CoDrone EDU Python - Configuration Practices

Power Configuration

Optimal Power Levels

Configure power levels based on your environment and flight requirements.

# Indoor flight configuration
INDOOR_POWER = 25  # Lower power for indoor safety
INDOOR_DURATION = 0.8  # Shorter duration for precision

# Outdoor flight configuration
OUTDOOR_POWER = 40  # Higher power for outdoor
OUTDOOR_DURATION = 1.2  # Longer duration for distance

# Use configuration
drone.go("forward", INDOOR_POWER, INDOOR_DURATION)

💡 Configuration Tip

Create separate configuration profiles for different environments (indoor, outdoor, testing) to easily switch between them.

Power Level Ranges

Recommended power level ranges for different operations:

Hovering: 0% (automatic)
Precise movements: 20-30%
Normal flight: 30-50%
Fast flight: 50-70%
Maximum speed: 70-100% (use with caution)

Sensor Configuration

Range Sensor Settings

Configure range sensor thresholds for obstacle avoidance.

# Range sensor configuration
SAFE_DISTANCE = 50  # cm - Safe distance from obstacles
WARNING_DISTANCE = 30  # cm - Warning threshold
CRITICAL_DISTANCE = 20  # cm - Critical, must stop

while True:
    distance = drone.get_front_range()
    if distance < CRITICAL_DISTANCE:
        drone.go("backward", 30, 1)
    elif distance < WARNING_DISTANCE:
        drone.go("right", 25, 0.5)
    elif distance > SAFE_DISTANCE:
        drone.go("forward", 30, 1)
    time.sleep(0.1)

Color Sensor Configuration

Configure color detection thresholds for reliable color recognition.

# Color sensor configuration
drone.new_color_data()

# Train colors with multiple samples
for i in range(5):
    drone.append_color_data("red")
    time.sleep(0.5)

# Use trained colors
color = drone.predict_colors()
if color == "red":
    drone.go("right", 30, 1)

✅ Best Practice

Train color sensors with multiple samples in different lighting conditions for better accuracy.

Flight Configuration

Hover Timing Configuration

Configure hover times for different flight scenarios.

# Hover timing configuration
STABILIZATION_HOVER = 2  # Seconds after takeoff
BETWEEN_MOVES_HOVER = 0.5  # Seconds between movements
BEFORE_LAND_HOVER = 1  # Seconds before landing

drone.takeoff()
drone.hover(STABILIZATION_HOVER)
drone.go("forward", 30, 1)
drone.hover(BETWEEN_MOVES_HOVER)
drone.hover(BEFORE_LAND_HOVER)
drone.land()

Trim Configuration

Configure trim values to compensate for drone imbalance.

# Get current trim values
trim_values = drone.get_trim()
print(f"Current trim: Pitch={trim_values[0]}, Roll={trim_values[1]}, Yaw={trim_values[2]}")

# Adjust trim if needed (example: drone drifts right)
# drone.set_trim(pitch=0, roll=-5, yaw=0)  # Negative roll to compensate right drift

# Reset trim to default
# drone.reset_trim()

⚠️ Important

Only adjust trim if the drone consistently drifts in one direction. Test thoroughly before using trim values in production code.

LED Configuration

LED Color Configuration

Configure LED colors for visual feedback and status indication.

# LED color configuration
LED_RED = (255, 0, 0)
LED_GREEN = (0, 255, 0)
LED_BLUE = (0, 0, 255)
LED_BRIGHTNESS = 100

# Status indicators
def set_status_led(status):
    if status == "ready":
        drone.set_drone_LED(*LED_GREEN, LED_BRIGHTNESS)
    elif status == "warning":
        drone.set_drone_LED(*LED_RED, LED_BRIGHTNESS)
    elif status == "active":
        drone.set_drone_LED(*LED_BLUE, LED_BRIGHTNESS)

set_status_led("ready")

Connection Configuration

Port Configuration

Configure USB port settings for reliable connections.

