V4.6.0 Beta 4 - Obvious problems with Passthrough and AM32 ESC

[robustini]

Before opening this issue, I consulted with Alka, the AM32 developer, and we cross-tested different FCs and ESCs.
From my tests, I ascertained that @andyp1per solved the problem of incorrect requests with PR #29056 but unfortunately the flash of the ESC firmware does not work, it randomly stops, often around 50% of the process with the AM32 online configurator, and with offline you are able to flash infrequently.
In the same hardware I have installed INAV V8 and have repeatedly reflashed the firmware without the slightest hesitation, always successful the first time.
So I think the passthrough on this thing continues to have unresolved problems.
My bench tests:

FC: Matek H743-WLITE (MATEKH743 target)
AM32 firmware: V2.7.1 and V3.04 Experimental
ESC: SEQURE SQESC 2670 (SEQURE G071 target)
Ardupilot: Plane V4.6.0 Beta 4

I have not been able to carry out tests with other ESCs and BLHeli32 because obviously firmware flashing is no longer possible.
I experienced the same problem with SpeedyBee F405 WING FC and FlyColor Raptor 5 ESC, so it is not a problem of FC or ESC type but Ardupilot firmware side since INAV V8 does not fail a reflash.
It seems absurd to me that in order to flash ESCs I have to switch from Ardupilot to INAV or Betaflight, with all the steps involved, but still it is a working method in FCs that support it.

[AlkaMotors]

The exact same issue happens flashing a blheli_s esc and esc-configurator. The fc hangs and reboots most of the time when flashing.

Tried pixhawk 6c with 4.4.0 and 4.5.7 and 4.6.0.

https://youtu.be/Ray2ItYVSac?si=EjjqjjoAAt7FGkDu

[rmackay9]

Just a side note that this is the PWM pass through method of updating the ESC firmware? The DroneCAN method does work and it is documented here on the AP wiki.

[robustini]

Just a side note that this is the PWM pass through method of updating the ESC firmware? The DroneCAN method does work and it is documented here on the AP wiki.

Thanks Randy for the report, here we are talking about ESC without DroneCAN.

[dmokel]

Hi, I also encountered this problem. I made a DShot AM32 ESC, which does not introduce DroneCAN, I can easily use betaflight's pass through to read and write the configuration of the AM32 ESC, but after I configured the Ardupilot parameters according to the instructions of the Ardupilot Wiki, I still cannot read and write the parameters of the AM32 ESC through AM32.ca, ESC_Config_Tool, BLHeliSuite32_32.10.0.0, and ESC Configurator. So I also think that Ardupilot still has problems with th support for AM32 Pass through.

[rmackay9]

@dmokel @robustini,

Thanks for he report, I've added this to the 4.6 issues list (see link above)

[boa-pe]

Today, using fresh build from commit :

commit 1afb8d7859a884e7b2b5bcd62ebb7a66fc3bac90 (HEAD -> ArduPilot-4.6, origin/ArduPilot-4.6), target: MatekH743-bdshot

on Matek H743-SLIM and Skystars AM60 II web config tool works fine with pass-through - updates configuration and ESC firmware update 2.16 => 2.17 without any isues without CAN.

[robustini]

Today, using fresh build from commit :

commit 1afb8d7859a884e7b2b5bcd62ebb7a66fc3bac90 (HEAD -> ArduPilot-4.6, origin/ArduPilot-4.6), target: MatekH743-bdshot

on Matek H743-SLIM and Skystars AM60 II web config tool works fine with pass-through - updates configuration and ESC firmware update 2.16 => 2.17 without any isues without CAN.

Thanks for the feedback but this is an isolated case, the problem is known and there is an attempted fix in the works.
The firmware to the commit you tested already has a partial attempt at a fix but does not work well in all cases.

[robustini]

Fixed with #29590.