Step-by-step guide on autonomous flight with Clover 4

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The following applies to image version 0.20 and up. See previous version of the articleopen in new window for older images.

This manual contains links to other articles in which each of the topics addressed is discussed in more detail. If you encounter difficulties while reading one of these articles, it is recommended that you return to this manual, since many operations here are described step by step and some unnecessary steps are skipped.

Raspberry Pi initial setup

Install Raspberry Pi and a camera on the drone according to the manual.
Download the system image here.
Burn the image to the microSD card.
Insert the card into Raspberry Pi.
Connect power to Raspberry Pi and wait for the Wi-Fi network to appear. To do this, connect the Raspberry Pi to the computer via the microUSB cable. On Raspberry Pi, the green LED should flash blink. It shows that Raspberry Pi works properly.
Warning Before connecting the Raspberry Pi to the computer via USB, you need to remove the 5V power cable from Raspberry Pi. Otherwise, there may be problems with power.
Connect to Wi-Fi and open the web interface (this article).

After the first power-up, the network appears with a delay. You need to wait until the system is fully loaded. If the Clover network does not appear in the list of networks for a long time, reopen the window with the network selection. Then the list of networks will be updated.

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Now if you have connected to the Clover's Wi-Fi network, it is recommended to open the local version of this guideopen in new window, otherwise the links will not work.

Connect to Raspberry Pi via SSH.

Web access is the easiest way. Follow the instructions in the article SSH Access.

You can change the name and password of the network if you want to. See the article "[Network Settings] (network.mdopen in new window # change-password-or-ssid-network-name)". The remaining operations with the network are unnecessary.
Use the nano editor to edit files. Instructions for working with nano.
Hint In nano, you can only move the cursor with the arrow keys on the keyboard.
Reboot Raspberry Pi:
```
sudo reboot
```
The connection will temporary close, a new network will be created and you will need to reconnect to it.
Make sure that the camera is working correctly. Follow the link http://192.168.11.1:8080open in new window and click image_raw.
For more information read "Viewing images from cameras".
If the image is blurry, you need to focus the lens. To do this, twist the lens in one or the other direction. Continue to twist until the image becomes clear.
Hint The red LED on the camera should be lit: it means that the camera is currently capturing image. If the LED does not light: either the camera is connected incorrectly, or the operating system did not boot yet, or there is an error in settings.

Basic commands

You will need the basic Linux commands, as well as special Clover commands, to work efficiently in the system.

Show list of files and folders:

ls

Go to certain directory by entering the path too it (catkin_ws/src/clover/clover/launch/):

cd catkin_ws/src/clover/clover/launch/

Go to home directory:

cd

Open the file file.py:

nano file.py

Open the file clover.launch by entering the full path to it (it works even if you're in a different directory):

nano ~/catkin_ws/src/clover/clover/launch/clover.launch

Save file (press sequentially):

Ctrl+X; Y; Enter

Delete a file or folder called name (WARNING: the operation will not request confirmation. Be careful!):

rm -rf name

Make a new directory called myfolder:

mkdir myfolder

Raspberry Pi complete reboot:

sudo reboot

Reboot only the clover service:

sudo systemctl restart clover

Perform selfcheck:

rosrun clover selfcheck.py

Stop a program:

Ctrl+C

Start a program myprogram.py using Python:

python3 myprogram.py

Journal of the events related to clover package. Scroll the list by pressing Enter or Ctrl+V (scrolls faster):

journalctl -u clover

Open the sudoers file with super user rights (this particular file doesn't open without sudo. You can use sudo to open other locked files or run programs that require super user rights):

sudo nano /etc/sudoers

Setting Raspberry Pi for autonomous flight

Most of the parameters for autonomous flight are located in the following directory: ~/catkin_ws/src/clover/clover/launch/.

Enter the directory:
```
cd ~/catkin_ws/src/clover/clover/launch/
```
The ~ symbol stands for home directory of your user. If you are already in the directory, you can go with just the command:
```
cd catkin_ws/src/clover/clover/launch/
```
Hint Tab can automatically complete the names of files, folders or commands. You need to start entering the desired name and press Tab. If there are no conflicts, the name will be auto completed. For example, to quickly enter the path to the catkin_ws/src/clover/clover/launch/ directory, after entering cd, you can start typing the following key combination:c-Tab-s-Tab-c-Tab-c-Tab-l-Tab. This way you can save a lot of time when writing a long command, and also avoid possible mistakes in writing the path.
In this folder you need to configure three files:
- clover.launch
- aruco.launch
- main_camera.launch
Open the file clover.launch:
```
nano clover.launch
```
You must be in the directory in which the file is located. If you are in other directory, you can open the file by writing the full path to it:
```
nano ~/catkin_ws/src/clover/clover/launch/clover.launch
```
If two users are editing a file at the same time, or if previously the file was closed incorrectly, nano will not display the file contents, it will ask for permission to display the file. To grant permission, press Y.