# Platform-specific port configuration
import platform

def get_default_port():
    system = platform.system()
    if system == "Windows":
        return "COM3"  # Adjust based on your system
    elif system == "Linux" or system == "Darwin":
        return "/dev/ttyUSB0"  # Adjust based on your system
    return None

port = get_default_port()
if port:
    drone.pair(port)
else:
    drone.pair()  # Auto-detect

Connection Timeout Configuration

Configure timeouts for connection attempts.

# Connection configuration with retry
MAX_RETRIES = 3
RETRY_DELAY = 2  # seconds

for attempt in range(MAX_RETRIES):
    try:
        drone.pair()
        if drone.get_flight_state() == "connected":
            print("Connected successfully")
            break
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Attempt {attempt + 1} failed: {e}")
        if attempt < MAX_RETRIES - 1:
            time.sleep(RETRY_DELAY)

Complete Configuration Example

Full Configuration Template

A complete configuration template for CoDrone EDU projects.

from codrone_edu.drone import *
import time

# ============================================
# CODRONE EDU CONFIGURATION
# ============================================

# Flight Configuration
FLIGHT_MODE = "indoor"  # "indoor" or "outdoor"

if FLIGHT_MODE == "indoor":
    POWER_LEVEL = 25
    DURATION = 0.8
    HOVER_TIME = 0.5
else:
    POWER_LEVEL = 40
    DURATION = 1.2
    HOVER_TIME = 0.8

# Sensor Configuration
SAFE_DISTANCE = 50
WARNING_DISTANCE = 30
CRITICAL_DISTANCE = 20

# LED Configuration
LED_BRIGHTNESS = 100
LED_READY = (0, 255, 0)
LED_WARNING = (255, 165, 0)
LED_ERROR = (255, 0, 0)

# Connection Configuration
USB_PORT = None  # Set to specific port if needed
CONNECTION_RETRIES = 3

# ============================================
# MAIN PROGRAM
# ============================================

drone = Drone()

try:
    # Connect
    if USB_PORT:
        drone.pair(USB_PORT)
    else:
        drone.pair()
    
    # Set status LED
    drone.set_drone_LED(*LED_READY, LED_BRIGHTNESS)
    
    # Flight sequence
    drone.takeoff()
    drone.hover(2)
    
    # Use configured values
    drone.go("forward", POWER_LEVEL, DURATION)
    drone.hover(HOVER_TIME)
    
    drone.hover(1)
    drone.land()
    
except Exception as e:
    print(f"Error: {e}")
    drone.set_drone_LED(*LED_ERROR, LED_BRIGHTNESS)
finally:
    drone.close()

✅ Configuration Template

This template provides a complete configuration structure that you can customize for your specific project needs.

Configuration Tips

Environment-Based Configuration

Use different configurations for different environments.

# Configuration profiles
CONFIGS = {{
    "testing": {{
        "power": 20,
        "duration": 0.5,
        "hover": 0.3
    }},
    "indoor": {{
        "power": 25,
        "duration": 0.8,
        "hover": 0.5
    }},
    "outdoor": {{
        "power": 40,
        "duration": 1.2,
        "hover": 0.8
    }}
}}

# Select configuration
config = CONFIGS["indoor"]
drone.go("forward", config["power"], config["duration"])

Configuration Validation

Validate configuration values before use.

def validate_config(power, duration):
    if not (0 <= power <= 100):
        raise ValueError("Power must be between 0 and 100")
    if duration <= 0:
        raise ValueError("Duration must be positive")
    return True

# Use validation
validate_config(POWER_LEVEL, DURATION)

Summary

✅ Configuration Best Practices

Use constants for all configuration values
Create environment-specific configurations
Validate configuration values before use
Document configuration options clearly
Use configuration profiles for different scenarios
Test configurations in safe environments
Keep configuration at the top of your code
Use meaningful variable names for configurations

← Main Documentation | ← Best Practices | Version: 2.6 | Last Updated: 2024

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