# Offboard Mode (Generic/All Frames) The vehicle obeys position, velocity, acceleration, attitude, attitude rates or thrust/torque setpoints provided by some source that is external to the flight stack, such as a companion computer. The setpoints may be provided using MAVLink (or a MAVLink API such as [MAVSDK](https://mavsdk.mavlink.io/)) or by [ROS 2](../ros2/index.md). PX4 requires that the external controller provides a continuous 2Hz "proof of life" signal, by streaming any of the supported MAVLink setpoint messages or the ROS 2 [OffboardControlMode](../msg_docs/OffboardControlMode.md) message. PX4 enables offboard control only after receiving the signal for more than a second, and will regain control if the signal stops. ::: info - This mode requires position or pose/attitude information - e.g. GPS, optical flow, visual-inertial odometry, mocap, etc. - Manual control is disabled except to change modes (you can also fly without any manual controller at all by setting the parameter [COM_RC_IN_MODE](../advanced_config/parameter_reference.md#COM_RC_IN_MODE) to `4: Disable manual control`). - The vehicle must be already be receiving a stream of MAVLink setpoint messages or ROS 2 [OffboardControlMode](../msg_docs/OffboardControlMode.md) messages before arming in offboard mode or switching to offboard mode when flying. - The vehicle will exit offboard mode if MAVLink setpoint messages or `OffboardControlMode` are not received at a rate of > 2Hz. - Not all coordinate frames and field values allowed by MAVLink are supported for all setpoint messages and vehicles. Read the sections below _carefully_ to ensure only supported values are used. ::: ## Description Offboard mode is used for controlling vehicle movement and attitude, by setting position, velocity, acceleration, attitude, attitude rates or thrust/torque setpoints. PX4 must receive a stream of MAVLink setpoint messages or the ROS 2 [OffboardControlMode](../msg_docs/OffboardControlMode.md) at 2 Hz as proof that the external controller is healthy. The stream must be sent for at least a second before PX4 will arm in offboard mode, or switch to offboard mode when flying. If the rate falls below 2Hz while under external control PX4 will switch out of offboard mode after a timeout ([COM_OF_LOSS_T](#COM_OF_LOSS_T)), and attempt to land or perform some other failsafe action. The action depends on whether or not RC control is available, and is defined in the parameter [COM_OBL_RC_ACT](#COM_OBL_RC_ACT). When using MAVLink the setpoint messages convey both the signal to indicate that the external source is "alive", and the setpoint value itself. In order to hold position in this case the vehicle must receive a stream of setpoints for the current position. When using ROS 2 the proof that the external source is alive is provided by a stream of [OffboardControlMode](../msg_docs/OffboardControlMode.md) messages, while the actual setpoint is provided by publishing to one of the setpoint uORB topics, such as [TrajectorySetpoint](../msg_docs/TrajectorySetpoint.md). In order to hold position in this case the vehicle must receive a stream of `OffboardControlMode` but would only need the `TrajectorySetpoint` once. Note that offboard mode only supports a very limited set of MAVLink commands and messages. Operations, like taking off, landing, return to launch, may be best handled using the appropriate modes. Operations like uploading, downloading missions can be performed in any mode. ## ROS 2 Messages The following ROS 2 messages and their particular fields and field values are allowed for the specified frames. In addition to providing heartbeat functionality, `OffboardControlMode` has two other main purposes: 1. Controls the level of the [PX4 control architecture](../flight_stack/controller_diagrams.md) at which offboard setpoints must be injected, and disables the bypassed controllers. 