Hardware in the Loop Simulation (HITL)

Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL or HIL) is a simulation mode in which normal PX4 firmware is run on real flight controller hardware. This approach has the benefit of testing most of the actual flight code on the real hardware.

PX4 supports HITL for multicopters (using jMAVSim or Gazebo) and fixed wing (using Gazebo or X-Plane demo/full version).

HITL-Compatible Airframes

The current set of compatible airframes vs Simulators is:

Airframe	SYS_AUTOSTART	Gazebo	jMAVSim
HIL Airplane	1000	Y
HIL Quadcopter X	1001	Y	Y
HIL Standard VTOL QuadPlane	1002	Y
Generic Quadrotor x copter	4001	Y	Y
DJI Flame Wheel f450	4011	Y	Y

HITL Simulation Environment

With Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) simulation the normal PX4 firmware is run on real hardware. JMAVSim or Gazebo (running on a development computer) are connected to the flight controller hardware via USB/UART. The simulator acts as gateway to share MAVLink data between PX4 and QGroundControl.

Note

The simulator can also be connected via UDP if the flight controller has networking support and uses a stable, low-latency connection (e.g. a wired Ethernet connection - WiFi is usually not sufficiently reliable). For example, this configuration has been tested with PX4 running on a Raspberry Pi connected via Ethernet to the computer (a startup configuration that includes the command for running jMAVSim can be found here (opens new window)).

The diagram below shows the simulation environment:

• A HITL configuration is selected (via QGroundControl) that doesn't start any real sensors.
• jMAVSim or Gazebo are connected to the flight controller via USB.
• The simulator is connected to QGroundControl via UDP and bridges its MAVLink messages to PX4.
• (Optional - Gazebo only) Gazebo can also connect to an offboard API and bridge MAVLink messages to PX4.
• (Optional) A serial connection can be used to connect Joystick/Gamepad hardware via QGroundControl.

HITL vs SITL

SITL runs on a development computer in a simulated environment, and uses firmware specifically generated for that environment. Other than simulation drivers to provide fake environmental data from the simulator the system behaves normally.

By contrast, HITL runs normal PX4 firmware in "HITL mode", on normal hardware. The simulation data enters the system at a different point than for SITL. Core modules like commander and sensors have HITL modes at startup that bypass some of the normal functionality.

In summary, HITL runs PX4 on the actual hardware using standard firmware, but SITL actually executes more of the standard system code.

Setting up HITL

PX4 Configuration

1. Connect the autopilot directly to QGroundControl via USB.
2. Enable HITL Mode

   1. Open Setup > Safety section.

   2. Enable HITL mode by selecting Enabled from the HITL Enabled list:

      

3. Select Airframe

   1. Open Setup > Airframes

   2. Select a compatible airframe you want to test. Then click "Apply and Restart" on top-right of the Airframe Setup page.

      

4. Calibrate your RC or Joystick, if needed.
5. Setup UDP

   1. Under the General tab of the settings menu, uncheck all AutoConnect boxes except for UDP.

      

6. (Optional) Configure Joystick and Failsafe. Set the following parameters (opens new window) in order to use a joystick instead of an RC remote control transmitter:
   • COM_RC_IN_MODE to "Joystick/No RC Checks". This allows joystick input and disables RC input checks.
   • NAV_DLL_ACT to "Disabled". This ensures that no RC failsafe actions interfere when not running HITL with a radio control.

TIP

The QGroundControl User Guide also has instructions on Joystick (opens new window) and Virtual Joystick (opens new window) setup.

Follow the appropriate setup steps for your simulator in the following sections.

X-Plane HITL Environment

Follow the appropriate setup steps for the specific simulator in the following sections.

Gazebo

Note

Make sure QGroundControl is not running!

1. Update the environment variables:

   cd <Firmware_clone>
    make px4_sitl_default gazebo
   

2. Open the vehicle model's sdf file (e.g. Tools/sitl_gazebo/models/iris_hitl/iris_hitl.sdf).
3. Replace the serialDevice parameter (/dev/ttyACM0) if necessary.

Note

The serial device depends on what port is used to connect the vehicle to the computer (this is usually /dev/ttyACM0). An easy way to check on Ubuntu is to plug in the autopilot, open up a terminal, and type dmesg | grep "tty". The correct device will be the last one shown.

1. Set up the environment variables:

   source Tools/setup_gazebo.bash $(pwd) $(pwd)/build/px4_sitl_default
   

   and run Gazebo in HITL mode:

   gazebo Tools/sitl_gazebo/worlds/hitl_iris.world
   

2. Start QGroundControl. It should autoconnect to PX4 and Gazebo.

jMAVSim (Quadrotor only)

Note

Make sure QGroundControl is not running!

1. Connect the flight controller to the computer and wait for it to boot.
2. Run jMAVSim in HITL mode:

   ./Tools/jmavsim_run.sh -q -s -d /dev/ttyACM0 -b 921600 -r 250
   

Note

Replace the serial port name /dev/ttyACM0 as appropriate. On macOS this port would be /dev/tty.usbmodem1. On Windows (including Cygwin) it would be the COM1 or another port - check the connection in the Windows Device Manager.

1. Start QGroundControl. It should autoconnect to PX4 and jMAVSim.

Fly an Autonomous Mission in HITL

You should be able to use QGroundControl to run missions (opens new window) and otherwise control the vehicle.