Simulink Support Package for Parrot Drones (Bebop 2)

Hi,

I want to be able to change the control algorithm in the Parrot Bebop 2 using Matlab. Being a bachelor student, I know some features of the Matlab software, but do not master Matlab. I wondered if it was possible, by modifying certain parameters of the Quadcopter project, to deploy code by bluetooth/wifi to the Parrot Bebop 2 drone. I know the Quadcopter project is only compatible with Mambo and Rolling Spider minidrones, but I was wandering if I could tweak it a little bit (without rewritting the entire code) to make it work with Parrot Bebop 2. I know that the Parrot Bebop 2 drone doesn't have the same physical characteritics but I was wandering if it could work. I want to do an end-of-Bachelor project with this drone, by reprogramming its control algorithms but it needs more power than a mindrone.I want to know if i could to that with the drone before buying it, it's not cheap!

In brief, is there anything, an existing project, a matlab support, toolboxes that can help me change the control algorithm via Matlab and Simulink in the Parrot Bebop2?

If nothing of all I'm saying can work, can you tell me if there is doccumentation (videos, tutorials...) that can help me achieve just that (creating a Simulink Support Package for Parrot Drones (Bebop 2 or even Anafi model))

PS: I have Matlab 2019a with all the necessary toolbox ( Matlab support for Parrot Drones, Parrot Minidrones Support from Simulink, Aerospace Blockset,etc)

Thanks in advance,

Charles

Answer 1

[Jayanth Yelandur Keshava]

Hi Charles,

We don't have support for Bebop2. You cannot do this, since you need a custom firmware image form Parrot. Parrot provided the custom firmware only for the Minidrones.

Regards,

Jayanth

[Ben Isaac]

Hi Jayanth,

I was wondering if there has been any further developments with the MATLAB support package for Bebop 2? Is it still not possible to modify the low-level flight controller and pwm command module? I have the MATLAB 2020a (update 4) at the time of writing this message.

Please advise.

Thank you.

Regards,

Ben

[Jayanth Yelandur Keshava]

Hi Charles,

There hasn't been any development in that area.

We support the Pixhawk hardware now with Simulink. Have a look at it. I hope this helps.

Regards.

Jayanth

[Max Ahmadi]

Hi this is weird as it clearly says on the matlab support package that Bebop 2 is supported. https://www.mathworks.com/hardware-support/parrot-drone-matlab.html

So I am gonna buy Bebop2 just so I can use SIMULINK to control it. You're saying it won't work?

[Jayanth Yelandur Keshava]

Hi Max,

What you are referring to, is the MATLAB Support Package for Parrot Drones. With this, you will able to control the drone via MATLAB. But you won't be able to deploy your custom controller onto it from Simulink. You will need to work at a higher level, where you can issue commands and the drone will follow it. But you can't access or modify the controller inside it.

Regards,

Jayanth