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Quickstart

This page gets you from unboxed board to a flying vehicle as quickly as possible.

What You Need​

  • 305ap flight controller
  • MicroSD card (Class 10 or faster, 32 GB or smaller recommended)
  • USB-C cable
  • QGroundControl installed on your PC
  • GPS module (connects to USART6 + I2C4)
  • RC receiver (see RC Setup)
  • ESCs connected to PWM outputs 1–8

Step 1 — Insert SD Card​

The 305ap stores parameters, logs, and mission data on the SD card. Insert the card before powering up for the first time. Parameters will not persist across reboots without a card.

Step 2 — Install Firmware​

The 305ap runs PX4 built from the avian automata PX4 fork. The board isn't part of upstream PX4, so QGroundControl's built-in PX4 Flight Stack download has no firmware for it; install a .px4 file instead.

Boards ship with the PX4 bootloader and a current firmware release already installed, so a new board can skip to Step 3. Install firmware when updating to a newer release or returning to a release after testing a custom build.

Releases are named avianautomata_305ap_default_<date>.px4 and are available from avian automata (download location to be announced). See the Changelog for what each release changes, and Flashing for other firmware files and install methods.

  1. Unplug the battery and USB, and close any other program using the board.
  2. Open QGroundControl and go to Vehicle Setup → Firmware.
  3. Plug in USB. QGroundControl catches the bootloader during its 5 second window at power-up.
  4. Select PX4 Flight Stack, tick Advanced settings, and choose Custom firmware file... from the drop-down.
  5. Click OK and pick the .px4 file.
  6. Wait for the upload to finish. The board reboots into the new firmware.
tip

The bootloader only listens for 5 seconds after power-up, so plugging in USB must be what powers the board. Keep the battery unplugged.

Parameters are kept on the SD card, so updating firmware does not reset your configuration. After a major update, check Vehicle Setup for new warnings. Vehicle Setup → Summary shows the installed version.

If the board doesn't show up in QGroundControl at all, see Flashing.

Step 3 — Connect GPS​

Plug your GPS module into the GPS connector. This port provides:

  • USART6 (ttyS5) for NMEA/UBX serial data
  • I2C4 for compass (if your GPS module includes one)

Step 4 — Connect RC Receiver​

See RC Setup for receiver wiring options. SBUS and CRSF are both supported.

Step 5 — QGroundControl Setup​

Follow the QGC vehicle setup wizard:

  1. Airframe: select your vehicle type and frame
  2. Sensors: calibrate accelerometer, gyro, compass, and level
  3. Radio: calibrate RC channels
  4. Flight Modes: assign switches
  5. Power: configure battery cell count and voltage divider
No safety switch

The 305ap has no hardware safety switch. PX4 will arm via the RC stick command or GCS arm button only. Ensure props are clear before arming.

Step 6 — Pre-Flight Check​

  • SD card inserted and detected (check QGC status bar)
  • GPS lock acquired (green LED)
  • No red error flags in QGC
  • RC link active and calibrated
  • ESC direction confirmed on bench (no props)

After passing the checklist, the vehicle is ready to fly.