Understanding COM Ports on ArduPilot Boards
ArduPilot boards, such as the Cube Orange Plus, use multiple COM ports to handle different stages of firmware uploading and communication. Knowing how to identify and select the correct port is essential for a smooth setup and reliable operation.
When you connect your ArduPilot board to the computer, it will create two different COM ports at different stages of the setup process.
Bootloader COM Port: Used for uploading firmware. This port appears briefly when the board is first connected.
Main Communication COM Port: Used for MAVLink communication and Monitor & Tune simulation. This port appears after the firmware boots.
Example:
After connecting a Cube Orange Plus:
Bootloader Port for example,
ArduPilot (COM6)appears first in Device Manager.
Use this port for firmware upload.
After a few seconds, the main communication port, for example
ArduPilot MAVLINK COM5appears.
Use this port for MAVLink and simulation.
Why is This Important?
If you select the wrong COM port (for example, using the communication port instead of the bootloader port for firmware upload), the upload will fail.
Always verify and set the correct ports for both actions.
See Also
Manually Set COM Port for Uploading and Communication | Deploy Simulink Models on Unsupported ArduPilot Autopilots
