nodecopter-com/guides/getting_started.md

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Wow, you're finally there and ready to hack a effin' flying robot! Here's a simple way to get started.

But before we start: Make sure that you have Node.js installed.

First off, you should get the FreeFlight app for your iOS or Android device if you don't have it already.

Now connect to the drone's WiFi with your smartphone, start the FreeFlight app and make a test flight with it's Piloting feature to learn how the drone behaves. It's also a good time to check if the firmware of the drone is up to date. See setup the drones for exact instructions.

But controlling the drone with the phone is boring, let's program it! Connect to the drone's WiFi with your laptop and install the ar-drone module:

• $ npm install ar-drone

Once you've done that, save this to a file:

var arDrone = require('ar-drone');
var client = arDrone.createClient();

client.takeoff();

client
  .after(5000, function() {
    this.clockwise(0.5);
  })
  .after(3000, function() {
    this.animate('flipLeft', 15);
  })
  .after(1000, function() {
    this.stop();
    this.land();
  });

and execute it. See how your drone takes of, rotates clockwise and even does a flip! Amazing. Now you're set, go ahead and get crazy!

Help, my drone has gone wild!

If the drone doesn't react to your commands anymore, it's time to kill it before it crashes into someone's laptop. Catch the drone in flight, one hand at the top of the hull, the other one at the bottom. Now flip it over. That should do the trick.

Have a look at this video at around 14:40m to see how to do it.

All my LEDs are red and I cannot take off.

Looks like the emergency mode is in effect. To easy ways to fix this:

• disable emergency mode with the client
• Reboot the drone by removing the battery and putting it in again

My drone seems to have an altitude limit

By default the drones have an altitude limit of 3 meters. You can either configure that within the smartphone app, as the setting is remembered, or use the ar-drone library and issue the following command:

client.config('control:altitude_max', 100000);

The setting's unit is millimeters.

Replacing the battery

Being a flying robot costs energy. Watch this video to see how to replace your battery.

Further tips

• look at the many already existing modules you can use
• always build in a panic function that lands the drone safely and that you can easily use if the drone has gone wild
• use this panic function to handle exceptions and maybe even on process.exit
• We've assembled some ideas for projects, have a look!