Log files and powerusage info

Hi
I would like to get information about power usage during a dive.
Is this possible through the log files?
Im looking to calculate the power consumption during a dive and are using a topside powered system so its not as easy as looking at battery state of charge.

So if anyone has some good info it would be really helpfull!

  • Rune

Hi @rune,

Assuming you have a power sense module (or equivalent) installed, and the firmware configured to read it:

the autopilot provides an estimate in the energy_consumed field of the BATTERY_STATUS MAVLink messages sent by the vehicle (which should be recorded in the telemetry logs).

Note that the power received by the vehicle is subject to the losses through the cables and voltage conversion before it reaches the vehicle (discussed a bit here), so if you’re wanting to measure power taken from the topside supply then you’ll either need to scale up the vehicle’s estimate, or actively monitor and measure power usage at the topside.