I am typically late to new things, and only now just trying out ChatGPT. Still playing around, but I am extremely impressed with the amount of "intelligence" and depth I get on responses to technical questions. I tried a stream of drone related questions, and although responses were not always complete nor always correct, it certainly gave the appearance it knew what it was talking about and most of the response directly addressed my question and provided useful information that I would have expected from an "expert".
For any other slow adopters who haven't tried it yet, it should be a good eye opener. Here is just a sample of a stream of drone setup/troubleshooting questions and ChatGPT's response (this is the free version 3.5).
how to connect an ELRS receiver to a flight controller
(felt the UART connection instructions were ambiguous so asked for clarification)
how to connect the uart pins
my receiver is connected and bound, however I am unable to see any stick movements in betaflight
the receiver is working, however when I power on my DJI O3 the receiver no longer communicates with betaflight[/color]
Although the typical scenario would be the SBUS wire being on the same UART as ELRS causing conflict, ChatGPT is not able to specifically point out this issue, but does correctly mention the problem of UART conflict.
For any other slow adopters who haven't tried it yet, it should be a good eye opener. Here is just a sample of a stream of drone setup/troubleshooting questions and ChatGPT's response (this is the free version 3.5).
how to connect an ELRS receiver to a flight controller
Quote:To connect an ELRS (ExpressLRS) receiver to a flight controller, you typically need to follow these steps:
Remember to consult the specific documentation and guides for your flight controller and ELRS receiver, as the steps and requirements may vary based on the hardware you are using. It's essential to follow the manufacturer's instructions and guidelines to ensure a proper and reliable connection between the flight controller and the ELRS receiver.
- Check Compatibility: Ensure that both your flight controller and the ELRS receiver are compatible with each other. Confirm the pin layout and protocol compatibility between the two devices.
- Pinout and Wiring: Identify the necessary pins on both the flight controller and the ELRS receiver for connection. The specific pins required may vary depending on the flight controller and receiver models. Consult the documentation or pinout diagrams for your flight controller and ELRS receiver to determine the correct connections.
- Power Connection: Connect the power supply for the ELRS receiver. Most receivers require a 5V power source. You can typically connect the power to the 5V or VCC pin on the receiver and ensure the ground (GND) is connected as well.
- UART Connection: Connect the UART (serial communication) between the flight controller and the ELRS receiver. This connection allows the flight controller to communicate with the receiver. Determine which UART port on the flight controller you want to use for the receiver and connect the corresponding TX (transmit) and RX (receive) pins between the flight controller and the receiver.
- Configuration: Access the flight controller's configuration software, such as Betaflight, and navigate to the Ports or Configuration tab. Enable the appropriate UART port for the receiver and set it to the correct serial protocol, such as CRSF for ELRS.
- Bind Mode: Put the ELRS receiver into bind mode. The specific steps for entering bind mode may differ depending on the receiver model. Refer to the documentation for your ELRS receiver to learn how to initiate the binding process.
- Receiver Binding: Initiate the binding process from the flight controller's configuration software. This process may vary depending on the flight controller and software used. Follow the instructions provided in the software to complete the binding procedure.
- Testing: Once the binding process is successful, verify the receiver's connectivity by checking the receiver tab in your flight controller's configuration software. Move the transmitter controls and confirm that the corresponding inputs on the receiver tab respond accordingly.
(felt the UART connection instructions were ambiguous so asked for clarification)
how to connect the uart pins
Quote:To connect the UART pins between an ELRS receiver and a flight controller, you'll typically follow these steps:
Once the UART pins are properly connected between the ELRS receiver and the flight controller, you can proceed with configuration and testing to ensure proper communication between the two devices. Refer to the specific documentation for your flight controller and ELRS receiver for any additional instructions or considerations related to UART connections.
- Identify the UART Ports: Determine which UART ports on your flight controller you want to use for the ELRS receiver. Flight controllers typically have multiple UART ports labeled as UART1, UART2, UART3, etc. Refer to your flight controller's documentation or pinout diagram to identify the UART ports available.
- Locate the UART Pins: Once you have identified the UART ports on the flight controller, locate the corresponding UART pins. These pins are usually labeled as TX (transmit) and RX (receive) for each UART port.
- Connect the Receiver TX to Flight Controller RX: Find the TX pin on the ELRS receiver and connect it to the RX pin of the selected UART port on the flight controller. This ensures that the receiver's transmitted data is received by the flight controller.
- Connect the Receiver RX to Flight Controller TX: Locate the RX pin on the ELRS receiver and connect it to the TX pin of the same UART port on the flight controller. This enables the flight controller to transmit data to the receiver, such as configuration commands or receiver telemetry.
