Introduction: DJI Groundstation Instructions for Flying an Octocopter on Autopilot
You can use the DJI wookong flight controller system, upgraded for use with GPS waypoint coordinates, to fly a helicopter on autopilot mode. It was somewhat hard for me to decipher the DJI wookong maual. SO here's how I did it.
Step 1: What You Need
I was flying the OctoKong, purchased from rc-drones.com.
I got the DJI wookong flight controller multi-waypoint navigation system. This allows for setting many waypoints and controlling the UAV using pre programmed routes through your PC.
You also need to have the WooKong -M flight control system with updated firmware calibrated for your own UAV and transmitter. I'm using the JR-XG8 8 Channel RC transmitter.
Once you have been using the Wookong-m flight control platform with the transmitter and are somewhat comfortable flying your UAV, here's how to get started with the upgraded DJI Wookong-M multi waypoint navigation package:
I got the DJI wookong flight controller multi-waypoint navigation system. This allows for setting many waypoints and controlling the UAV using pre programmed routes through your PC.
You also need to have the WooKong -M flight control system with updated firmware calibrated for your own UAV and transmitter. I'm using the JR-XG8 8 Channel RC transmitter.
Once you have been using the Wookong-m flight control platform with the transmitter and are somewhat comfortable flying your UAV, here's how to get started with the upgraded DJI Wookong-M multi waypoint navigation package:
Step 2: 1. Open the DJI GroundStation
1. Open the DJI GroundStation 4.0 on your PC.
Step 3: Connect the Datalink
2. Connect the DJI DataLink to the computer via the USB.
a. The RED light should go on (the red light has a label on the right of it that says DATA / POWER)
-make sure the antennas are connected to the datalink and to the microcontroller on the UAV.
a. The RED light should go on (the red light has a label on the right of it that says DATA / POWER)
-make sure the antennas are connected to the datalink and to the microcontroller on the UAV.
Step 4: Turn It On
3. Turn on the power to the helicopter
a. Plug in both batteries to the via the YELLOW xt-60 connectors or whatever battery / on off mechanism you have on the octocopter
b. DO NOT MOVE the octocopter after plugging it in
a. Plug in both batteries to the via the YELLOW xt-60 connectors or whatever battery / on off mechanism you have on the octocopter
b. DO NOT MOVE the octocopter after plugging it in
Step 5: Turn on the Transmitter
4. Turn on the Transmitter (JR-XG8 Remote Control)
a. Flip all the switches AWAY from you (towards the ground, if you are holding it parallel to the ground)
b. Put the throttle (the LEFT gimble stick) downwards, towards you
c. Flip the silver ON/OFF switch in the center of the transmitter UPWARDS (away from you)
d. Put the transmitter in AUTOPILOT (GPS) MODE by flipping the switch in the TOP RIGHT of the transmitter, labeled (GPS / ATT / MANUAL), up towards you, to GPS MODE
a. Flip all the switches AWAY from you (towards the ground, if you are holding it parallel to the ground)
b. Put the throttle (the LEFT gimble stick) downwards, towards you
c. Flip the silver ON/OFF switch in the center of the transmitter UPWARDS (away from you)
d. Put the transmitter in AUTOPILOT (GPS) MODE by flipping the switch in the TOP RIGHT of the transmitter, labeled (GPS / ATT / MANUAL), up towards you, to GPS MODE
Step 6: Connect to Your UAV
5. CONNECT the groundstation to the octocopter or whatever vehicle you are using
a. Click CONNECT on the TOP RIGHT.
b. This should successfully handshake the DJI software with the octocopter, after a successful GPS lock is established.
c. On the bottom left corner is the GPS status bar, that looks like the image in green when it is ready.
6. If it is not ready, or if there is an error handshaking, it will look like the image in red instead. Check the connections between the Data Link from the computer and the Data Link on the helicopter.
a. Click CONNECT on the TOP RIGHT.
b. This should successfully handshake the DJI software with the octocopter, after a successful GPS lock is established.
c. On the bottom left corner is the GPS status bar, that looks like the image in green when it is ready.
6. If it is not ready, or if there is an error handshaking, it will look like the image in red instead. Check the connections between the Data Link from the computer and the Data Link on the helicopter.
