m500 VOXL Flight sdk update to v1.1.x

Darshit Desai

I just updated my m500 voxl flight sdk to v1.1.x. In the documentation it says to update the flight core separately. But the documentation redirects it to this webpage https://docs.modalai.com/flight-core-v2-firmware/ which only has instructions of upgrading flight core v2. I am a bit confused here what is the difference between flight core v2 and voxl flight and do I need to upgrade the flight core of voxl flight after the sdk upgrade?

Moderator

@Darshit-Desai You are correct, you should use Flight Core v1 instructions for the Flight Core portion of VOXL Flight.

https://docs.modalai.com/flight-core-firmware/#px4-v114

Darshit Desai

@Moderator Is the update procedure the same as this one for v1.14 firmware?

https://docs.modalai.com/update-flight-core-firmware/#update-procedure

Also since I dont have the desired cable if I want to fallback to v0.9.5 I don't need to change anything in the firmware right?

Also when I try to go back v0.9.5 sdk and configure my qvio it always shows this error.

/ # voxl-configure-qvio
Starting Wizard
 
Do you want to reset the config file to factory defaults?
1) yes
2) no
#? 1
wiping old config file
loading config file
Creating new config file: /etc/modalai/voxl-qvio-server.conf
 
Do you want to enable the voxl-qvio-server service to allow
visual inertial odometry?
1) yes
2) no
#? 1
 
Now we are going to do a preliminary configuration of /etc/modalai/voxl-qvio-server.conf
 
Which config voxl-qvio-server use?

imu0_tracking          for VOXL Flight all-in-one board, M500
imu1_tracking          for VOXL1 and VOXL-CAM, Seeker V1
imu_px4_tracking       for RB5 Flight 5G
imu_apps_tracking      for VOXL2, Sentinel
imu_apps_stereo_lower  for Starling V2 stereo version

1) imu0_tracking	  3) imu_px4_tracking	    5) imu_apps_stereo_lower
2) imu1_tracking	  4) imu_apps_tracking
#? 1
enabling  voxl-qvio-server systemd service
starting  voxl-qvio-server systemd service
Done configuring voxl-qvio-server
/ # voxl-inspect-qvio 
waiting for server

 dt(ms) |    T_imu_wrt_vio (m)   |Roll Pitch Yaw (deg)|features|quality| state| error_codes |
   30.2 |    0.00    0.00    0.00|   0.0   -0.0    0.0|     0  |   -1% | FAIL | IMU_MISSING STALLED ^C
received SIGINT Ctrl-C

closing and exiting
/ #

Moderator

@Darshit-Desai your firmware should match what was used in the SDK, they are paired together

why would you go to SDK 0.9.5? It is really old and no longer supported

Darshit Desai

@Moderator I don't have the usb-jst connector for the firmware update and I think 0.95 that was the original factory sdk version

Darshit Desai

@Moderator

@Moderator said in m500 VOXL Flight sdk update to v1.1.x:

your firmware should match what was used in the SDK, they are paired together

What firmware matches the voxl-1 sdk 1.1.2 version

Darshit Desai

@Moderator I have got the cable for flight core update, I upgraded the sdk to 1.1.2 again but then I am following the instructions as shown in the below but nothing shows up in the firmware tab

https://docs.modalai.com/update-flight-core-firmware/#update-using-qgroundcontrol---mainline-builds

tom

@Darshit-Desai The .px4 file is in the SDK release zip:

for FCv1: voxl_SDK_1.1.2/flight-core/modalai_fc-v1_1.14.0-2.0.63.px4

Follow the instructions here (ModalAI Build) with the above .px4 file:

https://docs.modalai.com/update-flight-core-firmware/#update-using-qgroundcontrol---modalai-build

Darshit Desai

@tom Yes but in the firmware page nothing shows up in QGC

@tom said in m500 VOXL Flight sdk update to v1.1.x:

https://docs.modalai.com/update-flight-core-firmware/#update-using-qgroundcontrol---modalai-build

tom

@Darshit-Desai Did you unplug power and re-connect power while keeping USB attached?

