PX4 User Guide (v1.12)

# Initial Setup & Configuration

We recommend that developers obtain the basic equipment and software described below (or similar)

# Basic Equipment

TIP

PX4 can be used with a much wider range of equipment than described here, but new developers will benefit from going with one of the standard setups. A Taranis RC plus a Note 4 tablet make up for a very inexpensive field kit.

The equipment below is highly recommended:

  • Remote control for the safety pilot
    • Taranis Plus remote control (or equivalent)
  • Development computer
    • MacBook Pro (early 2015 and later) with OSX 10.15 or later
    • Lenovo Thinkpad 450 (i5) with Ubuntu Linux 18.04 or later
  • Ground control station (computer or tablet):
    • iPad (requires Wifi telemetry adapter)
    • Any MacBook or Ubuntu Linux laptop (can be the development computer)
    • Samsung Note 4 or equivalent (any recent Android tablet or phone with a large enough screen to run QGroundControl effectively).
  • Vehicle capable of running PX4:
  • Safety glasses
  • Tether (multicopter only - for more risky tests)

# Vehicle Configuration

Install the QGroundControl Daily Build (opens new window) for a desktop OS.

To configure the vehicle:

  1. Install PX4 firmware (including "custom" firmware with your own changes).
  2. Start with the airframe that best-matches your vehicle from the airframe reference.
  3. Basic Configuration explains how to perform basic configuration.
  4. Parameter Configuration explains how you can find and modify individual parameters.

Note

  • QGroundControl mobile variants do not support vehicle configuration.
  • The daily build includes development tools and new features that are not available in the official release.
  • Configuration in the airframe reference have been flown on real vehicles, and are a good starting point for "getting off the ground".

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