If the content of a file is still empty, you may have entered the file name incorrectly. You need to pay attention to the extension. If you entered a wrong name or extension, nano will create a new empty file named this way, which is undesirable. Such file should be deleted.

Find the following line in clover.launch file:
```
<arg name="aruco" default="false"/>
```
Replace false with true:
```
<arg name="aruco" default="true"/>.
```
This will activate the ArUco marker detection module.
Open the file aruco.launch:
```
 nano aruco.launch
```

Here you need to activate some parameters. Go to the article for more detail.

Here is what you should get:

<arg name="aruco_detect" default="true"/>
<arg name="aruco_map" default="true"/>
<arg name="aruco_vpe" default="true"/>`

Generate the ArUco markers field. See the article [Map-based navigation with ArUco markers] (aruco_map.md # marker map settings) for details. To generate markers, you need to enter a command with specific values.
Here is the example generating command where:
- marker length = 0.335 m (length)
- 10 columns (x)
- 10 rows (y)
- distance between markers on the x axis = 1 m (dist_x)
- distance between markers on the y axis = 1 m (dist_y)
- the first marker's ID = 0 (first)
- the marker map name is default: map.txt
- the marker map numbering is from the top left corner (key --top-left)
```
rosrun aruco_pose genmap.py 0.335 10 10 1 1 0 > ~/catkin_ws/src/clover/aruco_pose/map/map.txt --top-left
```
In most maps, numbering starts with a zero marker. Also, in most cases, numbering starts from the upper left corner, so when generating, it is very important to enter the key --top-left.
Hint If you choose a different name for your ArUco map, you also need to change it in the aruco.launch. Find the line <param name="map" value="$(find aruco_pose)/map/map.txt"/> and replace map.txt with your map name.
Edit the main_camera.launch for setting up the camera:
Read more in the article. "Camera orientation".
In this file, you need to edit the line with the camera location parameters. The line looks like this:
```
<node pkg="tf2_ros" type="static_transform_publisher" name="main_camera_frame" args="0.05 0 -0.07 -1.5707963 0 3.1415926 base_link main_camera_optical"/>
```
In the file you will find many lines similar to this, but most of them are commented out (i.e. not readable) and only one is uncommented. These are pre-configured settings from which you can choose the one you need.
Comment in XML is  at the end of a line. An example of a commented line:
```

```
An example of an uncommented line (the line will be read by the program):
```
<node pkg="tf2_ros" type="static_transform_publisher" name="main_camera_frame" args="0.05 0 -0.07 -1.5707963 0 3.1415926 base_link main_camera_optical"/>
```
The writing above each of these lines indicates which camera position the line corresponds to. If the camera cable goes forward relative to the drone, and the camera is pointing down, you need to select the following setting:
```

```
To select the desired setting, you need to uncomment the corresponding line, and comment out another similar line so that there are no conflicts.
Save changes. Press sequentially:
```
Ctrl+x; y; Enter
```
Restart the clover service:
```
sudo systemctl restart clover
```

Setting the flight controller

Flash the flight controller with modified firmware. You can download it here in the section "Flashing the flight controller".
Instructions for flashing and calibrating the flight controller are in the same article.

WARNING

Don't forget to choose the downloaded firmware when you flash the flight controller.

Connecting the flight controller with Raspberry Pi

Connect the Raspberry Pi and the Pixracer via the microUSB cable. The cable should be tightly fastened and passed through the bottom of the drone to not get into the propellers.
Connect remotely to the flight controller through QGroundControl.
All the necessary settings for that are already set in Clover. Now you need to create a new connection in QGroundControl. Use the settings from this article.

Remote controller setup

Flight modes setup is described in the article "Flight modes".
Set channel 5 to SwC switch; channel 5 to SwA switch. Or you can use any other switches you like.