Darshit Desai

@tom I was able to finish the upgrade, but in QGC it shows something about actuators, when I open it opens the esc calibration related page, Do I need to calibrate esc again?

Edit: I found this page (https://docs.modalai.com/modal-esc-px4-user-guide/) on ESCs and added the parameters accordingly, the only ones I don't know are the min and max RPM, I am using the voxl 1 m500 with holybro 2216-920kv motors. Also I don't think the motors rotate when I try to using the sliders

tom

@Darshit-Desai ~~Can you try loading the FCv1 m500 params from here: https://gitlab.com/voxl-public/voxl-sdk/utilities/voxl-px4-params/-/blob/master/params/v1.14/platforms/M500_FCV1.param~~s

Darshit Desai

@tom V1 or V2? Because when I flash firmware it detects v2

tom

@Darshit-Desai Sorry yes v2 https://gitlab.com/voxl-public/voxl-sdk/utilities/voxl-px4-params/-/blob/master/params/v1.14/platforms/M500_FCV2.params

tom

@tom It's hard for me to follow which hardware you have, so whichever one you have v1 or v2

Darshit Desai

@tom Yes I am also not sure what came with m500 I recently bought because the earlier ones had v1

Edit: The motor issue was resolved with this and I can spin the motors, I will have a flight with the propellers and confirm it

Darshit Desai

@tom On the next reboot it's showing esc failure in the logs

[13:38:12.651] Info: Kill-switch engaged
[13:38:13.768] Info: Kill-switch disengaged
[13:39:33.963] Info: Armed by RC
[13:39:34.096] Info: logging: opening log file sess114/log100.ulg
[13:39:34.296] Critical: Failsafe activated, triggering disarm
ESC failure
[13:39:34.296] Info: Disarmed by failsafe
[13:39:36.780] Info: Armed by RC
[13:39:36.781] Info: logging: opening log file sess114/log101.ulg
[13:39:37.131] Critical: Failsafe activated, triggering disarm
[13:39:37.131] Info: Disarmed by failsafe
[13:39:39.424] Info: Armed by RC
[13:39:39.465] Info: logging: opening log file sess114/log102.ulg
[13:39:39.787] Critical: Failsafe activated, triggering disarm
[13:39:39.787] Info: Disarmed by failsafe

And the motors try to spin up for a few seconds when arming and then instantly stop

When I move this sliders now the motors rotate but when I try to arm the drone using RC it shows the ESC failure error

tom

@Darshit-Desai If you upload the px4 log someone on our team can analyze it

Darshit Desai

@tom By px4 log you mean the one mentioned in the post earlier, How can I access the log file which is mentioned here in the QGC log?

@Darshit-Desai said in m500 VOXL Flight sdk update to v1.1.x:

[13:38:12.651] Info: Kill-switch engaged
[13:38:13.768] Info: Kill-switch disengaged
[13:39:33.963] Info: Armed by RC
[13:39:34.096] Info: logging: opening log file sess114/log100.ulg
[13:39:34.296] Critical: Failsafe activated, triggering disarm
ESC failure
[13:39:34.296] Info: Disarmed by failsafe
[13:39:36.780] Info: Armed by RC
[13:39:36.781] Info: logging: opening log file sess114/log101.ulg
[13:39:37.131] Critical: Failsafe activated, triggering disarm
[13:39:37.131] Info: Disarmed by failsafe
[13:39:39.424] Info: Armed by RC
[13:39:39.465] Info: logging: opening log file sess114/log102.ulg
[13:39:39.787] Critical: Failsafe activated, triggering disarm
[13:39:39.787] Info: Disarmed by failsafe

tom

@Darshit-Desai The logs can be downloaded through QGroundControl: https://docs.px4.io/v1.11/en/getting_started/flight_reporting.html#downloading-logs-from-the-flight-controller