ESC Calibration

Usually ESCs do not need calibration, in particular when the all digital DSHOT protocol is used. Only perform an ESC calibration if motors did not spool up smoothly during bench testing.

Ensure that the ESCs support calibration: some ESCs, such as the T-Motor Alpha, don't support calibration and they need specific setup for minimum and maximum PWM.

The procedure below assumes that the Dynamic Control Allocation is enabled in PX4.

Wiring for ESC calibration

ESC calibration is typically done by sending the highest signal to the ESCs in the moment they are powered on, followed by the lowest signal. This method therefore requires that Skynode and the ESCs can be powered separately, as Skynode needs to be already running when the ESCs are powered on.

ESC calibration procedure with Dynamic Control Allocation

Warning: always remove propellers before starting an ESC calibration.

1. Connect the first power module to power input 1 (PWR1) of Skynode. Make sure the ESCs are not connected to the power module.

2. Provide power to the power input 1 through the power module. The ESC remain unpowered

3. Connect AMC

4. Enable AMC Advanced Mode

5. Navigate to Vehicle Setup - Actuators

6. Set the Disarmed value of the channels you need to calibrate to the minimum PWM value (usually 1000 us)

7. Enable the Sliders

8. Set the proper slider (or all of them) to the max value

9. Connect the ESCs to the power module.

10. Wait a couple of seconds

11. Set the proper slider (or all of them) back to the initial position.

12. Wait until the ESCs finish beeping.

13. Set the Disarmed value of the channels back to the previous value (usually 900 us)