2. Determines which valid estimates (position or velocity) are required, and also which setpoint messages should be used. The `OffboardControlMode` message is defined as shown. ```sh # Off-board control mode uint64 timestamp # time since system start (microseconds) bool position bool velocity bool acceleration bool attitude bool body_rate bool thrust_and_torque bool direct_actuator ``` ::: warning The following list shows the `OffboardControlMode` options for copter, fixed-wing, and VTOL. For rovers see the [rover section](#rover). ::: The fields are ordered in terms of priority such that `position` takes precedence over `velocity` and later fields, `velocity` takes precedence over `acceleration`, and so on. The first field that has a non-zero value (from top to bottom) defines what valid estimate is required in order to use offboard mode, and the setpoint message(s) that can be used. For example, if the `acceleration` field is the first non-zero value, then PX4 requires a valid `velocity estimate`, and the setpoint must be specified using the `TrajectorySetpoint` message. | desired control quantity | position field | velocity field | acceleration field | attitude field | body_rate field | thrust_and_torque field | direct_actuator field | required estimate | required message | | ------------------------ | -------------- | -------------- | ------------------ | -------------- | --------------- | ----------------------- | --------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | position (NED) | ✓ | - | - | - | - | - | - | position | [TrajectorySetpoint](../msg_docs/TrajectorySetpoint.md) | | velocity (NED) | ✗ | ✓ | - | - | - | - | - | velocity | [TrajectorySetpoint](../msg_docs/TrajectorySetpoint.md) | | acceleration (NED) | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | - | - | - | - | velocity | [TrajectorySetpoint](../msg_docs/TrajectorySetpoint.md) | | attitude (FRD) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | - | - | - | none | [VehicleAttitudeSetpoint](../msg_docs/VehicleAttitudeSetpoint.md) | | body_rate (FRD) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | - | - | none | [VehicleRatesSetpoint](../msg_docs/VehicleRatesSetpoint.md) | | thrust and torque (FRD) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | - | none | [VehicleThrustSetpoint](../msg_docs/VehicleThrustSetpoint.md) and [VehicleTorqueSetpoint](../msg_docs/VehicleTorqueSetpoint.md) | | direct motors and servos | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | none | [ActuatorMotors](../msg_docs/ActuatorMotors.md) and [ActuatorServos](../msg_docs/ActuatorServos.md) | where ✓ means that the bit is set, ✘ means that the bit is not set and `-` means that the bit is value is irrelevant. ::: info Before using offboard mode with ROS 2, please spend a few minutes understanding the different [frame conventions](../ros2/user_guide.md#ros-2-px4-frame-conventions) that PX4 and ROS 2 use. ::: ### Copter - [px4_msgs::msg::TrajectorySetpoint](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/blob/main/msg/versioned/TrajectorySetpoint.msg) - The following input combinations are supported: - Position setpoint (`position` different from `NaN`). Non-`NaN` values of velocity and acceleration are used as feedforward terms for the inner loop controllers. - Velocity setpoint (`velocity` different from `NaN` and `position` set to `NaN`). Non-`NaN` values acceleration are used as feedforward terms for the inner loop controllers. - Acceleration setpoint (`acceleration` different from `NaN` and `position` and `velocity` set to `NaN`) - All values are interpreted in NED (Nord, East, Down) coordinate system and the units are `[m]`, `[m/s]` and `[m/s^2]` for position, velocity and acceleration, respectively. - [px4_msgs::msg::VehicleAttitudeSetpoint](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/blob/main/msg/versioned/VehicleAttitudeSetpoint.msg) - The following input combination is supported: - quaternion `q_d` + thrust setpoint `thrust_body`. Non-`NaN` values of `yaw_sp_move_rate` are used as feedforward terms expressed in Earth frame and in `[rad/s]`. - The quaternion represents the rotation between the drone body FRD (front, right, down) frame and the NED frame. The thrust is in the drone body FRD frame and expressed in