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Power on your DATX.Move your sticks around and observe and note where your DATX believes your sticks are.Navigate to the “HAREWARE” screen and perform a sticks calibrationNavigate back to your home screen and ensure that your controller is now calibrated by moving the sticks and observing the onscreen position indicator.Navigate to your LUA Script and Click on the “Tracer Micro TX”In Radio Setting, ensure that your Multi-Bind is enabled.Connect your RX to the cube and power it on.Navigate back to your LUA Script and Select “Tracer Nano RX” (if you do not have this option please bind your RX under “Tracer Micro TX”) Select Output Map and make sure that Channel 1 is SBUS. Do not modify any other channel.
Using the previous labs as a guide, connect all sensors to the Cube. Test that all systems are a go.Attach a screenshot of the Platform Health Status from GCS below.With your FCU connected to GCS, make a table for the following parameter setsRCMAP_X SERVO#_FUNCTIONConnect your DATX and verify connectivity in the ribbon. 
View your servo outputs in the Live Data tab (more on this in the next section)
Add a table above that links your DATX control input with the Servo Outputs above. For example, list all servo outputs that the right stick control.
What does the RCMAP_X parameter control?What does the SERVO#_FUNCTION controlList all possible power sources for the following systems:Servo: BECs to BatteryMotor: Directly from ESCs then into BECs then to BatteryCube/FCU: Battery + BEC
Obtain the remaining electronics to complete your set (two ESCs, two motors, and four servos)Based on your tables above, connect one servo and one ESC to FlaperonRight and Throttle as appropriate.Obtain instructor sign off: 👍Before moving to the next step, try to move the connected servo. Does it work? NoConnect your ESC to the thrust stand and apply power.Include a photo of your setup:Now try moving the servo again. Does it work now? YesPerform a ESC Calibration augmenting the manufacturer’s instructions with the following caveats:The aircraft must in manual mode and be armed in GCS. Note: with the aircraft armed, the motor can spin up.Confirm with instructor that Calibration was performed correctly.Gently ramp up the throttle to 100% to verify that the motor works.
Servo rail is powered from ESCEverything else is powered from external BEC into the Power portReceiver port is powered by both BEC and ESC
Lab 11 - Motors and Controls
Overview
In this lab we simulated the avionics, controls, and motors used in the Believer aircraft, focusing on powering, arming, and ensuring proper connection and calibration of the system components. This lab involved setting up and calibrating the DATX, verifying its inputs and outputs, and ensuring proper parameter settings in the hardware and LUA script. We also created a mock-up of the Believer's avionics by connecting sensors to the Cube and testing system health, mapping control inputs to servo outputs, and preparing tables for RCMAP_X and SERVO#_FUNCTION parameters. Additionally, we set up the motors and controls by connecting servos and ESCs, calibrating the ESC according to the provided guide, and testing motor function with a throttle ramp-up. Finally lab we updated the team wiring diagram.
You will be powering and arming the system. An armed system can spin up the motors. Always pin the throttle.
Resources
Ardupilot Parameters
Open Link
Servo
Open Link
ESC
Open Link
Motor
Open Link
RX/TX
Open Link
Cube Wiring Quick Start Guide
Open Link
Servo Functions
Open Link
ArduPilot Overview
Open Link
Assignment
DATX Setup
Questions:
1. What is CRSF and SBUS? What are the differences?
An SBUS is a serial Bus and CRSF is crossfire. CRSF allows for better performance but is more complex whereas SBUS is more simplistic and compatible.
2. What is Multi-Bind on the TBS Tracer?
Multi-bind allows one transmitter to bind to multiple receivers at one time
Task
The following where done to ensure that the DATX had the proper parameters
Avionics Setup
Task
In this section, we built a mock-up of the avionics as they will be installed in the Believer.
RCMAP_X
Name
Setting
RCMAP_BRAKE
0
RCMAP_FLAP
5
RCMAP_PITCH
2
RCMAP_ROLL
1
RCMAP_THROTTLE
3
RCMAP_YAW
4
There are no rows in this table
SERVO#_FUNCTION
Name
Setting
SERVO1_FUNCTION
FlaperonRight
SERVO2_FUNCTION
FlaperonLeft
SERVO3_FUNCTION
Throttle
SERVO4_FUNCTION
Throttle
SERVO5_FUNCTION
VTailLeft
SERVO6_FUNCTION
VTailRight
SERVO7_FUNCTION
Rudder
There are no rows in this table
DATX Control Inputs and corresponding Servo Output
DATX Control Input Stick
Servo Output
Column 3
Column 5
Right Stick
FlaperonRight
FlaperonLeft
VTailLeft and VTailRight
Left Stick
Throttle (3 and 4)
VTailLeft and VTailRight
Rudder
There are no rows in this table
Motor and Control Setup
Questions:
Which port on the bottom of the FCU that each RC control correlates to.
Which flight parameter output correlates to each movement of the VTail, flaperons and throttle.
Task
Notes about the wiring for the FC:
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