This example shows how to connect to MAVLink clients, inspect the list of topics, connections, and clients, and send messages through UDP ports using the MAVLink communication protocol.

NOTE: This example requires you to install the UAV Library for Robotics System Toolbox®. Call roboticsAddons to open the Add-ons Explorer and install the library.

Connect to a MAVLink client using the "common.xml" dialect. This local client communicates with any other clients through a UDP port.

dialect = mavlinkdialect("common.xml");
mavlink = mavlinkio(dialect);
connect(mavlink,"UDP")

ans = 
"Connection1"

You can list all the active clients, connections, and topics for the MAVLink connection. Currently, there is only one client connection and no topics have received messages.

listClients(mavlink)

ans=1×4 table
    SystemID    ComponentID    ComponentType          AutopilotType     
    ________    ___________    ______________    _______________________

      255            1         "MAV_TYPE_GCS"    "MAV_AUTOPILOT_INVALID"

listConnections(mavlink)

ans=1×2 table
    ConnectionName      ConnectionInfo   
    ______________    ___________________

    "Connection1"     "UDP@0.0.0.0:41855"

listTopics(mavlink)

ans =

  0x5 empty table

Create a subscriber for receiving messages on the client. This subscriber listens for the "HEARTBEAT" message topic with ID equal to 0.

sub = mavlinksub(mavlink,0);

Create a "HEARTBEAT" message using the mavlinkdialect object. Specify payload information and send the message over the MAVLink client.

msg = createmsg(dialect,"HEARTBEAT");
msg.Payload.type(:) = enum2num(dialect,'MAV_TYPE','MAV_TYPE_QUADROTOR');
sendmsg(mavlink,msg)

Disconnect from the client.

disconnect(mavlink)