Betaflight 4.6 is shaping as much as be some of the feature-rich updates in latest reminiscence. Though it’s nonetheless in pre-release on the time of writing, most of the new options and enhancements have already confirmed to work effectively for early adopters. Let’s break down the most important updates you possibly can count on on this model—and whether or not it’s price upgrading now.
New Options in Betaflight 4.6
Altitude Maintain, Place Maintain & Auto-Touchdown
Probably the most thrilling addition for me must be the brand new GPS-assisted flight modes, together with Place Maintain, Altitude Maintain, and Auto-Touchdown. Now, your freestyle FPV drone can hover in place with minimal drifting—just like how a DJI Mavic behaves.
This places Betaflight nearer to what iNav gives by way of GPS-assisted options, making it particularly interesting for long-range and cinematic pilots.
- Altitude Maintain & Place Maintain (https://github.com/betaflight/betaflight/pull/13975): Works with or with no magnetometer, although it is strongly recommended for higher accuracy.
- Auto-Touchdown: A brand new characteristic that helps with hands-free landings.
- GPS Rescue Enhancements: Higher altitude management and return conduct.
Ought to I write a tutorial on the best way to set this up? Let me know within the remark if there’s curiosity.
Chirp Sign Generator for Tuning
The Chirp Sign Generator is a model new tuning device that helps you tune your quad’s PID and filtering higher.
You’ll be able to assign this tuning mode to a change, and when activated, it sends stepped enter indicators (oscillations) to at least one axis at a time, first roll, then pitch, then yaw—when you can nonetheless fly usually. It begins gradual and steadily hastens, letting Betaflight see how your drone reacts at totally different speeds.
This may generate constant Blackbox information for evaluation, and can allow you to measure how the drone responds to allow them to make PID tuning extra correct.
For you as a newbie: You wouldn’t use this for on a regular basis flying—it’s extra of a diagnostic device to enhance tune high quality. But it surely’s cool to know your firmware can do automated “in-flight testing” now as a substitute of solely guide stick waggling.
Turtle Mode Enhancements
This replace makes turtle mode (flip-over-after-crash) smarter and safer—particularly for highly effective quads that are likely to over-flip or slam into the bottom when attempting to show upright.
- Controls the flip velocity so that you don’t over-rotate.
- Stops the motors mechanically as quickly as you’ve flipped upright, saving your ESCs and motors from harm.
- Allows you to immediately resume flying after a profitable flip with out doing a full disarm/re-arm, helps you recuperate quicker in races.
LED Enhancements
Two new LED upgrades:
- Adjustable LED brightness (https://github.com/betaflight/betaflight/pull/13776) – Now you can management LED strip brightness utilizing an AUX change or slider in your radio (setup in Adjustment tab within the configurator).
- New LED show modes (https://github.com/betaflight/betaflight/pull/13404) – Your LED strip can now:
- Present the variety of GPS satellites as a bar, once you get GPS lock it adjustments from crimson to inexperienced.
- Exhibits the battery share in a loading bar type. Goes from inexperienced to crimson relying on the battery stage.
- Change colour based mostly on barometer altitude.
Racing-Particular Enhancements
- Superior Feedforward Algorithm (https://github.com/betaflight/betaflight/pull/13576): A brand new rise/decay management makes quads extra responsive with out including oscillations—particularly helpful for racing.
- Launch Timer Mode (https://github.com/betaflight/betaflight/pull/14332): Mechanically begins a timer when launch mode is activated—good for time-based racing.
Cinematic & Lengthy Vary Enhancements
- Higher Filtering: Extra exact RPM and dynamic notch filter placement plus improved filter initialization. That is particularly useful for heavy builds like CineLifters that want further filtering to take care of noise. https://github.com/betaflight/betaflight/pull/14150
- Rangefinder & Optical Movement Assist: Betaflight will help rangefinders and optical movement sensors, enabling correct altitude maintain near the bottom—very best for exact indoor or low-level outside flying.
