PX4 X-Plane Plugin v2.1.0

PX4 X-Plane Plugin v2.1.0

We are excited to announce the release of v2.1.0 of the PX4 X-Plane Plugin! This update brings significant improvements, addressing key issues and enhancing overall performance. Below is a detailed summary of the updates and changes included in this release:

What's New in v2.1.0

1. Stability and Accuracy Enhancements

• Accelerometer Bias Correction:

  • Resolved issues related to accelerometer bias, ensuring more accurate sensor readings and improved flight dynamics.

• Vertical Velocity Stability:

  • Fixed instability issues in vertical velocity estimation, providing smoother and more reliable vertical motion data.

• EKF Error Resolution:

  • Addressed multiple Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) errors, enhancing the estimator's reliability and accuracy during various flight conditions.

2. Performance Improvements

• Time Handling Enhancements:

  • Improved time synchronization methods between X-Plane and PX4, resulting in more accurate and consistent timing for sensor data and simulation steps.

• Synchronization Optimization:

  • Enhanced synchronization mechanisms between X-Plane and PX4, reducing latency and ensuring better alignment of simulation data.

3. Performance Advisory

• High-FPS Systems:
  • These improvements are particularly effective on high-FPS systems. Maintaining a stable FPS (≥40 FPS) is still recommended to ensure optimal performance and stability.

4. Additional Enhancements

• Sensor Simulation Refinements:

  • Further refinements in sensor simulation for more realistic and dependable sensor behavior.

• Estimator Stability:

  • Continued enhancements to the estimator's stability, minimizing the occurrence of jumps and ensuring quicker recovery during dynamic maneuvers.

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Installation Instructions

Windows Users:

1. Download the Plugin:

   • Download the latest version from the [Assets] section below.

2. Extract the Files:

   • Extract the contents of the downloaded px4xplane-v2.1.0-windows-x64.zip file.

3. Follow the Documentation:

   • Refer to the Version 2 Documentation for detailed setup and installation instructions.

4. Place in X-Plane Plugins Folder:

   • Copy the extracted plugin files into the Plugins folder of your X-Plane installation directory.

5. Configure PX4:

   • Ensure that PX4 is properly configured to communicate with the X-Plane plugin as per the documentation.

Documentation:

• Comprehensive documentation for v2.1.0 can be found here.

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Known Issues

While v2.1.0 addresses several critical issues, some known limitations remain:

• Estimator Jumps During High Agile Maneuvers:
  • In very high agile maneuvers, estimator jumps and other issues could occur, especially on low-FPS systems. This is a limitation of X-Plane, which cannot output faster state updates.

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Contribution and Support

• Contributions:

  • We welcome and encourage community contributions! If you wish to contribute, please fork the repository and submit a pull request. For major changes, please open an issue first to discuss what you would like to change.

• Reporting Issues:

  • If you encounter any issues, please report them via the GitHub Issues page.

• Tutorials:

  • A YouTube video tutorial for version 2.1.0 will be released soon to help users with installation and configuration.

• Focus:

  • This release emphasizes enhancing the plugin's stability and reliability, especially under demanding flight scenarios. Continued community involvement is vital for ongoing improvements.

PX4 X-Plane Plugin v2.0.3

PX4 X-Plane Plugin v2.0.3

We're pleased to release v2.0.3 of the PX4 X-Plane Plugin! This version includes minor stability improvements regarding EKF timesteps and sensor simulation refinements. Below is a summary of what's new in this release:

What's New:

• Refined Sensor Handling:

  • Integrated a more accurate and consistent time update method to address issues with slow X-Plane data updates.
  • Still working on progress to decide the pros and cons of relying on xplane for times or using an external c++ based timer

• Performance Enhancements:

  • Better handling of tight turns at high speeds; the estimator remains more stable, though occasional estimator jumps may still occur.
  • Enhanced vertical velocity stability. While the problem isn't entirely eliminated, the estimator now recovers faster. Continued monitoring and tuning are recommended.

• Usage Advisory:

  • Recommended for use in high-FPS systems only (+40 FPS stable) until a more robust solution is implemented. Lower FPS may still cause issues with vertical velocity stability and estimator jumps.
  • This version is flyable but may require further improvements for demanding flight conditions.

Installation:

• Windows Users: Download the plugin from the assets below and follow the Version 2 Documentation for detailed setup instructions.

Documentation:

• Full documentation can be found here.

