From 214793d0ad829d2a5102e2cedf4829630debc658 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Oleg Semyonov Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2013 14:32:15 +0300 Subject: [PATCH] OP-910: add release notes for RELEASE-13.06-RC1 --- WHATSNEW.txt | 121 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++---- 1 file changed, 113 insertions(+), 8 deletions(-) diff --git a/WHATSNEW.txt b/WHATSNEW.txt index 7b884f12a..b1c3b2057 100644 --- a/WHATSNEW.txt +++ b/WHATSNEW.txt @@ -2,12 +2,115 @@ Short summary of changes. For a complete list see the git log. --- RELEASE-13.06 --- Italian Stallion Release --- -This is the first Revo software release which also supports CC, CC3D, OPLinkMini and unreleased -yet OP OSD boards. This is a major change: from different toolchains and build system to the whole -source code reformatting according to project style guidelines. The goal of this release is to -provide CC-style features for new Revo platform + radio using Revo's internal modem and external -OPLinkMini board. All advanced features like Altitude Hold, Position Hold, Guidance, Return to Home, -AutoLanding etc. are not released yet and planned for followin releases. +This is the first Revolution software release which also supports CC, CC3D, OPLinkMini and +unreleased yet OP OSD boards. This is a major change: from different toolchains and build +system to the whole source code reformatting according to project style guidelines. The goal +of this release is to provide CC-style features for new Revo platform + radio using Revo's +internal modem and external OPLinkMini board. All advanced features like Altitude Hold, +Position Hold, Guidance, Return to Home, AutoLanding etc. are not released yet and planned +for following releases. + +Some video tutorials: + http://wiki.openpilot.org/display/DocDE/OpenPilot+Tutorials + +Important Release Notes: + +- Since this release the packaged distribution does not contain firmware files in a folder. + They are now integrated into the GCS so always are up to date. To update you must use + either Vehicle Setup Wizard (big green button on the Welcome GCS tab) or new Auto-Update + button on the Firmware tab. + +- New Auto-Update feature simplifies all OpenPilot board firmware updates. Just click it + and follow on-screen directions to reflash your board (CC, CC3D, OPLinkMini, Revolution + or OSD prototypes). Internally it is the same as Rescue but uses embedded firmware images, + no need to browse for them anymore. + +- New bootloaders are REQUIRED for this release to support some of new features like settings + erase and some others. As always, bootloaders can be updated without any special programmer + hardware using bootloader updaters firmware. Currently F1 boards (CC, CC3D, OPLinkMini) + require bootloader version 4 or higher, and F4 boards (Revolution, OSD prototype) require + bootloader version 5 or higher. Check the wiki for details of how to update them: + http://wiki.openpilot.org/display/BUILDS/Bootloader+update + +- New feature: settings erase option. In the past some special settings erase firmware was + used to erase bad or incompatible settings from CC/CC3D boards. Now it is deprecated, and + this functionality is now integrated into bootloader and firmware. To erase any board + settings you must have latest bootloader. Then enter DFU (boot) mode (using Halt or Rescue + function) and click "Erase settings" button on the Firmware tab and follow on-screen + instructions. This will NOT work with older bootloader, and the button will be disabled. + +- On Linux you should remove OpenPilot package if was installed, then install new one. This + is a known issue and likely be fixed later. + +- On Windows there is a CDC driver installer option. This is an optional USB virtual serial + port useful, for example, for updating your GPS configuration using U-Blox u-Center software. + But it is NOT required to configure boards. If not installed, virtual serial port features + will not be available. This driver is not signed by Microsoft, but in fact it uses serial + port drivers from Windows and only driver information INF file is supplied by the OpenPilot. + Hence it is safe to install. + +- Due to changes in USB descriptors to support new features, USB drivers on Windows must be + updated. If after Rescue or Wizard or Auto-Update button the GCS cannot connect to the board, + it may be due to this issue. To resolve you should remove old drivers (ones with yellow + exclamation mark) and allow Windows to find them again. Here is how: + + Windows XP: + - click on the desktop "My Computer" icon and select "Properties"; + - select the "Hardware" tab by clicking on it once; + - select the "Device Manager" tab by clicking on it; + - scroll down the list