Enhanced Mounted-Wing Assist
There are a bunch of recent options added for wings, which makes Betaflight an actual contender for high-performance wing plane. I received’t go into all the small print, however a few of the new options embrace:
- S-Time period and Management Floor Compensation (https://github.com/betaflight/betaflight/pull/14010): A brand new management enter for dealing with servo throw based mostly on airspeed.
- TPA Primarily based on Airspeed: As an alternative of throttle enter, TPA (Throttle PID Attenuation) can now scale PID positive aspects based mostly on precise GPS-derived velocity. Nice for dealing with gusty winds at excessive speeds.
- Stage-Flight and Pitch Offset Changes
Different Enhancements
Betaflight 4.6 contains over 500 new options, enhancements, and bug fixes—we’ve solely scratched the floor right here. For the complete listing, try the official GitHub milestone web page:
https://github.com/betaflight/betaflight/pulls?q=ispercent3Apr+milestonepercent3A4.6
Is there something you’re enthusiastic about that I haven’t talked about? Drop it within the feedback—I’d love to listen to your ideas.
Ought to You Improve to Betaflight 4.6?
On the time of writing, Betaflight 4.6 continues to be in pre-release. Which means:
- There should be bugs.
- Some deliberate options and enhancements won’t be totally carried out.
- You’ll must arrange your flight controller from scratch—it’s not beneficial to revive your 4.5 settings as a consequence of attainable incompatibilities.
When you take pleasure in experimenting with the newest options and don’t thoughts troubleshooting, you possibly can take a look at 4.6 now—be sure to again up your current configuration first.
When you’re pleased with how 4.5 performs or wish to be protected, it’s finest to attend for the official launch.
Replace to Betaflight 4.6
Entry Newest Configurator
Each new Betaflight launch requires an up to date Configurator. You should use the most recent model for Betaflight 4.6—older variations might trigger compatibility points.
As an alternative of downloading and putting in, the best choice is to make use of the net configurator, which is already up to date to model 11.0: https://app.betaflight.com/
Notice: Betaflight 4.6 continues to be in pre-release. There could also be bugs, so proceed at your personal danger.
Backup Settings
Again up your flight controller utilizing the Presets tab earlier than updating to Betaflight 4.6. If something goes fallacious, you possibly can at all times revert to your earlier state (i.e., flash the earlier firmware then restore the preset).
Another backup technique is utilizing STM32CubeProg, which backs up your current firmware and configuration in a single file: https://oscarliang.com/backup-fc-stm32cubeprogrammer/
Flashing BF4.6
As a result of BF4.6 continues to be not formally launched but, comply with these further steps:
- Go to the firmware flasher tab.
- Allow the “Present Launch Candidates” choice, and choose “Improvement”.
- Auto-detect your flight controller goal or manually choose the right one.
- Choose the newest firmware model, on this case “4.6.0”.
- Underneath Construct Configuration, choose the options and protocols you wish to embrace in your construct. The default ought to work effective for a quad that makes use of ExpressLRS/Crossfire. If you wish to be taught extra in regards to the technique of flashing, see this detailed tutorial: https://oscarliang.com/flash-update-betaflight/. When you intent to make use of Magnetometer (compass) be sure to pick out it within the choices in any other case it received’t work.
When you encounter any points whereas flashing, discuss with my FC driver troubleshooting. One frequent downside with new flight controllers is failing to enter DFU mode: https://oscarliang.com/fc-driver-issues-flash-firmware/
Ultimate Ideas
Betaflight 4.6 delivers enhancements for each sort of pilot—whether or not you race, fly cinematic FPV, go long-range, freestyle, or fly fastened wings. Whereas it might not seriously change flight efficiency, the GPS options and utility upgrades stand out as probably the most thrilling. I can’t wait to check Betaflight 4.6 on my quads!
