When to Run Hardware Setup
This section describes scenarios when you need to run the hardware setup process for ArduPilot, either with physical hardware or using SITL/host targets in MATLAB. Running the hardware setup process ensures that your development environment, firmware, and toolchains are correctly configured for seamless communication and deployment.
Hardware Setup
| Scenario | Run Hardware Setup? | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| First-time Setup | Yes | Required to set up firmware, toolchain, and initial configuration. |
| Switching vehicle type. For example, ArduCopter to ArduPlane, or vice versa. | Yes | Different vehicle types need different firmware and configuration. |
| Switching to a different board, or switching to a different configuration of the same board. For example, replacing one Pixhawk board with another for ArduCopter. | No | Not required. However, the first build in Simulink for the new board might take longer. |
Running the hardware setup process at the appropriate times helps prevent issues related to firmware mismatches, missing toolchains, or incompatible configurations, and ensures a smooth workflow for developing and testing your algorithms with ArduPilot hardware or SITL targets.
