How do you program your drone's flight controller and firmware?

1 What is a flight controller?

A flight controller is a circuit board that acts as the brain of your drone. It receives input from your remote controller, GPS, compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, and other sensors, and sends output to your motors, ESCs, LEDs, and other devices. A flight controller can run different types of firmware, which are the software programs that determine how the flight controller functions.

2 What is firmware?

Firmware is the software that runs on your flight controller and defines its features, settings, and capabilities. Firmware can be updated or changed to suit your preferences and needs. There are many kinds of firmware available for different types of drones, such as Betaflight, INAV, Ardupilot, PX4, and others. Each firmware has its own advantages, disadvantages, and compatibility issues, so you need to do some research before choosing one for your drone.

3 How to connect your flight controller to your computer?

To program your flight controller and firmware, you need to connect it to your computer using a USB cable. You also need to install the appropriate drivers and software for your flight controller and firmware. For example, if you are using Betaflight firmware, you need to install the Betaflight Configurator software, which is a graphical user interface that allows you to configure and tune your flight controller. You can download the software from the official website or use the Chrome app version.

4 How to flash your firmware?

Flashing your firmware means updating or changing the software that runs on your flight controller. To do this, you can use the software that you installed on your computer, such as Betaflight Configurator. The process involves connecting your flight controller to your computer, going to the Firmware Flasher tab, selecting the board type, firmware version, and options you want to flash, and then downloading the firmware file from the internet or using a file from your computer. After clicking on Flash Firmware to start the flashing process, wait until it is completed and do not disconnect your flight controller. Once it is done, you can disconnect and reconnect your flight controller to initialize it.

5 How to configure your firmware?

Configuring your firmware involves adjusting the settings and parameters that affect how your drone behaves and performs. You can configure your firmware using the software installed on your computer, such as Betaflight Configurator. To do this, connect the flight controller to the computer and open the software. On the Setup tab, check if the drone is recognized and calibrated, as well as the battery voltage, CPU load, and firmware version. On the Ports tab, set up communication protocols and functions for each port, like UART, I2C, SPI, and more. On the Configuration tab, set up basic features and settings such as mixer, ESC, gyro, accelerometer, PID loop, receiver, arming, failsafe, beeper, LED strip, and more. On the Power & Battery tab, set up voltage and current monitoring and scaling for the battery and power distribution board. On the PID Tuning tab adjust proportional, integral, and derivative values for roll pitch yaw throttle axes. On the Receiver tab configure channel mapping endpoints midpoints deadbands for remote controller. On the Modes tab establish switches auxiliaries for activating flight modes like angle horizon acro headfree turtle flip over after crash. On the Motors tab test motors ESCs calibrate ESCs. On the OSD tab customize display layout elements units alarms fonts for FPV goggles or monitor. Finally on CLI tab enter commands backup or restore settings using dump or restore commands.

6 How to test your firmware?

Testing your firmware means ensuring your drone works as expected and performs well. You can use the software installed on your computer or fly your drone to do this. For example, if using Betaflight Configurator, you should connect your flight controller to your computer and open the software. On the Setup tab, check if the drone is recognized and calibrated, as well as the battery voltage, CPU load, and firmware version. The Motors tab is for testing motors and ESCs, while the Receiver tab checks controller inputs and outputs, including channel mapping, endpoints, midpoints, and deadbands. The Modes tab tests switches and auxiliaries for activating flight modes and features. The OSD tab tests the on-screen display for FPV goggles or monitor. After disconnecting from the computer, connect a battery and props to the drone in a safe area before arming it and taking off. Test flight modes, features, settings, adjust PID values, rates, and expo if needed. When finished flying, land and disarm your drone.

Programming a flight controller can be fun but also challenging and risky. Follow instructions carefully, back up settings before flashing or changing firmware, test in a safe area with safety precautions in mind. Above all else enjoy flying your drone!

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?