Warn if using BLHeli 32.9 or lower

[Ryanf55]

Feature request

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.

BLHeli 32.10 has fixed a major issue with unintentional motor spoolups.

I've seen multiple instances of spoolups, or disarming and the motors not stopping because they detect the wrong protocol.

This is a major safety issue for anyone using BLHeli 32.9 or less. Multiple users have posted to BLHeli complaining of injuries with unintentional spoolups too.

Describe the solution you'd like

On bootup, ArduPilot can try to communicate with DSHOT to retrieve the blheli version. If the version is not 32.10, a warning can be issued. ArduPilot could request the version and warn users that if they fly 32.9 or less, they could consider to throw their ESC's away and replace them with something safer (like AM32), or advanced users can reflash them.

Describe alternatives you've considered

Not warning users their ESC's are dangerous. Vendors could recall ESC's, but they won't.
We could also warn in the wiki, but most people won't connect the configurator or know their version.

Platform
[ ] All
[ ] AntennaTracker
[ ] Copter
[ ] Plane
[ ] Rover
[ ] Submarine

Additional context

bitdump/BLHeli#743

https://github.com/bitdump/BLHeli/releases/tag/Rev32.10

[hendjoshsr71]

Is there anyway to update BLHeli32 now that the servers are down? I thought not….. IE did someone find a workaround?

…

On Sat, Apr 19, 2025 at 16:42 Ryan ***@***.***> wrote: Feature request *Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.* BLHeli 32.10 has fixed a major issue with unintentional motor spoolups. I've seen multiple instances of spoolups, or disarming and the motors not stopping becuase they detect the wrong protocol. This is a major safety issue for anyone using BLHeli 32.9 or less. *Describe the solution you'd like* On bootup, ArduPilot can try to communicate with DSHOT to retrieve the blheli version. If the version is not 32.10, a warning can be issued. ArduPilot could the version and warn users that if they fly 32.9 or less, they need to throw their ESC's away and replace them with something safer. *Describe alternatives you've considered* Not warning users their ESC's are dangerous. *Platform* [ ] All [ ] AntennaTracker [ ] Copter [ ] Plane [ ] Rover [ ] Submarine *Additional context* bitdump/BLHeli#743 <bitdump/BLHeli#743> https://github.com/bitdump/BLHeli/releases/tag/Rev32.10 image.png (view on web) <https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/4cfe2e09-8d5d-4b20-b01b-b5f8f318269f> — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#29820>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AQQEX5NDV346VQV5HD53ASL22KYMXAVCNFSM6AAAAAB3O5PRLSVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43ASLTON2WKOZTGAYDMNRUG43DQOI> . You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread.Message ID: ***@***.***> *Ryanf55* created an issue (ArduPilot/ardupilot#29820) <#29820> Feature request *Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.* BLHeli 32.10 has fixed a major issue with unintentional motor spoolups. I've seen multiple instances of spoolups, or disarming and the motors not stopping becuase they detect the wrong protocol. This is a major safety issue for anyone using BLHeli 32.9 or less. *Describe the solution you'd like* On bootup, ArduPilot can try to communicate with DSHOT to retrieve the blheli version. If the version is not 32.10, a warning can be issued. ArduPilot could the version and warn users that if they fly 32.9 or less, they need to throw their ESC's away and replace them with something safer. *Describe alternatives you've considered* Not warning users their ESC's are dangerous. *Platform* [ ] All [ ] AntennaTracker [ ] Copter [ ] Plane [ ] Rover [ ] Submarine *Additional context* bitdump/BLHeli#743 <bitdump/BLHeli#743> https://github.com/bitdump/BLHeli/releases/tag/Rev32.10 image.png (view on web) <https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/4cfe2e09-8d5d-4b20-b01b-b5f8f318269f> — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#29820>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AQQEX5NDV346VQV5HD53ASL22KYMXAVCNFSM6AAAAAB3O5PRLSVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43ASLTON2WKOZTGAYDMNRUG43DQOI> . You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[Ryanf55]

Nope. It's my understanding that it's unrecoverable. I saw a translated-chinese-forum that some people are trying to crack the server keys, but they haven't achieved it yet.

[andyp1per]

All I can say is that I have never encountered this problem myself, despite having multiple 32.9 ESC's. I am not sure what the difference is.

[Ryanf55]

Until I can come up with a reproducible way to cause a spool up, I'm considering this on hold as far as a code implementation.
We could at least update the wiki.

[peterbarker]

Ping @Hwurzburg on the Wiki concept.

[Hwurzburg]

Added wiki warning