- Ensure Ground Connection: Connect the ground (GND) pin of the ELRS receiver to a ground pin on the flight controller. This establishes a common ground reference between the two devices.
- Power Connection: Provide power to the ELRS receiver by connecting its 5V or VCC pin to a 5V power source on the flight controller. Additionally, connect the receiver's ground (GND) pin to a ground pin on the flight controller.
- Verify Polarity: Ensure that the TX pin on the receiver is connected to the RX pin on the flight controller, and the RX pin on the receiver is connected to the TX pin on the flight controller. Connecting them incorrectly will prevent communication between the devices.
- Secure Connections: Double-check that all the connections are securely made, with proper alignment and no loose wires or connections.
my receiver is connected and bound, however I am unable to see any stick movements in betaflight
Quote:If your ELRS receiver is connected and bound, but you are not seeing any stick movements in Betaflight, here are a few troubleshooting steps you can follow:
If you've gone through these troubleshooting steps and are still unable to see stick movements in Betaflight, it's recommended to seek assistance from the ELRS community or consult the specific documentation and support channels for your flight controller and ELRS receiver.
- Check Receiver Configuration: Open the Configuration tab in Betaflight and make sure the correct receiver mode is selected. For ELRS, the receiver mode should typically be set to CRSF or Crossfire depending on your ELRS receiver.
- Confirm Correct UART: Verify that you have connected the ELRS receiver to the correct UART port on your flight controller. Double-check the pinout and ensure that you have connected the receiver's TX pin to the flight controller's RX pin and vice versa.
- Check Receiver Power: Ensure that the ELRS receiver is receiving power. Confirm that it is properly connected to a 5V power source on the flight controller. Check the receiver's LED status to ensure it is receiving power and bound successfully.
- Verify Receiver Binding: Recheck the receiver binding process. Make sure you followed the correct steps to put the receiver into bind mode and initiated the binding process from Betaflight. Confirm that the binding was successful.
- Check Receiver Connections: Ensure that all the wiring connections between the receiver and flight controller are secure. Double-check that the wires are properly seated in the pins and that there are no loose or disconnected connections.
- Receiver Tab Testing: Go to the Receiver tab in Betaflight and check if the receiver is properly recognized. Move the transmitter controls and observe if the corresponding channels on the Receiver tab are showing any activity. If there is no activity, try moving the sticks more vigorously or recalibrating the transmitter.
- Check Transmitter Configuration: Verify that your transmitter is properly configured and transmitting on the correct channel outputs. Ensure that the channels on the transmitter match the channels configured in Betaflight.
- Reboot and Reconnect: If all else fails, try rebooting the flight controller and reconnecting it to Betaflight. Sometimes a simple reboot can resolve communication issues.
the receiver is working, however when I power on my DJI O3 the receiver no longer communicates with betaflight[/color]
Quote:If your ELRS receiver stops communicating with Betaflight when you power on your DJI O3 air unit, it could be due to conflicting serial communication settings or resource allocation. Here are a few steps to help resolve the issue:
Remember to backup your flight controller configuration and follow the recommended procedures for making changes to your setup. It's important to be cautious and aware of the potential risks involved in modifying firmware or resource settings.
- Check Serial Port Conflict: Confirm that there is no conflict between the UART ports used by the ELRS receiver and the DJI O3 air unit. Both devices may be trying to use the same UART port, causing interference. Consider changing the UART port assignment for either the ELRS receiver or the DJI O3 air unit.
- Verify Resource Allocation: In some cases, there might be a resource conflict between the ELRS receiver and the DJI O3 air unit. Check if any of the resources, such as pins or timers, are being shared between the two devices. If so, consider reassigning the resources to avoid conflicts.
- Adjust Resource Remapping: If your flight controller supports resource remapping, you can try remapping the UART ports or other conflicting resources used by the ELRS receiver and DJI O3 air unit. This can help separate the resources and avoid conflicts.
- Review FC Firmware and DJI Integration: Ensure that you are using the latest firmware versions for both your flight controller and the DJI O3 air unit. Sometimes, compatibility issues between different firmware versions can cause communication problems. Check if there are any firmware updates or compatibility fixes available.
- Power Supply Considerations: Ensure that the power supply to both the flight controller and the DJI O3 air unit is stable and sufficient. Inadequate power supply can cause issues with communication between devices. Consider using separate power sources or adding capacitors to stabilize the power supply if needed.
- Consult Community and Support: Reach out to the ELRS and DJI communities or support channels for assistance. There might be specific solutions or workarounds available for the particular combination of devices you are using.
Although the typical scenario would be the SBUS wire being on the same UART as ELRS causing conflict, ChatGPT is not able to specifically point out this issue, but does correctly mention the problem of UART conflict.