Step 7: Set the Altitude Offset
7. Set the Altitude Offset
a. At the top, click the tab Sys_set, click Altitude Offset
b. Make sure “HEIGHT” is selected, then click OK
a. At the top, click the tab Sys_set, click Altitude Offset
b. Make sure “HEIGHT” is selected, then click OK
Step 8: Click and Go Mode
8. Put the flight controller in Click and Go mode:
a. At the topClick Toolbox, click and go
a. At the topClick Toolbox, click and go
Step 9: Select Joystick
9. Select JOYSTICK
a. In the top left of the groundstation, click JOYSTICK then SELECT JOYSTICK
a. In the top left of the groundstation, click JOYSTICK then SELECT JOYSTICK
Step 10:
10. Set the HOME POSITION
a. At the top right of the screen, click SET HOME POSITION
a. At the top right of the screen, click SET HOME POSITION
Step 11: Set the Waypoints
11. Set the WAYPOINTS
a. To set the waypoints, open the EDITOR (click EDITOR, a square button at the top center)
b. Click NEW to set a new flight path
c. Click on the “+” button in the editor, then click to add points to the flight path
d. Set the altitude of each waypoint
i. If the line between waypoints is RED, there is a problem with the flight, most likely the altitude. Set the altitude to a higher number and click enter.
ii. Make sure the flight path (line between waypoints) is BLUE
e. Set the flight parameters by clicking on the “Editing Mission” Folder
i. Set the flight time limit in Seconds to 600: See “MissionTimeLmt”
ii. Set the ROUTE: StartToEnd
f. Click SAVE to save your flight path
g. Click UPLOAD, then click OK when the flight chart is displayed as a text chart
NOW YOU ARE READY TO FLY
a. To set the waypoints, open the EDITOR (click EDITOR, a square button at the top center)
b. Click NEW to set a new flight path
c. Click on the “+” button in the editor, then click to add points to the flight path
d. Set the altitude of each waypoint
i. If the line between waypoints is RED, there is a problem with the flight, most likely the altitude. Set the altitude to a higher number and click enter.
ii. Make sure the flight path (line between waypoints) is BLUE
e. Set the flight parameters by clicking on the “Editing Mission” Folder
i. Set the flight time limit in Seconds to 600: See “MissionTimeLmt”
ii. Set the ROUTE: StartToEnd
f. Click SAVE to save your flight path
g. Click UPLOAD, then click OK when the flight chart is displayed as a text chart
NOW YOU ARE READY TO FLY
Step 12: FLY IT
12. Auto Takeoff: (to take off and hover above the home point)
a. At the top center of the screen, click One Key Takeoff
b. Put the throttle on the transmitter in CENTER position
c. The octocopter will takeoff and hover at about 12 feet
13. Once hovering, set the waypoint flight:
a. Click GO in the EDITOR
b. The octocopter will begin the waypoint flight
c. At the top of the editor screen, you can see the progress of the octocopter (ie. Waypoint 1 completed…)
d. Once finished, the octocopter will hover around the last waypoint.
14. Click “GO HOME” in the top right
a. The octocopter will fly to above home point
15. AutoLanding:
a. Click AutoLanding in the EDITOR
b. It will prompt you to click “PAUSE then KEYBOARD mode”
c. At the top right of the screen, click PAUSE
d. Click the KEYBOARD
e. Click AutoLanding at the bottom of the editor
f. The octocopter will land.
a. At the top center of the screen, click One Key Takeoff
b. Put the throttle on the transmitter in CENTER position
c. The octocopter will takeoff and hover at about 12 feet
13. Once hovering, set the waypoint flight:
a. Click GO in the EDITOR
b. The octocopter will begin the waypoint flight
c. At the top of the editor screen, you can see the progress of the octocopter (ie. Waypoint 1 completed…)
d. Once finished, the octocopter will hover around the last waypoint.
14. Click “GO HOME” in the top right
a. The octocopter will fly to above home point
15. AutoLanding:
a. Click AutoLanding in the EDITOR
b. It will prompt you to click “PAUSE then KEYBOARD mode”
c. At the top right of the screen, click PAUSE
d. Click the KEYBOARD
e. Click AutoLanding at the bottom of the editor
f. The octocopter will land.
Step 13: In Case of Emergency, Switch Back to the Transmitter
ANYTIME DURING FLIGHT, TO START USING THE TRANSMITTER AND STOP USING THE GROUNDSTATION SOFTWARE
16. On the transmitter, see the GPS switch on the top right (it has a piece of tape that says “MAN / ATT / GPS”
17. Flip the switch down one notch to ATT then back up to GPS
18. NOW YOU CAN CONTROL THE OCTOCOPTER WITH THE TRANSMITTER, and the DJI SOFTWARE will NO LONGER control the octocopter.
16. On the transmitter, see the GPS switch on the top right (it has a piece of tape that says “MAN / ATT / GPS”
17. Flip the switch down one notch to ATT then back up to GPS
18. NOW YOU CAN CONTROL THE OCTOCOPTER WITH THE TRANSMITTER, and the DJI SOFTWARE will NO LONGER control the octocopter.