Frequently Asked Questions
How do I record a Blackbox log in Betaflight?
1
Enable Blackbox logging in Betaflight Configurator:
Configuration → Blackbox → Set "Blackbox device" to SPIFLASH or SDCARD
2
Set up logging parameters:
Blackbox → Sample rate = 1/2 or 1/1 (for PID tuning)
Blackbox → Log mode = NORMAL (not SLOW)
Blackbox → Max file size = 2MB
Blackbox → Log mode = NORMAL (not SLOW)
Blackbox → Max file size = 2MB
3
Arm your drone and fly for 30 seconds with various maneuvers:
- Some smooth cruising
- Some quick flips/rolls
- Some rapid throttle changes
4
Disarm to stop logging and connect to Betaflight to download the BBL file
How do I convert BBL to CSV and remove extra attributes?
1
Download and open Blackbox Explorer: https://github.com/betaflight/blackbox-log-viewer
2
Load your BBL file and export to CSV:
File → Open → Select your BBL file
File → Export Data → Save as CSV
File → Export Data → Save as CSV
3
Edit the CSV to keep only essential fields (open in Excel or text editor):
Keep these columns: time, gyro_axis[0], gyro_axis[1], gyro_axis[2], setpoint_axis[0], setpoint_axis[1], setpoint_axis[2]
Remove all other columns to reduce file size
4
Save the reduced CSV file (should be under 2MB)
What if my log file is still too large?
- Reduce the Blackbox sample rate to 1/2 or 1/4
- Shorten your flight time to 20-30 seconds
- Remove more non-essential columns from the CSV
- Consider compressing the CSV file (zip) before uploading
What flight maneuvers give the best tuning data?
- Pitch/Roll moves: Quick flips and rolls in both directions
- Throttle punches: Rapid throttle changes at different angles
- Coordinated turns: Banked turns in both directions
- Stationary hover: For checking low-throttle stability
Avoid long periods of steady flight - we need dynamic maneuvers to analyze PID performance.
Why do I need to remove extra attributes from the CSV?
- Reduces file size for faster processing
- Removes noise from non-essential data
- Focuses the analysis on key flight dynamics
- Makes the tuning recommendations more accurate
Can I use logs from other flight controllers?
Currently we support Betaflight Blackbox logs (converted to CSV) best. Other formats may work if they contain:
- Gyro data (3 axes)
- Setpoint data (3 axes)
- Timestamp information
Check our sample CSV for the required format.