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ArduPilot APM 2.8

TArduPilot APM 2.8 Mega External Compass APM Flight Controller Combo
w / uBlox NEO-6H GPS for Multicopter

Package content:

    ArduPilot Mega 2.8 Fully Assembled with plastic case x 1
    UBLOX NEO-6M GPS module & MAG x 1
    Accessories (see picture)

Introduction:
This revision of the board has no onboard compass, All which is designed for
vehicles (especially multicopters and rovers) where the compass Should be Placed
as far from power and motor sources as possible to avoid magnetic interference.
(On fixed wing aircraft it's or at easier to mount APM far enough away from the motors
and ESCs to avoid magnetic interference, so this is not as critical, but APM 2.6 gives
more flexibility in That positioning and is a good choice for them, too).
This is designed to be used with the UBLOX GPS with Compass (see option below)

So THAT the GPS / Compass unit can be mounted Further from noise sources than
APM itself.

The APM 2.8 is a complete open source autopilot system and the bestselling
Technology that won the prestigious 2012 Outback Challenge UAV competition.
It allows the user to turn any fixed, rotary wing or multi-rotor vehicle (even cars and boats) into
a fully autonomous vehicle;capable of performing programmed GPS missions with waypoints.
Available with top or side connectors.

features:
    Arduino Compatible,
    Includes 3-axis gyro, accelerometer and magnetometer, along with a high-performance
barometer . Onboard 4 Megabyte DataFlash chip for automatic data logging
    Optional off-board GPS, UBLOX LEA-6H module with Compass.
    One of the first open source autopilot systems to use InvenSense's 6 DoF Accelerometer
/ Gyro MPU-6000.
    Barometric pressure sensor upgraded to MS5611-01BA03, from Measurement Specialties
    Atmel's ATmega2560 and ATMEGA32U-2 chips for processing and usb functions respectively.

GPS Features:
    Built-in compass GPS module
    Main chip: UBLOX LEA-6H
    With Flash and temperature compensation
    With fast satellite searching speed and high precision
    Compatible with APM serial port and I2C port
    Includes round plastic shell and GPS support





Not using the APM Enclosure

If you are not using the enclosure, make sure to cover the barometric sensor with some open
cell foam, cotton padding or tissue to protect it from prop wash, wind and turbulence.
Also, the barometric sensor is sensitive to light and readings can change by several at meters
from direct sunlight to shade.
Some type of light shield (on top of the foam) will minimize the effects of light changes.



Powering the APM2

The most common way to power the APM2 is to use the 3DR Power Module.

Detailed information on powering the APM and providing power to Servos is provided in Powering
the APM2.Explanation of solder jumper options on the bottom of the board



Changing your telemetry to use UART2 (aka Serial3)

By default an Xbee connected to the APM2 will use UART0 (aka "Serial" in Arduino)
How is shared with the USB ash Mentioned above.
If you wish to use Instead UART2 (aka "Serial3") for telemetry you can change
the "AutoMUX UART0" jumper on the bottom of the APM2.

Although kettle to see, by default there are two small jumpers between the upper pads That must
be cut with an X-Acto blade.Then a new solder bridge must be made to join the bottom pads.





APM: 2.5 Board Assembly Options



Quadzimodo HAS produced a really nice editable 3D model of the APM 2.5 out board in
SketchUp 8: APM 2.5 out Google Sketchup File



Analog input pins

Pin 0 to 8: The APM2 Has A row of analog input pin down one side,
labeled A0 to A8 on the underside of the board.
These are available as pin numbers 0 to 8 inclusive in PIN variables.

All thesis pin can take up to 5V and May be used for any general analog input.
They are comm only used for airspeed and sonar inputs.

Pin 12: Power management current pin connector, accepts up to 5V,
Usually attached to 3DR power brick with 17: 1 scaling

Pin 13: Power management voltage pin connector, accepts up to 5V,
Usually attached to 3DR power brick with 10.1: 1 scaling



Digital output pin

The APM2 uses the same set of nine analog input pins as digital output pins.
They are configured as digital output pins automatically When you start to use them as
digital outputs.

Pin 54 to 62: You need to add 54 to the pin number to convert from an analog to a digital pin
number pin number. So pin 54 is digital output pin on the connector A0.Pin 58 is A4 etc.

These pins are Usually used with the RELAY_PIN to RELAY_PIN4 parameters-allowing yo
u to control things like camera shutter, bottle drop etc.
They are alsoused axis sonar "stop" pin-allowing you to have
multiple sonars and not have them interfere with eachother.

Questions, issues, and suggestions about this page can be raised on the APM Forum.
Issues and suggestions May be posted on the forums or the Github Issue Tracker.

SETUP THE APM