Radio Failsafe

Copter supports several configurable failsafe options in cases where contact between the Pilot’s RC transmitter and the autopilot’s receiver is lost. This page explains this failsafe’s setup and testing. Note the “Radio failsafe” was previously called “Throttle failsafe” because of the way in which some receivers use the throttle channel to signal the loss of contact.

Warning

For Single Helicopter, Dual Helicopter and Quad Helicopter frames, Copter 3.6 and earlier in any H_RSC Mode or Copter 4.0 in the RC Passthrough H_RSC_Mode requires the RC receiver channel 8 to hold last value when transmitter signal is lost. If the receiver sends no signal or does not hold the RC channel 8 value, the motor will be shutdown and the helicopter will crash.

../_images/RadioFailsafe_Intro.jpg

Note

Copter also supports other failsafes, including: Battery, Ground Station and EKF/DCM failsafes. See the Failsafe for more details.

When the failsafe will trigger

If enabled and set-up correctly the radio failsafe will trigger if any of these conditions occur for more than RC_FS_TIMEOUT seconds:

  • The pilot turns off the RC transmitter.

  • The vehicle travels outside of RC range and signal is lost.

  • The pilot forces the throttle channel below FS_THR_VALUE from the transmitter.

  • RC_OVERRIDES are lost if using a GCS only is being used.

  • The receiver loses power (unlikely).

  • The wires connecting the receiver to the autopilot are broken (unlikely).

What will happen

When a radio failsafe is triggered, the copter can be configured via parameters to do nothing, land immediately, RTL, or SmartRTL. It can also be configured to bypass the failsafe in an Auto Mode mission, or to continue landing if already in a landing phase.

  • If the copter is disarmed, no failsafe will take place.

  • If the copter is armed but has landed, the copter will immediately disarm.

  • If the copter is armed in Stabilize or Acro modes, and the throttle input is at minimum, the copter will immediately disarm.

  • Otherwise, the copter will take the actions as configured in the parameters described below.

If the failsafe clears (i.e. transmitter and receiver regain contact) the copter will remain in its failsafe mode. It will not automatically return to the flight mode that was active before the failsafe was triggered. This means that if, for example, the vehicle was in Loiter when the failsafe occurred and the flight mode was automatically changed to RTL, even after the transmitter and receiver regained contact, the vehicle would remain in RTL. If the pilot wished to re-take control in Loiter he/she would need to change your flight mode switch to another position and then back to Loiter.

Receiver Configuration

By default, most newly purchased receivers will simply not output pulses if contact with the transmitter is lost. However, some low end receivers will be set-up to simply hold all channels at their last known position. This is not good because the autopilot has no way to know that the Pilot has lost control of the vehicle. Instead the receiver must be set-up to signal to the autopilot it has lost contact and there are two ways that it can do this (the method depends upon the receiver). Each brand of Transmitter/Receiver is slightly different so please refer to your transmitter’s user manual to determine which method is available and how to set it up.

Receiver configuration for low-throttle method

The “Low-Throttle” method pulls the throttle channel (normally channel 3) to a value below the bottom of its normal range (normally below 1000us). This method is used by Futaba systems and many older systems. Below is the setup method for a Futaba T7C Transmitter with R617FS or TFR4-B receiver which uses the “low throttle” method.

Many receivers allow for the failsafe positions to be set either by simply pressing a button on the receiver, or directly from the transmitter. In this case, the transmitter is temporarily adjusted to output a throttle signal below the normal low idle position (if low idle is 1000us, then 990uS would be sent) setting this as the failsafe value for the receiver, then adjusting low stick back to normal idle position. This below throttle idle value is then set for FS_THR_VALUE, as discussed below.

Receiver configuration for No-Signal method

“No Signal” method - the receiver stops sending signals to the autopilot. This is the preferred method and is how most modern FrSky receivers operate. Below is the setup method for a FlySky 9 channel transmitter with FrSky D4R-II receiver which uses the “No Signal” method.

Parameter Configuration

The FS_THR_ENABLE parameter can be set in the Mission Planner full parameter list or full parameter tree, or can also be set using the Mission Planner failsafe options dropdown in the Initial Setup >> Mandatory Hardware >> Failsafe menu.

  • Disabled (Value 0) will disable the radio failsafe entirely.

  • Enabled Always RTL (Value 1) will switch the copter to RTL Mode. If the GPS position is not usable, the copter will change to Land Mode instead.

  • Enabled Continue with Mission in Auto Mode (this value has no effect in 4.0 and later with FS_OPTIONS parameter replacing function, see below) (Value 2) will ignore the failsafe in an Auto Mode mission. Otherwise, it will behave the same as Enabled Always RTL. This option no longer exists in ArduCopter 4.0. Instead, see the FS_OPTIONS parameter for this function. Setting this value in Copter 4.0 and later version will automatically be converted and set to (Value 1) and the FS_OPTIONS will be modified to include bit (0) in the bitmask for “Continue if in auto mode on Radio Failsafe”.