normalized \[-1, 1\] values. - [px4_msgs::msg::VehicleRatesSetpoint](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/blob/main/msg/versioned/VehicleRatesSetpoint.msg) - The following input combination is supported: - `roll`, `pitch`, `yaw` and `thrust_body`. - All the values are in the drone body FRD frame. The rates are in `[rad/s]` while thrust_body is normalized in `[-1, 1]`. ### Rover Rover modules must set the control mode using `OffboardControlMode` and use the appropriate messages to configure the corresponding setpoints. The approach is similar to other vehicle types, but the allowed control mode combinations and setpoints are different: | Category | Usage | Setpoints | | ------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | (Recommended) [Rover Setpoints](#rover-setpoints) | General rover control | [RoverPositionSetpoint](../msg_docs/RoverPositionSetpoint.md), [RoverSpeedSetpoint](../msg_docs/RoverSpeedSetpoint.md), [RoverAttitudeSetpoint](../msg_docs/RoverAttitudeSetpoint.md), [RoverRateSetpoint](../msg_docs/RoverRateSetpoint.md), [RoverThrottleSetpoint](../msg_docs/RoverThrottleSetpoint.md), [RoverSteeringSetpoint](../msg_docs/RoverSteeringSetpoint.md) | | [Actuator Setpoints](#actuator-setpoints) | Direct actuator control | [ActuatorMotors](../msg_docs/ActuatorMotors.md), [ActuatorServos](../msg_docs/ActuatorServos.md) | | (Deprecated) [Trajectory Setpoint](#deprecated-trajectory-setpoint) | General vehicle control | [TrajectorySetpoint](../msg_docs/TrajectorySetpoint.md) | #### Rover Setpoints The rover modules use a hierarchical structure to propagate setpoints: ![Rover Control Structure](../../assets/middleware/ros2/px4_ros2_interface_lib/rover_control_structure.svg) The "highest" setpoint that is provided will be used within the PX4 rover modules to generate the setpoints that are below it (overriding them!). With this hierarchy there are clear rules for providing a valid control input: - Provide a position setpoint **or** - One of the setpoints on the "left" (speed **or** throttle) **and** one of the setpoints on the "right" (attitude, rate **or** steering). All combinations of "left" and "right" setpoints are valid. The following are all valid setpoint combinations and their respective control flags that must be set through [OffboardControlMode](../msg_docs/OffboardControlMode.md) (set all others to _false_). Additionally, for some combinations we require certain setpoints to be published with `NAN` values so that the setpoints of interest are not overridden by the rover module (due to the hierarchy above). ✓ are the relevant setpoints we publish, and ✗ are the setpoint that need to be published with `NAN` values. | Setpoint Combination | Control Flag | [RoverPositionSetpoint](../msg_docs/RoverPositionSetpoint.md) | [RoverSpeedSetpoint](../msg_docs/RoverSpeedSetpoint.md) | [RoverThrottleSetpoint](../msg_docs/RoverThrottleSetpoint.md) | [RoverAttitudeSetpoint](../msg_docs/RoverAttitudeSetpoint.md) | [RoverRateSetpoint](../msg_docs/RoverRateSetpoint.md) | [RoverSteeringSetpoint](../msg_docs/RoverSteeringSetpoint.md) | | -------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | | Position | position | ✓ | | | | | | | Speed + Attitude | velocity | | ✓ | | ✓ | | | | Speed + Rate | velocity | | ✓ | | ✗ | ✓ | | | Speed + Steering | velocity | | ✓ | | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | | Throttle + Attitude | attitude | | | ✓ | ✓ | | | | Throttle + Rate | body_rate | | | ✓ | | ✓ | | | Throttle + Steering | thrust_and_torque | | | ✓ | | | ✓ | ::: info If you intend to use the rover setpoints, we recommend using the [PX4 ROS 2 Interface Library](../ros2/px4_ros2_interface_lib.md) instead since it simplifies the publishing of these setpoints. ::: #### Actuator Setpoints Instead of controlling the vehicle using position, speed, rate and other setpoints, you can directly control the motors and actuators using [ActuatorMotors](../msg_docs/ActuatorMotors.md) and [ActuatorServos](../msg_docs/ActuatorServos.md). In [OffboardControlMode](../msg_docs/OffboardControlMode.md) set `direct_actuator` to _true_ and all other flags to _false_. ::: info This bypasses the rover modules including any limits on steering rates or accelerations and the inverse kinematics step. We recommend using [RoverSteeringSetpoint](../msg_docs/RoverSteeringSetpoint.md) and [RoverThrottleSetpoint](../msg_docs/RoverThrottleSetpoint.md) instead for low level control (see [Rover Setpoints](#rover-setpoints)). ::: #### (Deprecated) Trajectory Setpoint ::: warning The [Rover Setpoints](#rover-setpoints) are a replacement for the [TrajectorySetpoint](../msg_docs/TrajectorySetpoint.md) and we highly recommend using those instead as they have a well defined behaviour and offer more flexibility. ::: The rover modules support the _position_, _velocity_ and _yaw_ fields of the [TrajectorySetpoint](../msg_docs/TrajectorySetpoint.md). However, only one of the fields is active at a time and is defined by the flags of [OffboardControlMode](../msg_docs/OffboardControlMode.md): | Control Mode Flag | Active Trajectory Setpoint Field | | ----------------- | -------------------------------- | | position | position | | velocity | velocity | | attitude | yaw | ::: info Ackermann rovers do not support the yaw setpoint. ::: ### Generic Vehicle The following offboard control modes bypass all internal PX4 control loops and should be used with great care. - [px4_msgs::msg::VehicleThrustSetpoint](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/blob/main/msg/VehicleThrustSetpoint.msg) + [px4_msgs::msg::VehicleTorqueSetpoint](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/blob/main/msg/VehicleTorqueSetpoint.msg) - The following input combination is supported: - `xyz` for thrust and `xyz` for torque. - All the values are in the drone body FRD frame and normalized in \[-1, 1\]. - [px4_msgs::msg::ActuatorMotors](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/blob/main/msg/versioned/ActuatorMotors.msg) + [px4_msgs::msg::ActuatorServos](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/blob/main/msg/versioned/ActuatorServos.msg) - You directly control the motor outputs and/or servo outputs. - Currently works at lower level than then `control_allocator` module. Do not publish these messages when not in offboard mode. - All the values normalized in `[-1, 1]`. For outputs that do not support negative values, negative entries map to `NaN`. - `NaN` maps to disarmed. ## MAVLink Messages The following MAVLink messages and their particular fields and field values are allowed for the specified vehicle frames. ### Copter/VTOL - [SET_POSITION_TARGET_LOCAL_NED](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#SET_POSITION_TARGET_LOCAL_NED) - The following input combinations are supported: - Position setpoint (only `x`, `y`, `z`) - Velocity setpoint (only `vx`, `vy`, `vz`) - Acceleration setpoint (only `afx`, `afy`, `afz`) - Position setpoint **and** velocity setpoint (the velocity setpoint is used as feedforward; it is added to the output of the position controller and the result is used as the input to the velocity controller). - Position setpoint **and** velocity setpoint **and** acceleration (the velocity and the acceleration setpoints are used as feedforwards; the velocity setpoint is added to the output of the position controller and the result is used as the input to the velocity controller; the acceleration setpoint is added to the output of the velocity controller and the result used to compute the thrust vector). - PX4 supports the following `coordinate_frame` values (only): [MAV_FRAME_LOCAL_NED](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#MAV_FRAME_LOCAL_NED) and [MAV_FRAME_BODY_NED](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#MAV_FRAME_BODY_NED). - [SET_POSITION_TARGET_GLOBAL_INT](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#SET_POSITION_TARGET_GLOBAL_INT) - The following input combinations are supported: - Position setpoint (only `lat_int`, `lon_int`, `alt`) - Velocity setpoint (only `vx`, `vy`, `vz`) - _Thrust_ setpoint (only `afx`, `afy`, `afz`) ::: info Acceleration setpoint values are mapped