Manta Controller Parameter Manager

This script is designed for managing parameters of Manta50 and Manta100 controllers via the DroneCAN interface. It allows users to read and write parameters, change Node ID, telemetry rate, CAN speed, and other settings.

Requirements

• Python 3.x
• Libraries: dronecan, argparse, json

Setup

1. Ensure the CAN interface (can0) is configured and active.

2. Connect your Manta controller (Manta50 or Manta100) to the CAN network.

3. Install the required Python dependencies:

   pip install dronecan argparse json

Usage

The script supports two modes:

• Reading parameters (read, default mode): Reads all controller parameters and saves them to a JSON file.
• Writing parameters (write): Sends settings to the controller.

Note: In write mode, the --esc_index argument is required. The --node_id argument is optional if only one controller is connected to the CAN network. If there are multiple controllers on the network, specify --node_id to select the desired node.

Command-Line Arguments

Argument	Description
--mode	Operation mode: read for reading parameters (default), write for writing parameters.
--node_id	Current Node ID of the controller. Optional if there is only one controller in the network.
--set_node_id	New Node ID to be written to the controller’s parameters.
--esc_index	ESC index (required in write mode).
--filename	Filename to save/load parameters, e.g., manta_params.json.

Usage Examples

Reading Parameters

To retrieve the current parameters of the controller and save them to a JSON file:

python param_to_file.py --filename manta_params.json

This will print the node's parameters to the console and save them in manta_params.json. If multiple controllers are connected, specify --node_id to select the correct node.

Writing Parameters

Use write mode to modify controller parameters. The --esc_index argument is mandatory in write mode.

1. Changing Node ID:

   python param_to_file.py --mode write --esc_index 0 --set_node_id 1

   Here, --esc_index specifies the ESC index, and --set_node_id is the new Node ID to be written to the controller.

2. Writing parameters from a file:

   python param_to_file.py --mode write --esc_index 0 --set_node_id 1 --filename manta_params.json

   This loads parameters from manta_params.json and sends them to the controller.

Script Functionality

1. read Mode: Reads and saves the controller's parameters to a JSON file. Useful for backing up parameters before making changes.
2. write Mode: Sends new parameters to the controller using values from a JSON file or command-line arguments. The script restarts the node to apply the changes.

Notes

• If --node_id is not specified, the script will try to determine it from the only available node on the CAN network.
• Both --node_id and --esc_index are required if multiple controllers are connected to the network.