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Return Mode (VTOL)

The Return flight mode is used to fly a vehicle to safety on an unobstructed path to a safe destination, where it may either wait (hover or circle) or land.

VTOL vehicles use the Mission Landing/Rally Point return type by default. In this return type a vehicle ascends to a minimum safe altitude above obstructions (if needed), and then flies directly to a rally point or the start of a mission landing point (whichever is nearest), or the home position if neither rally points or mission landing pattern is defined. If the destination is a mission landing pattern, the vehicle will then follow the pattern to land. If the destination is a rally point or the home location, the vehicle will fly to that destination and land.

The vehicle will return using the flying mode (MC or FW) it was using at the point when return mode was triggered. Generally it will follow the same return mode behaviour of the corresponding vehicle type, but will always transition to MC mode (if needed) before landing.

VTOL supports the other PX4 return types, including home/rally point return, mission path and closest safe destination. The default type is recommended.

INFO

  • Mode is automatic - no user intervention is required to control the vehicle.
  • Mode requires a global 3d position estimate (from GPS or inferred from a local position).
    • Flying vehicles can't switch to this mode without global position.
    • Flying vehicles will failsafe if they lose the position estimate.
  • Mode requires home position is set.
  • Mode prevents arming (vehicle must be armed when switching to this mode).
  • 遥控开关可以在任何无人机上更改飞行模式。
  • RC stick movement is ignored.

技术总结

VTOL vehicles use the Mission Landing/Rally Point return type by default, and return using the flying mode (MC or FW) it was using at the point when return mode was triggered.

Fixed-wing Mode (FW) Return

If returning as a fixed-wing, the vehicle:

  • Ascends to a safe minimum return altitude defined by RTL_RETURN_ALT (safely above any expected obstacles). The vehicle maintains its initial altitude if that is higher than the minimum return altitude.

  • Flies via direct constant-altitude path to the destination, which will be the closest of the start of a mission landing pattern and any rally point, or the home location if no mission landing pattern or rally points are defined.

  • 如果目的地是飞行任务着陆模式,则按照该模式降落。

    A mission landing pattern for a VTOL vehicle consists of a MAV_CMD_DO_LAND_START, one or more position waypoints, and a MAV_CMD_NAV_VTOL_LAND.

  • If the destination is a rally point or home it will:

    • Fly to the selected VTOL approach loiter associated with that landing location (if any are defined) and use it to descend to the approach altitude. If several approach loiters are defined for that location, PX4 chooses the one that best matches the estimated wind at the landing point.

      See VTOL Rally Point Approach Loiter below for information on how to define approach loiters (using MAV_CMD_NAV_LOITER_TO_ALT items in your rally plan).

    • Loiter/spiral down to the approach altitude, or to RTL_DESCEND_ALT above the destination if no approach altitude is defined.

    • Circle for a short time, as defined by RTL_LAND_DELAY.

    • Fly from the approach loiter to the return destination (the rally point or home location).

    • Transition to MC mode at the destination and land.

      Note that NAV_FORCE_VT is ignored: the vehicle will always land as a multicopter for these destinations.

VTOL Rally Point Approach Loiters

VTOL rally point approach loiters are MAV_CMD_NAV_LOITER_TO_ALT items associated with a particular rally point (MAV_CMD_NAV_RALLY_POINT) in a Rally plan. They define options for where the VTOL can descend to the rally point approach altitude, and how it will approach the rally point. Several approach loiters can be defined for a rally point, and PX4 will choose the one that best matches the estimated wind at the landing point.

TIP

The MAV_CMD_NAV_LOITER_TO_ALT items that define approach loiters are associated with a Rally/safety point, and are hence part of the rally point plan when used in this way — not the mission plan. This behaviour is not defined in the MAVLink rally point plan specification.

When uploading VTOL approach loiters through MAVLink, upload them as rally/safe-point mission items (MAV_MISSION_TYPE_RALLY). The MAV_CMD_NAV_RALLY_POINT item must come first, followed by one or more MAV_CMD_NAV_LOITER_TO_ALT items that define the approach loiters for that rally point. The next MAV_CMD_NAV_RALLY_POINT starts a new landing-location block.

For each MAV_CMD_NAV_LOITER_TO_ALT item, x/y/z define the loiter center and approach altitude, and param2 defines the loiter radius used by RTL. If param2 is unset or zero, PX4 falls back to RTL_LOITER_RAD.

For example, a rally upload with one rally point and two possible approach loiters would use:

Sequence通信PurposeKey fields
0MAV_CMD_NAV_RALLY_POINTLanding locationx/y/z: rally latitude, longitude, altitude
1MAV_CMD_NAV_LOITER_TO_ALTFirst VTOL approach loiterx/y/z: loiter latitude, longitude, altitude; param2: loiter radius
2MAV_CMD_NAV_LOITER_TO_ALTSecond VTOL approach loiterx/y/z: loiter latitude, longitude, altitude; param2: loiter radius

Note that the approach loiter is not the back-transition point. If the selected approach loiter is far from the rally point or home location, the vehicle remains in fixed-wing mode after the loiter, flies to the destination at the approach altitude, and only then back-transitions for landing.

Multicopter Mode (MC) Return

If returning as a multicopter:

参数

The RTL parameters are listed in Parameter Reference > Return Mode. If using a mission landing, only the RTL_RETURN_ALT and RTL_DESCEND_ALT are relevant. The others are relevant if the destination is a rally point or the home location.

参数描述
RTL_TYPEReturn type.
RTL_APPR_FORCE[VTOL FW only] If set, PX4 only considers home or rally-point RTL destinations when a valid VTOL approach loiter is defined for that landing location. Mission landing patterns are unaffected.
RTL_RETURN_ALTReturn altitude in meters (default: 60m)If already above this value the vehicle will return at its current altitude.
RTL_CONE_ANG圆锥半角决定无人机的 RTL 返航高度。 数值(度数):0、25、45、65、80、90。 Note that 0 is "no cone" (always return at RTL_RETURN_ALT or higher), while 90 indicates that the vehicle must return at the current altitude or RTL_DESCEND_ALT (whichever is higher).
RTL_DESCEND_ALT最小返航高度和无人机从较高的返航高度到减速或者停止的初始下降高度(默认: 30米)。
RTL_LAND_DELAYTime to hover at RTL_DESCEND_ALT before landing (default: 0.5s) -by default this period is short so that the vehicle will simply slow and then land immediately. If set to -1 the system will loiter at RTL_DESCEND_ALT rather than landing. 延迟能够使你为起落架的展开部署配置时间(自动触发)。
RTL_LOITER_RAD[Fixed-wing Only] The radius of the loiter circle (at RTL_LAND_DELAY.
MIS_TKO_LAND_REQSpecify whether a mission landing or takeoff pattern is required. Generally fixed-wing vehicles set this to require a landing pattern but VTOL do not.

另见