to create a normalized thrust setpoint (i.e. acceleration setpoints are not "properly" supported). ::: - Position setpoint **and** velocity setpoint (the velocity setpoint is used as feedforward; it is added to the output of the position controller and the result is used as the input to the velocity controller). - PX4 supports the following `coordinate_frame` values (only): [MAV_FRAME_GLOBAL_INT](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#MAV_FRAME_GLOBAL_INT), [MAV_FRAME_GLOBAL_RELATIVE_ALT_INT](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#MAV_FRAME_GLOBAL_RELATIVE_ALT_INT), [MAV_FRAME_GLOBAL_TERRAIN_ALT_INT](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#MAV_FRAME_GLOBAL_TERRAIN_ALT_INT). - [SET_ATTITUDE_TARGET](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#SET_ATTITUDE_TARGET) - The following input combinations are supported: - Attitude/orientation (`SET_ATTITUDE_TARGET.q`) with thrust setpoint (`SET_ATTITUDE_TARGET.thrust`). - Body rate (`SET_ATTITUDE_TARGET` `.body_roll_rate` ,`.body_pitch_rate`, `.body_yaw_rate`) with thrust setpoint (`SET_ATTITUDE_TARGET.thrust`). ### Fixed-wing - [SET_POSITION_TARGET_LOCAL_NED](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#SET_POSITION_TARGET_LOCAL_NED) - The following input combinations are supported (via `type_mask`): - Position setpoint (`x`, `y`, `z` only; velocity and acceleration setpoints are ignored). - Specify the _type_ of the setpoint in `type_mask` (if these bits are not set the vehicle will fly in a flower-like pattern): ::: info Some of the _setpoint type_ values below are not part of the MAVLink standard for the `type_mask` field. ::: The values are: - 292: Gliding setpoint. This configures TECS to prioritize airspeed over altitude in order to make the vehicle glide when there is no thrust (i.e. pitch is controlled to regulate airspeed). It is equivalent to setting `type_mask` as `POSITION_TARGET_TYPEMASK_Z_IGNORE`, `POSITION_TARGET_TYPEMASK_VZ_IGNORE`, `POSITION_TARGET_TYPEMASK_AZ_IGNORE`. - 4096: Takeoff setpoint. - 8192: Land setpoint. - 12288: Loiter setpoint (fly a circle centred on setpoint). - 16384: Idle setpoint (zero throttle, zero roll / pitch). - PX4 supports the coordinate frames (`coordinate_frame` field): [MAV_FRAME_LOCAL_NED](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#MAV_FRAME_LOCAL_NED) and [MAV_FRAME_BODY_NED](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#MAV_FRAME_BODY_NED). - [SET_POSITION_TARGET_GLOBAL_INT](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#SET_POSITION_TARGET_GLOBAL_INT) - The following input combinations are supported (via `type_mask`): - Position setpoint (only `lat_int`, `lon_int`, `alt`) - Specify the _type_ of the setpoint in `type_mask` (if these bits are not set the vehicle will fly in a flower-like pattern): ::: info The _setpoint type_ values below are not part of the MAVLink standard for the `type_mask` field. ::: The values are: - 4096: Takeoff setpoint. - 8192: Land setpoint. - 12288: Loiter setpoint (fly a circle centred on setpoint). - 16384: Idle setpoint (zero throttle, zero roll / pitch). - PX4 supports the following `coordinate_frame` values (only): [MAV_FRAME_GLOBAL_INT](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#MAV_FRAME_GLOBAL_INT), [MAV_FRAME_GLOBAL_RELATIVE_ALT_INT](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#MAV_FRAME_GLOBAL_RELATIVE_ALT_INT), [MAV_FRAME_GLOBAL_TERRAIN_ALT_INT](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#MAV_FRAME_GLOBAL_TERRAIN_ALT_INT). - [SET_ATTITUDE_TARGET](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#SET_ATTITUDE_TARGET) - The following input combinations are supported: - Attitude/orientation (`SET_ATTITUDE_TARGET.q`) with thrust setpoint (`SET_ATTITUDE_TARGET.thrust`). - Body rate (`SET_ATTITUDE_TARGET` `.body_roll_rate` ,`.body_pitch_rate`, `.body_yaw_rate`) with thrust setpoint (`SET_ATTITUDE_TARGET.thrust`). ### Rover Rover supports offboard control using the generic MAVLink position/velocity setpoint messages listed below. These are converted into a [TrajectorySetpoint](../msg_docs/TrajectorySetpoint.md) internally, and then into rover setpoints by the rover offboard modes. For rover-specific control setpoints and better behaviour we recommend using the [Rover Setpoints](#rover-setpoints) via ROS 2. ::: info Rover MAVLink setpoints are gated by the MAVLink parameter [MAV_FWDEXTSP](../advanced_config/parameter_reference.md#MAV_FWDEXTSP) (Forward external setpoint messages). ::: - [SET_POSITION_TARGET_LOCAL_NED](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#SET_POSITION_TARGET_LOCAL_NED) - Position setpoint: `x`, `y` in [MAV_FRAME_LOCAL_NED](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#MAV_FRAME_LOCAL_NED) (`z` is ignored by rover modules). - Velocity setpoint: `vx`, `vy` in [MAV_FRAME_LOCAL_NED](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#MAV_FRAME_LOCAL_NED) or [MAV_FRAME_BODY_NED](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#MAV_FRAME_BODY_NED). - `yaw`/`yaw_rate`: - Ackermann/Differential: ignored (in velocity control the yaw setpoint is derived from the velocity direction). - Mecanum: can be controlled independently (decoupled) using `yaw`/`yaw_rate`. - Acceleration setpoints (`afx`, `afy`, `afz`) are ignored by rover modules. - [SET_POSITION_TARGET_GLOBAL_INT](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#SET_POSITION_TARGET_GLOBAL_INT) - Position setpoint: `lat_int`, `lon_int`, `alt` (converted into local NED internally; rover modules only use the horizontal components). - Velocity setpoint: `vx`, `vy`, `vz` (rover modules use only the horizontal components). - PX4 supports the following `coordinate_frame` values (only): [MAV_FRAME_GLOBAL_INT](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#MAV_FRAME_GLOBAL_INT), [MAV_FRAME_GLOBAL_RELATIVE_ALT_INT](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#MAV_FRAME_GLOBAL_RELATIVE_ALT_INT), [MAV_FRAME_GLOBAL_TERRAIN_ALT_INT](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#MAV_FRAME_GLOBAL_TERRAIN_ALT_INT). - [SET_ATTITUDE_TARGET](https://mavlink.io/en/messages/common.html#SET_ATTITUDE_TARGET) - Not supported for rover offboard control. ## Offboard Parameters _Offboard mode_ is affected by the following parameters: | Parameter | Description | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | [COM_OF_LOSS_T](../advanced_config/parameter_reference.md#COM_OF_LOSS_T) | Time-out (in seconds) to wait when offboard connection is lost before triggering offboard lost failsafe (`COM_OBL_RC_ACT`) | | [COM_OBL_RC_ACT](../advanced_config/parameter_reference.md#COM_OBL_RC_ACT) | Flight mode to switch to if offboard control is lost (Values are - `0`: _Position_, `1`: _Altitude_, `2`: _Manual_, `3`: *Return, `4`: *Land\*). | | [COM_RC_OVERRIDE](../advanced_config/parameter_reference.md#COM_RC_OVERRIDE) | Controls whether stick movement on a multicopter (or VTOL in MC mode) causes a mode change to [Position mode](../flight_modes_mc/position.md). This is not enabled for offboard mode by default. | | [COM_RC_STICK_OV](../advanced_config/parameter_reference.md#COM_RC_STICK_OV) | The amount of stick movement that causes a transition to [Position mode](../flight_modes_mc/position.md) (if [COM_RC_OVERRIDE](#COM_RC_OVERRIDE) is enabled). | | [COM_RCL_EXCEPT](../advanced_config/parameter_reference.md#COM_RCL_EXCEPT) | Specify modes in which RC loss is ignored and the failsafe action not triggered. Set bit `2` to ignore RC loss in Offboard mode. | ## Developer Resources Typically developers do not directly work at the MAVLink layer, but instead use a robotics API like [MAVSDK](https://mavsdk.mavlink.io/) or [ROS](https://www.ros.org/) (these provide a developer friendly API, and take care of managing and maintaining connections, sending messages and monitoring responses - the minutiae of working with _Offboard mode_ and MAVLink). The following resources may be useful for a developer audience: - [Offboard Control from Linux](../ros/offboard_control.md) - [ROS/MAVROS Offboard Example (C++)](../ros/mavros_offboard_cpp.md) - [ROS/MAVROS Offboard Example (Python)](../ros/mavros_offboard_python.md)