FlySpark logo
FlySpark logoFlySparkINAV setup guidesUpdated

Stay on the line

Path tracking and soaring is how an INAV plane stays on the line between waypoints, how it takes the corner, and how much pitch it may use while soaring.

Track accuracy starts at 0, which leaves the pull back onto the line off. Smooth waypoint turns starts on Off, so the path reaches the point. On rounds that corner. On, cut corners turns early and stays inside it.

A plane, boat, rover or other platform shows the card. A multirotor, tricopter or helicopter hides it. If the firmware has no platform list, the card is shown. The Mission tab is where you place the waypoints. This card does not move them.

Free. Hardware connections need Chrome or Edge on a computer; phones use the FlySpark app.

  • Free
  • Nothing to install
  • Demo without hardware

In short

The Path tracking and soaring card keeps an INAV plane on the line between waypoints. Accuracy starts at 0, which leaves tracking off, and Cut turns early inside the waypoint. A multirotor hides the card.

Key facts

  • Path tracking and soaring is on INAV Advanced nav, for a plane, boat, rover or other platform. A multirotor hides it.
  • Track accuracy is 0 to 10 m. The demo starts at 0, and 0 turns the pull back onto the line off.
  • Steepest correction angle is 30 to 80 degrees. The demo starts at 60.
  • Smooth waypoint turns starts on Off. The other choices are On, and On, cut corners.
  • The hint says Cut turns early, inside the waypoint.
  • Motor off while soaring starts off. Soaring pitch freedom is 0 to 15 degrees, and the demo starts at 5.
  • The Mission tab places the waypoints. This card is the line between them and the corner.
  • Chrome or Edge uses USB or Bluetooth. iPhone has no USB host.
  • Betaflight logoBetaflight
  • INAV logoINAV
  • ArduPilot logoArduPilot
  • PX4 logoPX4
  • BLHeli_S
  • Bluejay logoBluejay
  • AM32 logoAM32
  • ExpressLRS logoExpressLRS
  • EdgeTX logoEdgeTX
  • DroneCAN logoDroneCAN
  • MAVLink logoMAVLink

Try it

Round the corner

Accuracy 0 leaves the plane off the line. Off reaches the point, On rounds it, and Cut turns inside.

Tracking off

FlySpark

Features

  • 01

    Accuracy starts off

    Track accuracy is 0 to 10 m. The demo is 0. The hint says 0 turns off the pull back onto the line between waypoints.

  • 02

    A 60 degree correction

    Steepest correction angle is 30 to 80 degrees. The demo starts at 60.

  • 03

    Turns start sharp

    Smooth waypoint turns starts on Off. On rounds the corner. On, cut corners is the third choice.

  • 04

    Cut stays inside

    The hint says Cut turns early, inside the waypoint. The picture on this page shows that corner missing the point.

  • 05

    The motor stays on

    Motor off while soaring starts off, so soaring does not stop the motor until you turn that switch on.

  • 06

    5 degrees of pitch

    Soaring pitch freedom is 0 to 15 degrees. The demo starts at 5. That is the pitch range while riding lift.

Back onto the line

Track accuracy is a whole number of metres, from 0 to 10. The demo starts at 0. The hint says it pulls the plane back onto the line between waypoints, and that 0 turns that pull off. Any other value on this field turns the pull on. The picture uses that rule: at 0 the plane sits off the line, and from 1 m upward it sits on the path.

Steepest correction angle is 30 to 80 degrees, and the demo starts at 60. It is the steepest angle the correction toward the line is allowed to use. It is not the cruise turn rate on the Fixed-wing flight card, and it is not a bank limit from the Navigation tab.

The picture is the demo rule, not a plot of the firmware curve. Moving accuracy does not write the board. Saving the field does that in the configurator.

The corner

Smooth waypoint turns has three choices, and the demo starts on Off. Off draws the path through the waypoint, with a sharp corner on the point. On rounds that same corner, and the path still reaches the point.

On, cut corners is the one the hint describes: Cut turns early, inside the waypoint. The path leaves the line before the point and never reaches it. The picture shows that as a bend that stays inside the dot.

Place the waypoints on the Mission tab. This card only changes how the plane flies the line and the corner that are already in the plan. A jump, a hold and a land action are mission settings, not fields on this card.

Off is the right starting choice when you want to see the plane arrive at the point. Use On when a sharp corner is tossing the wing. Use On, cut corners when the point sits on a tree line or a boundary and the plane should turn before it gets there. The picture on this page follows those three shapes, and it does not change the mission.

