APM 2.5 Versus 2.6
Depending on how you sourced the parts for your
build, you are likely to end up with one of two dier-
ent versions of the APM flight controller. There are a
few subtle dierences between the two, but the
main thing we are concerned with is the compass.
The APM 2.5 used an internal compass while the 2.6
switched to an external compass that is bundled
inside the GPS housing. This allowed the sensor to
be removed from the inside of the APM housing and
placed in a much more suitable environment (mag-
netically speaking) such as the GPS enclosure. If you
have an APM 2.5, don’t fret! There is a fairly simple
way to disable the internal compass and take advan-
tage of the newer external units.
Battery Monitor
Another small but very important accessory in our build is the
battery monitor (also called the power module in some circles).
While some other
flight controllers have some form of battery
monitoring built in by default—such as an internal power mod-
ule—APM allows you to add it as an optional sensor. Although
it’s optional, we highly recommend that you add one to your air-
craft (see Figure 5-2). It provides some of the most important
data you could ask for and generally comes with most APMs as
part of the basic bundle (depending where you buy it from).
GPS, Compass, and Battery Monitor 95
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