. Is there any way to change it .

Thank you

10/10/2013 08:56:21 am

I think this post will be of help -

diydrones.com/forum/topics/how-to-assemble-with-new-diode?commentId=705844%3AComment%3A912518

rodger

12/10/2013 04:12:16 pm

does any one know how to use mission planner for two different quads running 2.5 and 2.6 apm boards

12/10/2013 05:03:56 pm

It will be the same for APM2.5 and APM2.6 boards. The some of the settings will be slightly difference since APM2.6 boards have an external compass, whereas APM2.5 has one built in.

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