Soaring

Motor off while soaring starts off. Turn it on when a soar should stop the motor. Leave it off when the motor should keep running. The switch has no extra hint on the card.

Soaring pitch freedom is 0 to 15 degrees, and the demo starts at 5. The hint says it is the pitch range the plane may wander while riding lift. At 0 that range is closed. It is not the glide pitch on the Autoland card, which is the nose angle for the landing.

The card is drawn when the board has at least one of track accuracy, smooth waypoint turns, or motor off while soaring.

Where you set it

Open Advanced nav on an INAV plane and find Path tracking and soaring. Chrome or Edge connects over USB or Bluetooth. Android adds Wi-Fi. iPhone uses Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and has no USB host.

Leave the prop clear of hands while you only change numbers. The first check of a new corner is still a flight, with room to go around if the turn starts earlier than you expected.

FlySpark

Set the line and the corner

  1. Open the card

    On an INAV plane, open Advanced nav and find Path tracking and soaring. A multirotor does not show it.

  2. Turn tracking on

    Track accuracy starts at 0, which leaves the pull onto the line off. Set it above 0 to turn that pull on.

  3. Pick the corner

    Smooth waypoint turns starts on Off. Choose On to round the point, or On, cut corners to turn inside it.

  4. Leave the motor

    Motor off while soaring starts off. Soaring pitch freedom starts at 5 degrees.

Troubleshooting

Common problems and fixes

  • Problem

    The card is missing

    Fix

    The platform is a multirotor, tricopter or helicopter, or the board has none of track accuracy, smooth turns, or motor off while soaring. A plane shows it. No platform list also shows it.

  • Problem

    The plane is not pulled onto the line

    Fix

    Track accuracy starts at 0, and 0 turns that pull off. Set it from 1 to 10 m.

  • Problem

    The plane flies past the waypoint

    Fix

    Smooth waypoint turns is on Off, so the path reaches the point. On, cut corners turns early and stays inside it.

  • Problem

    Soaring does not stop the motor

    Fix

    Motor off while soaring starts off. Turn the switch on. Pitch freedom only sets the pitch range while riding lift, and it starts at 5 degrees.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is INAV path tracking?

The pull back onto the line between waypoints, plus how the plane takes the corner. Accuracy starts at 0, which leaves the pull off.

What does accuracy 0 do?

It turns the pull off. The field is 0 to 10 m. From 1 m upward the pull is on.

What is the steepest correction?

30 to 80 degrees. The demo starts at 60. It is the steepest angle used to correct back toward the line.

How do the three turn choices differ?

Off reaches the point with a sharp corner. On rounds that corner and still reaches the point. On, cut corners turns early and stays inside it.

What does Cut mean?

The hint says Cut turns early, inside the waypoint. The path does not have to reach the point.

Does this place the waypoints?

No. The Mission tab places them. This card is the line between them and the shape of the corner.

Does soaring stop the motor?

Only after you turn Motor off while soaring on. The demo leaves that switch off.

How much pitch can soaring use?

Soaring pitch freedom is 0 to 15 degrees. The demo starts at 5, which is the range the plane may wander while riding lift.

Does a quad have this card?

No. A multirotor, tricopter or helicopter hides it. A plane, boat, rover or other platform shows it.

Can I set this in Chrome?

Yes, on INAV. Chrome or Edge uses USB or Bluetooth. Android adds Wi-Fi. iPhone uses Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and has no USB host.

References

Sources

The official documentation behind the background facts on this page.

  1. INAV WikiINAV on GitHub · github.com
  2. INAV ConfiguratorINAV on GitHub · github.com
  3. Betaflight WikiBetaflight · betaflight.com

Tools

See every FlySpark tool

  • 01FlySpark logo

    FlySpark

    Nose up, more power

    Set INAV pitch to throttle on a plane in auto flight. The demo adds 10 µs per degree of nose-up, and ignores a pitch change under 5 degrees of pitch.

    Learn more
  • 04FlySpark logo

    FlySpark

    Glide, then flare

    Set the INAV fixed-wing autoland for a plane. The demo starts the glide at 15 m and the flare at 2 m, on a 350 m final approach into the wind.

    Learn more
  • 05FlySpark logo

    FlySpark

    INAV servos

    Set INAV servo minimum, centre, maximum, rate and reverse in FlySpark, plus protocol, update rate, centre pulse, filter, flaperon throw and autotrim.

    Learn more

Ready to try it?

Free. Hardware connections need Chrome or Edge on a computer; phones use the FlySpark app.