  • Enabled Always Land (Value 3) will switch the copter to Land Mode.

  • Enabled SmartRTL or RTL (Value 4) will switch the copter to SmartRTL mode. If SmartRTL is not available, the copter will switch to RTL Mode instead. If the GPS position is not usable, the copter will change to Land Mode instead.

  • Enabled SmartRTL or Land (Value 5) will switch the copter to SmartRTL mode. If SmartRTL is not available, the copter will switch to Land Mode instead.

  • Enabled Auto DO_LAND_START or RTL (value 6) will jump to the nearest “DO_LAND_START” mission item or RTL if no “DO_LAND_START” mission item has been programmed(see Using DO_LAND_START).

  • Enabled always Brake or Land will BRAKE or LAND if GPS position is not available.

  • Any invaild value (Such as accidentally enter 99 as a parameter value) will will behave the same as Enabled Always LAND

The FS_THR_VALUE parameter can be set in the Mission Planner full parameter list or full parameter tree, or can also be set using the Mission Planner FS PWM value in the Initial Setup >> Mandatory Hardware >> Failsafe menu. - At least 10 PWM higher than your Channel 3’s PWM value when the throttle stick is fully down and the transmitter is off - At least 10 PWM lower than your channel 3’s PWM value when the throttle stick is fully down and the transmitter is on - Above 910 PWM

The FS_OPTIONS parameter (Copter 4.0 and later) is a bitmask parameter to select one or more options that modify the standard actions of the radio, GCS, and battery failsafe. In the Mission Planner full parameter list or full parameter tree, the handy checkbox popup window is an easy what to set this (and any other bitmask) parameter. Be sure to go to Help > Check Beta Updates to pull the latest parameter definitions first while connected to the internet. The FS_OPTIONS bits are as follows:

Note

Only bitmask bits 0, 2, & 3 affect actions taken during radio failsafe. This parameter also works in conjunction with the battery and GCS failsafe, so ensure you are taking all options into account when setting this parameter.

Below is a screenshot of the Mission Planner Initial Setup >> Mandatory Hardware >> Failsafe menu.

../_images/RadioFailsafe_MPSetup.png

Testing

You can check your failsafe by performing the following tests with the autopilot connected to the Mission Planner either via a USB cable or telemetry link. You can complete these tests without plugging in your LiPo battery but if you do connect a battery you should first remove the propellers.

Test #1 : if using the “Low-Throttle” method, ensure the throttle channel drops with loss of radio contact

  1. Ensure your RC transmitter is on and connected with the throttle all the way down and flight mode set to Stabilize

  2. The throttle (channel 3) PWM value should be approximately as in first illustration below. Its value may be higher or lower but it should definitely be at least 10 higher than the value held in the FS PWM field

  3. Turn the transmitter off and the throttle PWM value should drop to be at least 10 below the FS PWM field value (as in the second illustration below) below

../_images/MPFailsafeSetup1.jpg

Test #2 : ensuring motors disarm if in STABILIZE or ACRO with throttle at zero

  • Switch to stabilize mode, arm your motors but keep your throttle at zero. Turn off your transmitter. The motors should disarm immediately (red led will start flashing, DISARMED will be displayed in the Mission Planner’s Flight Data screen).

Test #3 : ensuring flight mode changes to RTL or LAND when throttle is above zero

  • Switch to stabilize mode, arm your motors and raise your throttle to the mid point. Turn off your transmitter. The Flight Mode should switch to RTL if you have a GPS lock or LAND if you do not have a GPS lock (the flight mode and GPS lock status are visible in the Mission Planner’s flight data screen).

Test #4 : retaking control after the failsafe has cleared

  • continuing on from test #3, turn your transmitter back on

  • while the flight mode is still in RTL or LAND and armed, change the flight mode switch to another position and then back to stabilize mode. Ensure that the flight mode displayed on the Failsafe page is updating appropriately.

Test #5 (optional) : removing power from the receiver

  • Switch to stabilize mode, arm your motors and keep your throttle above zero.

  • Carefully disconnect the power wires connecting the receiver to the autopilot

  • The Flight Mode should switch to RTL or LAND as described in Test #3

Warning

Unplug the autopilot so that it is powered down before reattaching the receiver’s power

Using the receiver to set the flight mode (DO NOT USE!)

Instead of setting up the receiver and autopilot as described above (i.e. “Low-Throttle” and “No Signal” methods) the receiver can be set-up to set channel 5 (flight mode channel) to a flight mode slot that has been set to RTL. For example the receiver could be setup to move ch5’s pwm value to 1700us which is “Flight Mode 5” which could then be set to RTL on the Mission Planner’s Initial Setup >> Mandatory Hardware >> Flight Modes screen.

Although this appears to work it is strongly not recommended because it can result in situations that can lead to a crash. Since the autopilot has no way of knowing that an RC failsafe has occurred, undesired behavior can occur such as overriding other failsafes like low battery or GCS failsafes with mode changes.