Clover selfcheck

Perform selfcheck when you have set up your drone or when you have faced problems. The selfcheck process is described in the article "Automated self checks"

Run the command:
```
rosrun clover selfcheck.py
```

Writing a program

The article "Simple OFFBOARD" describes working with simple_offboard module that helps to easily program a drone. All the basic flight functions are described in this article, as well as code snippets.

Copy the Python code example from "The use of Python language" section and paste in code editor (e.g. Visual Studio Code, PyCharm, Sublime Text, Notepad++)
Save the document with .py extension for highlighting the code.
Add flight logic. The examples of such functions are given in the article. You need to call functions for taking off, flying to point and landing.
Taking off.
Use navigate function to take off. Add this line at the bottom of the program.
```
navigate(x=0, y=0, z=1.5, speed=0.5, frame_id='body', auto_arm=True)
```
Add this line to add delay to the program. It gives you time for doing previously called operation.
```
rospy.sleep(3)
```

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It is important to allocate time to execute the navigate function, otherwise the drone, without waiting for the previous command to execute, will immediately proceed to the next. For allocating time, use the rospy.sleep () command. The time in seconds is indicated in parentheses. The function rospy.sleep () refers to the previous navigate command, and not to the next. This is the time we give to fly to the point indicated in previous navigate (the one that is just above the rospy.sleep () ).

Set the drone's position in the marker field coordinate system.
For doing that you need to call a navigate, set the coordinates and coordinate system (frame_id):
```
navigate(x=1, y=1, z=1.5, speed=1, frame_id='aruco_map')
```
As the result you get:
```
navigate(x=0, y=0, z=1.5, speed=0.5, frame_id='body', auto_arm=True)
rospy.sleep(3)
navigate(x=1, y=1, z=1.5, speed=1, frame_id='aruco_map')
rospy.sleep(5)
```
Warning Note that the parameter auto_arm=True is only set once on the first takeoff. In other cases it should not be set True because it prevents overtaking the control.
If you want to add other points for the drone's mission, add another navigate and rospy.sleep(). Calculate time individually for each point, depending on the speed of flight and the distance between two points.
If you want to add the points with coordinates (3, 3, 1.5):
```
navigate(x=3, y=3, z=1.5, speed=1, frame_id=‘aruco_map’)
rospy.sleep(3)
```
Warning Coordinates should not exceed the size of your field. If the field is 4x4 meters in size, the maximum coordinate value is 4.
After reaching all of the points you need to land. The following line is placed at the end of the program:
```
land()
```

Writing the program to the drone

The easiest way to send the program is to copy the content of the program, create a new file in the command line and paste the program text into the file.

To create the file myprogram.py, run the command:
```
nano myprogram.py
```
You can select any name you want, but it is not recommended to use spaces and special characters. In addition, the program extension should always end with .py
Paste text in the input field. If you use Butterfly web access on Windows or Linux:
```
Ctrl+Shift+V
```
On Mac you can click Cmd+v.
Save the file:
```
Ctrl+x; Y; Enter
```

Starting the program

It is necessary to carefully prepare the drone, remote control and program before you fly autonomously. Run selfcheck.py. Make sure the drone flies well in manual mode.
Turn on the drone and wait for the system to boot. A red light on the camera means that the system has booted.
Check drone's flight in POSCTL mode.
To do this, take off above the markers in STABILIZED mode and turn the SwC switch (or the one you have set) to the lower position - POSCTL mode.
Warning You need to be ready to immediately switch back to STABILIZED mode if the drone gets out of control!
Set the left stick (throttle) to the middle position. The drone has to hover in place. If so, you can land the drone and proceed to the next step. If not, you need to find the reason for the problem.
Before you start your program, set the SwC switch to the middle position. It will help you to take control of the drone. For taking control, switch your mode switch (SwC by default) to any other flight mode.
Set the left stick (throttle) to the middle position so that in case of taking control the drone won't fall down.
Run the program:
```
python3 my_program.py
```
Warning After completion of the program , the drone can land incorrectly and continue to fly over the floor. In this case, you need to intercept control.
If you want to stop the program before it ends, press Ctrl+C. If didn't work, press Ctrl+Z, but it is not recommended.

# Step-by-step guide on autonomous flight with Clover 4

# Raspberry Pi initial setup

# Basic commands

# Setting Raspberry Pi for autonomous flight

# Setting the flight controller

# Connecting the flight controller with Raspberry Pi

# Remote controller setup

# Clover selfcheck

# Writing a program

# Writing the program to the drone

# Starting the program