Known Issues:

• Estimator Jumps: Occasional estimator jumps during high-speed, tight maneuvers. Further improvements are being explored.
• Vertical Velocity Instability: While reduced, vertical velocity may still become unstable for a moment but typically recovers quickly.
• Barometer Noise: The balance between noise and filtering is critical. Adjusting noise settings can impact vertical velocity stability and may require further tuning.
• High FPS Required: Ensure X-Plane is running at a stable +40 FPS to minimize these issues.

Contribution and Support:

• Contributions are welcome! Please report any issues via GitHub.
• YouTube video tutorial for v2 will be released soon!

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This release focuses on making the plugin more stable and reliable, particularly in demanding flight scenarios. Continued work will be needed to perfect the plugin, and we welcome community contributions to help us get there.

PX4 X-Plane Plugin v2.0.2

PX4 X-Plane Plugin v2.0.2

We're pleased to release v2.0.2 of the PX4 X-Plane Plugin! This version includes essential refinements aimed at improving stability and performance, especially in high-FPS environments. Below is a summary of what's new in this release:

What's New:

• Refined Sensor Handling:

  • Added realistic vibration noise to accelerometer data to better simulate ground effects.
  • Fine-tuned the balance between filtering and noise to reduce the impact of high accelerometer bias on PX4 EKF.
  • Improved handling of pressure data, now using combined high and low-frequency noise terms.
    • Note: The barometer noise setting may still need further refinement. Increasing the noise can cause vertical velocity instability, while reducing it too much may trigger a baro stale flag.
  • Integrated a more accurate and consistent time update method to address issues with slow X-Plane data updates.

• Performance Enhancements:

  • Better handling of tight turns at high speeds; the estimator remains more stable, though occasional estimator jumps may still occur.
  • Enhanced vertical velocity stability. While the problem isn't entirely eliminated, the estimator now recovers faster. Continued monitoring and tuning are recommended.

• Usage Advisory:

  • Recommended for use in high-FPS systems only (+40 FPS stable) until a more robust solution is implemented. Lower FPS may still cause issues with vertical velocity stability and estimator jumps.
  • This version is flyable but may require further improvements for demanding flight conditions.

Installation:

• Windows Users: Download the plugin from the assets below and follow the Version 2 Documentation for detailed setup instructions.

Documentation:

• Full documentation can be found here.

Known Issues:

• Estimator Jumps: Occasional estimator jumps during high-speed, tight maneuvers. Further improvements are being explored.
• Vertical Velocity Instability: While reduced, vertical velocity may still become unstable for a moment but typically recovers quickly.
• Barometer Noise: The balance between noise and filtering is critical. Adjusting noise settings can impact vertical velocity stability and may require further tuning.
• High FPS Required: Ensure X-Plane is running at a stable +40 FPS to minimize these issues.

Contribution and Support:

• Contributions are welcome! Please report any issues via GitHub.
• YouTube video tutorial for v2 will be released soon!

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This release focuses on making the plugin more stable and reliable, particularly in demanding flight scenarios. Continued work will be needed to perfect the plugin, and we welcome community contributions to help us get there.

PX4 X-Plane Plugin v2.0.1

PX4 X-Plane Plugin v2.0.1

We're excited to announce the release of v2.0.0 of the PX4 X-Plane Plugin! This version brings several significant updates, including improved sensor handling, multi-airframe support, and an automated setup script optimized for WSL environments. Below is a summary of what's new in this release:

What's New:

• Sensor Improvements: Fixed various sensor inconsistencies for a more reliable simulation.
• Multi-Airframe Support: Native support for:
  • Ehang 184
  • Alia 250
  • Cessna 172
  • Bayraktar TB2
• In-Menu Airframe Selection: Seamlessly change airframes directly from the X-Plane menu.
• Automated Setup Script: A one-command setup for WSL/Linux, simplifying the process significantly. Check the documentation for details.
• Pre-Loaded Parameters: Automatic parameter loading in PX4 builds, with manual options still available.
• Temporary Fix: This release is a temporary solution until the updates are merged into the official PX4 repository.

Installation:

• Windows Users: Download the plugin from the assets below and follow the Version 2 Documentation for detailed setup instructions.

Documentation:

• Full documentation can be found here.

Known Issues:

• Ensure X-Plane is running at high FPS for optimal EKF performance. (Make sure you have +40 FPS Stable)
• Occasional Vertical Velocity instability. In this version, we removed the barometer from EKF estimations to improve and added a low pass filter and median filter for the accelerometer. If our FPS drops below 40, this problem will become more serious. You can tune parameters for relaxed preflight and acceptance checks if needed.

Contribution and Support:

• Contributions are welcome! Please report any issues via GitHub.

YouTube video tutorial for v2 will be released soon!

PX4 X-Plane Plugin v2.0.0

PX4 X-Plane Plugin v2.0.0

We're excited to announce the release of v2.0.0 of the PX4 X-Plane Plugin! This version brings several significant updates, including improved sensor handling, multi-airframe support, and an automated setup script optimized for WSL environments. Below is a summary of what's new in this release:

What's New:

• Sensor Improvements: Fixed various sensor inconsistencies for a more reliable simulation.
• Multi-Airframe Support: Native support for:
  • Ehang 184
  • Alia 250
  • Cessna 172
  • Bayraktar TB2
• In-Menu Airframe Selection: Seamlessly change airframes directly from the X-Plane menu.
• Automated Setup Script: A one-command setup for WSL/Linux, simplifying the process significantly. Check the documentation for details.
• Pre-Loaded Parameters: Automatic parameter loading in PX4 builds, with manual options still available.
• Temporary Fix: This release is a temporary solution until the updates are merged into the official PX4 repository.

Installation:

• Windows Users: Download the plugin from the assets below and follow the Version 2 Documentation for detailed setup instructions.

Documentation:

• Full documentation can be found here.

Known Issues:

• Ensure X-Plane is running at high FPS for optimal EKF performance.

Contribution and Support:

• Contributions are welcome! Please report any issues via GitHub.

YouTube video tutorial for v2.0.0 will be released soon!

v1.1.0 - Expanded Airframe Support and Enhanced Stability

v1.1.0 - Expanded Airframe Support and Enhanced Stability

I am excited to bring you version 1.1.0 of the PX4 X-Plane Plugin, delivering a more robust experience and added support for new airframes for simulation enthusiasts and professionals.

What's Improved

• Magnetometer issues? Solved. Now you get more reliable heading information for precise simulations.
• Introducing support for a diverse set of airframes: the classic Cessna 172 (Fixed Wing), modern Alia-250 (quadplane VTOL), and the Ehang 184 (Quad Copter).

Grab and Go

• Predefined airframes make setup much easier– no manual parameter imports are required. Just select and simulate! (but wait until this pull request merges with the PX4 codebase)
• The .params files are still available in the zip file.
• Check out our forked PX4 repo with the new airframes ready to go: PX4 Fork with Airframes

Easy Setup

• Switching airframes? Remember to run make clean to avoid conflicts in PX4 SITL.
• Your step-by-step guide for the new integration is right here: PX4 Integration Guide

Coming Soon

• Linux folks, sorry but I've got you covered – binary builds are on the way. If you've got the CMake files, help me out with a pull request.
• Your custom airframe setup is getting easier with our improvedconfig.ini – more details to follow in our tutorials.

Dive Into the Demos

• Want to see it in action? Our YouTube playlist has it all – demos, tutorials, and more! PX4-XPlane YouTube Playlist

Download

• Get the latest binary for Windows 64-bit: px4xplane-1.1.0_win64.zip

Join the Crew

• Your insights make this better. Spot a bug? Have a suggestion? Share your thoughts and let's make it better. Thank you for being a pilot in the PX4 X-Plane Plugin journey!
• Every contribution, big or small, is appreciated. Especially on macOS and Linux builds and git workflows.

v1.0.0-beta

Initial Beta Release (v1.0.0-beta)

This is the initial beta release of the PX4 X-Plane Plugin. This release provides a minimal demonstration of the plugin and is still under progress, so it might have bugs and problems.

Features

• Establishes a TCP connection between X-Plane and PX4 SITL.
• Integrates MAVLink messages for communication between the simulator and PX4.

Known Issues

• Attitude estimation might have problems with abnormal attitudes and high-speed rapid rotation.
• Performance: It's crucial to run X-Plane at a high FPS since the PX4 EKF requires fast updating of sensor data.
• Yaw PID Tuning: The Quadricopter drone's yaw gain can be challenging to tune.

Installation

Please follow the installation instructions provided in the README.

Compatibility

The attached binary is for Windows 64bit and is compatible with X-Plane 11.50 and above, including X-Plane 12. If you are a Linux or Mac user, you can build the plugin yourself by following the instructions in the README. I may provide precompiled binaries for these platforms in future releases.

Feedback

As this is a beta release, your feedback is very important to us. Please report any issues you encounter or suggestions you have.