Flight Modes issue - APM remain in MANUAL mode after switch

[GoogleCodeExporter]

What steps will reproduce the problem?
1. Set radio to give you first switch at PWM pulsewidth > 1620 && pulsewidth <= 
1749 - FLIGHT MODE 5
2. Set flight modes at Planner as you wish

What is the expected output? What do you see instead?

I have set all 6 modes with my FUTABA 10CAP. At Planner, all 6 modes are 
functional. The SETUP sheet shows all 6 modes highlighted when I switch 
switches. 
To reproduce the issue you MUST set somehow your switch pulsewidth in the way 
to get at the first switch action a PWM value greatter than 1600 ms. You can do 
that setting the END POINT values from the channel 8 or mix values (I use two 
switches and a mix proggram to get all its 6 values) 
The APM remain at MANUAL mode if the pulsewidth of the switch action is 
greatter than 1600 ms.

What version of the product are you using? On what operating system?

I do test at APM versions 2.24 and 2.26, both with the same issue.

Original issue reported on code.google.com by mpsou...@gmail.com on 28 Dec 2011 at 2:06

[GoogleCodeExporter]

[deleted comment]

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Please, look carefully this issue before close this report as 
"CannotReproduce". This is a serious issue that can lead to an accident.

We flew our 19oz airplane thinking it was in STABILIZE mode, even Planner 
"saying" it was, but it wasn't.

Regards 

Marcos Souza

Original comment by mpsou...@gmail.com on 28 Dec 2011 at 2:12

[GoogleCodeExporter]

what channel did you have your mode switch connected to? on AP it should be 8. 
AC 5.

Original comment by Meee...@gmail.com on 29 Dec 2011 at 10:29

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Hi Meee...

It is connected at channel 8 as recommended on manual. The switch action is Ok, 
I have all 6 modes when I switch my two switches. This is not the issue.

The major problem is when I switch to my first Flight Mode. In my radio 
configuration I could set the first switch action with a PWM value of 1620 ms, 
which is the PWM range of Flight Mode 5. Thus, when I first switch flight mode 
I go from MANUAL (Flight Mode 6 by default) to Flight Mode 5 (I set it to be 
STABILIZE).

The Planner shows I'm in Flight Mode 5 (STABILIZE), but the APM remains in 
MANUAL because when I shake airframe no servo action is observed. So I go to 
radio set, change END POINT values of channel 8 until I get a PWM value lower 
than 1600 ms for that switch position and APM engage the Flight Mode configured.

In the first cenario, I switch first position and APM remains MANUAL, I switch 
second position (PWM lower than 1600 ms) it engages the configured Flight Mode, 
if I switch back first position the Flight Mode also engages. My theory is may 
have some code bug (or MUX issue) that prevents APM to leaving MANUAL state 
until it has a PWM signal lower than 1600 ms. After it has this signal all 
switch actions are ok until you put it in MANUAL mode again, so the issues 
reappears.

Please, feel free to ask how many times were necessary until you can reproduce 
the issue.

Regards

Marcos Souza    

Original comment by mpsou...@gmail.com on 29 Dec 2011 at 12:06

[GoogleCodeExporter]

have you done all the tests in the cli? it may be a hardware issue with the mux

Original comment by Meee...@gmail.com on 29 Dec 2011 at 11:00

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Yes I did. I will have another APM to test next week. I keep you informed about 
hardware issue. 

Just to be sure, did you do the test I've described? 

Can you please describe your switch sequence and PWM values?

Regards

Marcos Souza

Original comment by mpsou...@gmail.com on 29 Dec 2011 at 11:19

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I have tried and cannot at all duplicate what you are saying.  My TX pwm values 
are set at 1557, 1683, and 1815 for modes 4, 5, and 6. To test I assigned 4 and 
6 to Manual and 5 to FBW-A. I can boot APM with the TX switch in either mode 4 
or 6, and then after APM initializes, switch to 5.  In both cases ArduPlane 
correctly switches from manual to FBW-A, as reported to the GCS and evident by 
servo movement when rotating the board. 

Please provide an exact set of steps you think will illustrate your problem.  I 
have followed what I think you are saying should produce a problem, but see no 
issue.

Original comment by dewei...@gmail.com on 7 Jan 2012 at 12:39

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I'm having this same issue. I'm using a DX8 with APM1.4/wOilpan. I've just 
learned to switch past mode 5 to mode 4 for a split second, then go back to 
mode 5 position with my AUX3 pot. I've experienced this since starting with 
AP2.27, AP2.34, and now AP2.40, so this issue does still exist. Last night I 
set mode 4&5 to Stabilize so the plane doesn't react to the switch position 
changes I'm having to make.

Original comment by betts.j...@gmail.com on 29 Jun 2012 at 3:58