Takeoff Mode
The Takeoff flight mode causes the vehicle to take off to a specified height and wait for further input.
- This mode requires GPS.
- The vehicle must be armed before this mode can be engaged.
- This mode is automatic - no user intervention is required to control the vehicle.
- RC control switches can be used to change flight modes on any vehicle. The effect of RC stick movement depends on the vehicle type.
- The Failure Detector will automatically stop the engines if there is a problem on takeoff.
The specific behaviour for each vehicle type is described below.
Multi-copter (MC)
A multi rotor ascends to the altitude defined in MIS_TAKEOFF_ALT and holds position.
RC stick movement will by default change the vehicle to Position mode unless handling a critical battery failsafe.
Takeoff is affected by the following parameters:
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| MIS_TAKEOFF_ALT | Target altitude during takeoff (default: 2.5m) |
| MPC_TKO_SPEED | Speed of ascent (default: 1.5m/s) |
| COM_RC_OVERRIDE | If enabled stick movement gives control back to the pilot in Position mode (except when vehicle is handling a critical battery failsafe). Enabled by default. |
Fixed Wing (FW)
The aircraft takes off in the current direction using either catapult/hand-launch mode or runway takeoff mode. The mode defaults to catapult/hand launch, but can be set to runway takeoff using RWTO_TKOFF.
In catapult/hand launch mode the vehicle will perform a full throttle climbout (ramp up to RWTO_MAX_THR in about 2 seconds). Once the altitude error < FW_CLMBOUT_DIFF, regular navigation will proceed.
In addition to the behaviour discussed above there is also a launch detector that may block the launch sequence from starting until some condition is met. For catapult launch this is some acceleration threshold.
The runway takeoff mode has the following phases:
- Throttle ramp: Clamped to the runway (pitch fixed, no roll, and heading hold) until reach the minimum airspeed for takeoff (FW_AIRSPD_MIN x RWTO_AIRSPD_SCL).
- Takeoff: Increase pitch and continue until vehicle altitude > navigation altitude (RWTO_NAV_ALT).
- Climbout: Climb until altitude above ground level > FW_CLMBOUT_DIFF. In this phase roll and heading restrictions are removed.
RC stick movement is ignored.
Takeoff is affected by the following parameters:
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| RWTO_TKOFF | Runway takeoff with landing gear. Default: disabled. |
| RWTO_MAX_THR | Max throttle during runway takeoff. |
| FW_CLMBOUT_DIFF | Climbout Altitude difference. |
| FW_AIRSPD_MIN | Minimum Airspeed, below which the TECS controller will try to increase airspeed more aggressively. |
| RWTO_AIRSPD_SCL | Min. airspeed scaling factor for takeoff. Pitch is increased when the airspeed reaches: FW_AIRSPD_MIN * RWTO_AIRSPD_SCL |
| RWTO_NAV_ALT | Altitude above ground level (AGL) at which we have enough ground clearance to allow some roll. Until RWTO_NAV_ALT is reached the plane is held level and only rudder is used to keep the heading (see RWTO_HDG). This should be below FW_CLMBOUT_DIFF if FW_CLMBOUT_DIFF > 0. |
The vehicle always respects normal FW max/min throttle settings during takeoff (FW_THR_MIN, FW_THR_MAX).
VTOL
A VTOL follows the TAKEOFF behavior and parameters of Fixed Wing when in FW mode, and of Multicopter when in MC mode.