MAVLink Peripherals (GCS/OSD/Companion)

Ground Control Stations (GCS), On-Screen Displays (OSD), Companion Computers, ADS-B receivers, and other MAVLink peripherals interact with PX4 using separate MAVLink streams, sent via different serial ports. These communication channels are configured using the MAVLink parameters.

In order to assign a particular peripheral to a serial port we use the (abstract) concept of a MAVLink instance.

Each instance can represent a particular set of streamed messages (see MAV_X_MODE below); parameters are used to define the set of messages, the port used, data rate, etc.

Note At time of writing three MAVLink instances are defined, which correspond to the 0, 1, 2 in the parameters listed below.

The parameters for each instance are:

  • MAV_X_CONFIG - Set the serial port (UART) for this instance “X”, where X is 0, 1, 2. It can be any unused port, e.g.: TELEM2, TELEM3, GPS2 etc. For more information see Serial Port Configuration.

  • MAV_X_MODE - Specify the telemetry mode/target (the set of messages to stream for the current instance and their rate). The default values are:

    • Normal: Standard set of messages for a GCS.
    • Custom or Magic: Nothing (in the default PX4 implementation). Modes may be used for testing when developing a new mode.
    • Onboard: Standard set of messages for a companion computer.
    • OSD: Standard set of messages for an OSD system.
    • Config: Standard set of messages and rate configuration for a fast link (e.g. USB).
    • Minimal: Minimal set of messages for use with a GCS connected on a high latency link.
    • ExtVision or ExtVisionMin: Messages for offboard vision systems (ExtVision needed for VIO).
    • Iridium: Messages for an Iridium satellite communication system.

    Note If you need to find the specific set of message for each mode search for MAVLINK_MODE_ in /src/modules/mavlink/mavlink_main.cpp.

    Tip The mode defines the default messages and rates. A connected MAVLink system can still request the streams/rates that it wants using MAV_CMD_SET_MESSAGE_INTERVAL.

  • MAV_X_RATE - Set the maximum data rate for this instance (bytes/second).

    • This is the combined rate for all streams of individual message (the rates for individual messages are reduced if the total rate exceeds this value).
    • The default setting will generally be acceptable, but might be reduced if the telemetry link becomes saturated and too many messages are being dropped.
    • A value of 0 sets the data rate to half the theoretical value.
  • MAV_X_FORWARD - Enable forwarding of MAVLink packets received by the current instance onto other interfaces. This might be used, for example, to transfer messages between a GCS and a companion computer so that the GCS can talk to a MAVLink enabled camera connected to the companion computer.

Next you need to set the baud rate for the serial port you assigned above (in MAV_X_CONFIG).

Tip You will need to reboot PX4 to make the parameter available (i.e. in QGroundControl).

The parameter used will depend on the assigned serial port - for example: SER_GPS1_BAUD, SER_TEL2_BAUD, etc. The value you use will depend on the type of connection and the capabilities of the connected MAVLink peripheral.

Default MAVLink Ports {#default_ports}

The TELEM 1 port is almost always used for the GCS telemetry stream.

To support this there is a default serial port mapping of MAVLink instance 0 as shown below:

Example

For example, to use a companion computer on TELEM 2 you might set parameters as shown: