Introduction

!ArduPilotMega (APM) is the most advanced IMU-based open source autopilot on the market (and one of the cheapest!)

Features include:

• Free open source firmware supports planes, multicopters (quads, hex, oct, etc), helicopters and ground rovers!
• Simple setup process and firmware loading via a point-and-click utility. No programming required! (But if you do want to fiddle with the code, you can with the easiest embedded programming toolkit available: Arduino)
• Full mission scripting with point-and-click desktop utilities
• Can support hundreds of 3D waypoints
• Two-way telemetry and in-flight command using the powerful MAVLink protocol
• Choice of free Ground Stations, including the state-of-the-art HK GCS, which includes mission planning, in-air parameter setting, on-board video display, voice synthesis, and full datalogging with replay.
• Cross-platform. Supports Windows, Mac and Linux. Use the graphical Mission Planner setup utility in Windows (works under Parallels on a Mac) or use a command-line interface on any other operating system. Ground stations are available for all three operating systems. Based on the Arduino programming environment, which is also fully cross-platform.
• Autonomous takeoff, landing and special action commands such as video and camera controls
• Supports full "hardware-in-the-loop" simulation with Xplane and Flight Gear
• Include relay can trigger any device, can be controlled by mission scripts.
• Hardware includes the following:
• 3-axis gyros
• 3-axis accelerometers
• Barometric pressure sensor for altitude
• 10Hz GPS module
• Voltage sensors for battery status
• 4Mb of onboard datalogging memory. Missions are automatically datalogged and can be exported to KML
• Built-in hardware failsafe processor, can return-to-launch on radio loss.
• (Optional) 3-axis magnetometer
• (Optional) Airspeed sensor
• (Optional) Current sensor

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RTFM!

Someday autopilots will be plug-and-play devices you can buy at Wal-Mart, but not yet. All airframes are different and as an open source project we try to support a wide range of hardware options, which means that you have to configure the autopilot before you can fly.

Although APM works fine out-of-the-box on most standard RC aircraft, from the simplest !EasyStars to high-speed !Funjets, you may need to tune it a bit if you have something out of the ordinary (very small or an unusual configuration such as V-tails). We've tried to make that easy, too.

And if in doubt, fly in the simulator before you fly in real life!