SIM001 › Beyond the cockpit

The TX15 on the serial line

On the real plane, the TX15 is not a USB game controller. It sends its sticks and switches to the flight computer on a serial line, in the protocol of ExpressLRS. The flight computer gives ArduPilot the radio channels. ArduPilot sends its state back on the same line, and the TX15 shows it on its screen. The lamps along the top of the screen show the flight mode, whether the plane is armed, GPS, the link and the battery.

Start the station with --flight-computer, and the sim ignores the USB controller. A simulated TX15 on the serial line takes its place, so that the plane reacts as it does with the real radio. These tutorials show the radio the way you use it at the field.

Tutorials

Flying a VTOL with the TX15This tutorial uses the radio as it is on the real plane. The TX15 sends its sticks and switches on a serial line, and the plane answers on the screen of the TX15. You arm the plane with SE, and you pick QLOITER with button 2. Push the throttle stick up, and the plane climbs straight up. Press button 3 for FBWA, and the plane flies forward on its wing and levels itself. Bank it with the aileron stick, and let go. Press button 2 to hover again, and press button 6. The plane flies home and lands softly. At each step, look at the screen of the TX15.

Topics

The screen of the TX15

The screen of the TX15 shows what ArduPilot reports, from the telemetry on the serial line. The lamps along the top show the flight mode and whether the plane is armed. Below them are the air data, the horizon and the data for navigation. Use the screen to check each action: when you press a button or a switch, you see the plane answer on the radio itself.