until you see the "Universal Serial Bus Controllers" selection. + Click it to expand the list of USB drivers. Right-click on the driver(s) you wish to + uninstall and select the "Uninstall" function. The driver will be uninstalled. + + Windows 7/Vista: + - on the desktop right-click the "Computer" icon and select "Properties"; + - select "Device Manager" in the upper left-hand corner of the window; + - scroll down the list until you see the "Universal Serial Bus Controllers" selection. + Click it once to expand the list of USB drivers. Right-click on the driver(s) you wish + to uninstall and select the "Uninstall" function. The driver will be uninstalled. + + Then disconnect the board from USB, wait few seconds and connect it back. Windows should find new + drivers and install them properly. + +- GCS now uses system default language (only French and English are available yet, please + contribute). You can choose language using GCS Options dialog if you have existing GCS + configuaration. + +- This release provides only CC3D-class features + radio. For example, it does NOT use + magnetometers to correct yaw and uses simple complimentary filter for attitude estimation. + So you should expect from it only CC3D-like performance. More advanced features will be + enabled step by step in the following releases with some help from new contributors, + we hope. Remember that the first Revo hardware batch was inended for developers, not + end users. + +- Lots of help tooltips were added to the GCS. Try watching them when tuning. + +- If GCS crashes when switching to the Flight data tab, it usually means your PC needs newer + video drivers. That tab contains ModelView widget which uses OpenGL. It is known to crash + in some cases. + +- Sensor calibration is not final. It will be reworked completely to increase its accuracy + and make it easier to use. + +- AltitudeHold mode is enabled, but it is not officially released. Do not expect it to be of + production quality. But you may play with it and report your issues and suggestions. It is + recommended to use some foam to protect baro sensor from wind and light. Also note that + throttle stick in AltitudeHold mode is used to control vertical velocity. + +- Tuning your system please set PIDs as tight as possible for better stabilisation. To soften + the stick response if necessary use new Responsiveness options. This will result in better + stabilisation, and at the same time soft or sharp response according to your preferences. + +- There is no configuration options for Radio module in the Revo config except for Radio + enable/disable and output power. This is intentional because all configuration should be + done using its paired ground OPLink coordinator. Enable radio in the Revo, save and + disconnect Revo from USB. Power it from external supply to continue. Then connect OPLink + board to USB and scroll down the GCS config widget to find OPLink icon in the end of list. + This icon is only available when OPLink is connected and recognised, this also requires new + bootloader and matching to Revo and GCS firmware on the OPLink board. To pair select the Revo + side Radio address in the list of found boards, select it, click Add to add to the list of + paired radios and click Save. After USB unplugging and plugging back your OPLink should show + "Connected", and you can continue with configuration. Flight code changes: - initial version of Revo code; @@ -72,14 +175,15 @@ GCS code changes: - hardware options are now dynamically enabled/disabled to allow supported configurations only; - new artwork for all boards everywhere; - optimised some 3D models; -- new About dialog showing version info and contrubutors list; +- new About dialog showing version info and contributors list; - fixed badly broken HiTL options dialog; - fixed compilation problem on OSX, now GCS should be compatible with OSX 10.5+; - major vehicle config cleanup with lazy creation (speeds up GCS start); - UI config pages improvements (responsiveness, etc) - new auto-update feature added, *.opfw firmware files removed from distributables; - anti-aliased scope plugin; -- numerous code fixes and cleanups (too many to list here). +- numerous code fixes and cleanups (too many to list here); +- USB HID code is replaced by new cross-platform hidapi library to fix old Linux/OSX problems. Common parts: - added simple toolchain install make targets; @@ -96,6 +200,7 @@ Common parts: - CLEAN_BUILD make option is deprecated, use 'package' or 'clean_package' instead; - simposix elf is now included into linux distribution and can be run with default GCS settings; - revised 'make help' message; +- updated Windows driver to support Revolution and use correct board names. Android GCS: - not officially released yet;