OnlineHelp: Uploader Plugin

The uploader plugin in used to flash firmware onto boards. It can also reboot the board after settings changes.

There are three techniques, which finish up the same way, but the Automatic & Halt methods are more user-friendly whereas the Rescue method will even work with boards stuck in a reboot loop due to invalid settings (non booting board).

Automatic method

• see http://dronin.org/docs/initial-setup/upgrading-an-existing-flight-controller/

Halt method

• Start GCS
• Switch to Firmware tab
• Plug the board into USB
• Wait for telemetry connection to establish, a picture of the board will appear when this is complete
• Press the Halt button
• Wait until the GCS shows that bootloader has been found
• Click Open... button
• Choose the appropriate firmware. dRonin firmwares are prefaced by fw_ and end with .tlfw. For instance, if you are flashing the FlyingF3, this will be in firmware/fw_flyingf3.tlfw.
• Click on Flash button
• Once flashing is completed, power cycle or click the Boot button

Rescue method

• Start the GCS
• Switch to Firmware tab
• Disconnect the flightcontroller and remove any source of power so as to be sure to "power-cycle" the board.
• Press the Rescue button
• While the green progress bar moves, connect the flight controller to the USB port
• The blue led should now be constantly on.
• The GCS should now show that the board is connected
• Click Open... button
• Choose the appropriate firmware. dRonin firmwares are prefaced by fw_ and end with .tlfw. For instance, if you are flashing the FlyingF3, this will be in firmware/fw_flyingf3.tlfw.
• Click on Flash button
• Once flashing is completed, power-cycle or click the Boot button

You're done, GCS should now be showing data from the board.

To erase board settings:

• Under Partition Browser right click settings, choose Erase
• Click Boot

Note: The STM32F3Discovery board has 2 onboard mini-usb connectors. The USB connector marked USB USER is used to connect the board to the Ground Control Software (GCS).

Specific instructions for bootloader : User Guide: Updating The Bootloader