System Startup

The PX4 startup is controlled by shell scripts. On NuttX they reside in the ROMFS/px4fmu_common/init.d folder - some of these are also used on Posix (Linux/MacOS). The scripts that are only used on Posix are located in ROMFS/px4fmu_common/init.d-posix.

All files starting with a number and underscore (e.g. 10000_airplane) are predefined airframe configurations. They are exported at build-time into an airframes.xml file which is parsed by QGroundControl for the airframe selection UI. Adding a new configuration is covered here.

The remaining files are part of the general startup logic. The first executed file is the init.d/rcS script (or init.d-posix/rcS on Posix), which calls all other scripts.

The following sections are split according to the operating system that PX4 runs on.

Posix (Linux/MacOS)

On Posix, the system shell is used as script interpreter (e.g. /bin/sh, being symlinked to dash on Ubuntu). For that to work, a few things are required:

• PX4 modules need to look like individual executables to the system. This is done via symbolic links. For each module a symbolic link px4-<module> -> px4 is created in the bin directory of the build folder. When executed, the binary path is checked (argv[0]), and if it is a module (starts with px4-), it sends the command to the main px4 instance (see below).

  TIP

  The px4- prefix is used to avoid conflicts with system commands (e.g. shutdown), and it also allows for simple tab completion by typing px4-<TAB>.

• The shell needs to know where to find the symbolic links. For that the bin directory with the symbolic links is added to the PATH variable right before executing the startup scripts.

• The shell starts each module as a new (client) process. Each client process needs to communicate with the main instance of px4 (the server), where the actual modules are running as threads. This is done through a UNIX socket. The server listens on a socket, to which clients can connect and send a command. The server then sends the output and return code back to the client.

• The startup scripts call the module directly, e.g. commander start, rather than using the px4- prefix. This works via aliases: for each module an alias in the form of alias <module>=px4-<module> is created in the file bin/px4-alias.sh.

• The rcS script is executed from the main px4 instance. It does not start any modules, but first updates the PATH variable and then simply runs a shell with the rcS file as argument.

• In addition to that, multiple server instances can be started for multi-vehicle simulations. A client selects the instance via --instance. The instance is available in the script via $px4_instance variable.

The modules can be executed from any terminal when PX4 is already running on a system. For example:

cd <PX4-Autopilot>/build/px4_sitl_default/bin
./px4-commander takeoff
./px4-listener sensor_accel

Dynamic Modules

Normally, all modules are compiled into a single PX4 executable. However, on Posix, there's the option of compiling a module into a separate file, which can be loaded into PX4 using the dyn command.

dyn ./test.px4mod

NuttX

NuttX has an integrated shell interpreter (NuttShell (NSH)), and thus scripts can be executed directly.

Debugging the System Boot

A failure of a driver of software component will not lead to an aborted boot. This is controlled via set +e in the startup script.

The boot sequence can be debugged by connecting the system console and power-cycling the board. The resulting boot log has detailed information about the boot sequence and should contain hints why the boot aborted.

Common boot failure causes

• For custom applications: The system was out of RAM. Run the free command to see the amount of free RAM.
• A software fault or assertion resulting in a stack trace

Replacing the System Startup

The whole boot can be replaced by creating a file /etc/rc.txt on the microSD card with a new configuration (nothing in the old configuration will be auto-started, and if the file is empty, nothing at all will be started).

Customizing the default boot is almost always a better approach. This is documented below.

Customizing the System Startup

The best way to customize the system startup is to introduce a new frame configuration. The frame configuration file can be included in the firmware or on an SD Card.

If you only need to "tweak" the existing configuration, such as starting one more application or setting the value of a few parameters, you can specify these by creating two files in the /etc/ directory of the SD Card:

• /etc/config.txt: modify parameter values
• /etc/extras.txt: start applications

The files are described below.

WARNING

The system boot files are UNIX FILES which require UNIX LINE ENDINGS. If editing on Windows use a suitable editor.

INFO

These files are referenced in PX4 code as /fs/microsd/etc/config.txt and /fs/microsd/etc/extras.txt, where the root folder of the microsd card is identified by the path /fs/microsd.

Customizing the Configuration (config.txt)

The config.txt file can be used to modify parameters. It is loaded after the main system has been configured and before it is booted.

For example, you could create a file on the SD card, etc/config.txt with that sets parameter values as shown:

param set-default PWM_MAIN_DIS3 1000
param set-default PWM_MAIN_MIN3 1120

Starting Additional Applications (extras.txt)

The extras.txt can be used to start additional applications after the main system boot. Typically these would be payload controllers or similar optional custom components.

WARNING

Calling an unknown command in system boot files may result in boot failure. Typically the system does not stream mavlink messages after boot failure, in this case check the error messages that are printed on the system console.

The following example shows how to start custom applications:

• Create a file on the SD card etc/extras.txt with this content:

  custom_app start

• A command can be made optional by gating it with the set +e and set -e commands:

  set +e
  optional_app start      # Will not result in boot failure if optional_app is unknown or fails
  set -e
  
  mandatory_app start     # Will abort boot if mandatory_app is unknown or fails