Parameter Reset

This article shows several ways to reset all parameters to their default values.If you would like to restore any of the existing setup parameters, save them to a file first!

Option #1: Using the Mission Planner

Mission Planner has a dedicated Reset to Default button. This will reset all parameters to the vehicle’s defaults.

Note

It will not reset the DroneCAN dynamic node address table. The other parameter reset methods listed below will also reset that table so that new devices can use previous addresses of devices that are being replaced.

  • Connect the autopilot to Mission Planner, and on the CONFIG | Full Parameter List or Full Parameter Tree page push the Reset to Default button.

../_images/ParamReset_MPResetToDefault.png
  • The autopilot will automatically reboot, setting all parameters back to their default values.

Option #2: Change the FORMAT_VERSION parameter

On any Ground Control Station (that can write parameters) you can reset parameters by setting the FORMAT_VERSION parameter to zero. After writing the parameter, reboot the board.

Option #3: Load another vehicle’s firmware

Tip

This method is not recommended because it’s unnecessarily time consuming.

Upload the firmware for a completely different vehicle type (I.e. if you were using Copter, now upload the Rover firmware). Reboot the board and let it sit for 30 seconds to clear the EEPROM. Then upload the original firmware (i.e. Copter) to the autopilot.

Restoring Calibrations after Resets

The above will also reset the flag used to indicate that Accelerometer and Compasses have been calibrated, so that even if you restore your old parameters from a file, the calibrations would still need to be repeated.

There are two methods to allow these to be restored.

Warning

Only use this method if you are certain that the Accelerometer or Compass sensors have not changed in any manner since the parameters were stored in a file. Restoring inaccurate calibration data can lead to a crash!

Using Mission Planner

  1. In the CONFIG/Full Parameter Tree page, find the COMPASS_DEV_IDx (s) corresponding to the system’s attached compasses. For each compass, copy the current device id, then write the COMPASS_DEV_IDx to “0”, and then write the original id back again.Do this for every compass attached and calibrated.

  2. Next, find the INS_ACC_IDx (s) corresponding to the system’s attached accelerometers. For each one, copy the current device id, then write the id to “0”, and then write the original id back again.Do this for every accelerometer attached and calibrated.

  3. Now restore your previously stored parameters (could have also been done as first step), which includes the calibration parameters, to the autopilot and reboot. Calibration should not be required to arm now.

Using MAVProxy

Simply type “forcecal” will force the autopilot into a calibrated state. Be sure you have valid compass and IMU calibration values already loaded.