Why does CubePilot Orange fluctuate altitude and airspeed at rest

Cube Autopilot
1

I’m new to CubePilot (Orange+) and Mission Planner, but I noticed that even after doing a preflight calibration and they reset back to 0, both the altitude and airspeed in the HUD and gauges will fluctuate while the cube is just sitting there on my desk (connected via USB to the laptop). Nothing armed yet, just doing some setup/configuration without affecting airspeed/altitude settings. Is it normal for airspeed to bounce between about 0 and 3mph, and altitude to bounce around (plus or minus a couple feet), while just sitting there at rest?

Thanks,
Paul

2

Is there a GNSS unit connected? That can certainly cause the effect you are seeing when there is no clear view of the sky.

3

That makes sense, thanks. No GNSS yet (ordering a Here4 this week), so I’ll verify again after getting it installed…

Thanks

4

While the Cube is not all permanently wired up and deep within a fuselage, I highly recommend doing the IMU temperature calibration. This can be saved permanently so it even holds true if you wipe parameters or change vehicles (eg: plane to copter).
This will probably settle down those “movements” too.

Do the settings as per that article, then just throw the Cube and carrier in a sealed plastic bag and into the freezer for 10 minutes or so. Then plug it into USB (and MissionPlanner) and stand back, don’t move or vibrate the Cube until the calibration is finished or about 30 mins.

It means the Cube is quicker to be ready for arming in a wider range of temperature conditions.

1 Like
5

Good tip, I’ll do that, thanks!