diff --git a/MethodicConfigurator/annotate_params.py b/MethodicConfigurator/annotate_params.py
index 31a8144..862e6fc 100755
--- a/MethodicConfigurator/annotate_params.py
+++ b/MethodicConfigurator/annotate_params.py
@@ -209,6 +209,7 @@ def format_params(param_dict: Dict[str, 'Par'], file_format: str = "missionplann
         Parameters:
         param_dict (Dict[str, 'Par']): A dictionary of 'Par' objects.
                                        Each key is a parameter name and each value is a 'Par' object.
+                                       Par can be a simple float or a Par object with a comment.
         file_format (str): Can be "missionplanner" or "mavproxy"
 
         Returns:
@@ -303,7 +304,7 @@ def print_out(formatted_params: List[str], name: str) -> None:
             print(line)
 
 
-def get_xml_data(base_url: str, directory: str, filename: str) -> ET.Element:
+def get_xml_data(base_url: str, directory: str, filename: str, vehicle_type: str) -> ET.Element:
     """
     Fetches XML data from a local file or a URL.
 
@@ -311,6 +312,7 @@ def get_xml_data(base_url: str, directory: str, filename: str) -> ET.Element:
         base_url (str): The base URL for fetching the XML file.
         directory (str): The directory where the XML file is expected.
         filename (str): The name of the XML file.
+        vehicle_type (str): The type of the vehicle.
 
     Returns:
         ET.Element: The root element of the parsed XML data.
@@ -336,13 +338,24 @@ def get_xml_data(base_url: str, directory: str, filename: str) -> ET.Element:
             raise SystemExit("requests package is not installed") from exc
         try:
             # Send a GET request to the URL
-            response = requests_get(base_url + filename, timeout=5)
+            url = base_url + filename
+            response = requests_get(url, timeout=5)
             if response.status_code != 200:
-                logging.critical("Remote URL: %s", base_url + filename)
+                logging.warning("Remote URL: %s", url)
                 raise requests_exceptions.RequestException(f"HTTP status code {response.status_code}")
         except requests_exceptions.RequestException as e:
-            logging.critical("Unable to fetch XML data: %s", e)
-            raise SystemExit("unable to fetch online XML documentation") from e
+            logging.warning("Unable to fetch XML data: %s", e)
+            # Send a GET request to the URL to the fallback (DEV) URL
+            try:
+                url = BASE_URL + vehicle_type + '/' + PARAM_DEFINITION_XML_FILE
+                logging.warning("Falling back to the DEV XML file: %s", url)
+                response = requests_get(url, timeout=5)
+                if response.status_code != 200:
+                    logging.critical("Remote URL: %s", url)
+                    raise requests_exceptions.RequestException(f"HTTP status code {response.status_code}")
+            except requests_exceptions.RequestException as exp:
+                logging.critical("Unable to fetch XML data: %s", exp)
+                raise SystemExit("unable to fetch online XML documentation") from exp
         # Get the text content of the response
         xml_data = response.text
         try:
@@ -695,7 +708,7 @@ def get_xml_url(vehicle_type: str, firmware_version: str) -> str:
 
 def parse_parameter_metadata(xml_url: str, xml_dir: str, xml_file: str,
                         vehicle_type: str, max_line_length: int) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-    xml_root = get_xml_data(xml_url, xml_dir, xml_file)
+    xml_root = get_xml_data(xml_url, xml_dir, xml_file, vehicle_type)
     return create_doc_dict(xml_root, vehicle_type, max_line_length)
 
 
diff --git a/MethodicConfigurator/backend_flightcontroller.py b/MethodicConfigurator/backend_flightcontroller.py
index 7aae7d8..2b0b6d9 100644
--- a/MethodicConfigurator/backend_flightcontroller.py
+++ b/MethodicConfigurator/backend_flightcontroller.py
@@ -316,9 +316,9 @@ def __process_autopilot_version(self, m, banner_msgs) -> str:
         # the banner message after the ChibiOS one contains the FC type
         fc_product = ''
         if os_custom_version_index is not None:
-            fc_type_msgs = banner_msgs[os_custom_version_index+1].split(' ')
-            if len(fc_type_msgs) >= 3:
-                fc_product = fc_type_msgs[0]
+            fc_product_banner_substrings = banner_msgs[os_custom_version_index+1].split(' ')
+            if len(fc_product_banner_substrings) >= 3:
+                fc_product = fc_product_banner_substrings[0]
         if fc_product != self.info.product:
             logging_warning("FC product mismatch: %s (BANNER)!= %s(AUTOPILOT_VERSION)", fc_product, self.info.product)
             self.info.product = fc_product  # force the one from the banner because it is more reliable
diff --git a/unittests/annotate_params_test.py b/unittests/annotate_params_test.py
index 263d8a0..0b9e9b1 100755
--- a/unittests/annotate_params_test.py
+++ b/unittests/annotate_params_test.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ def test_get_xml_data_local_file(self, mock_load_param, mock_isfile, mock_open):
         mock_load_param.side_effect = FileNotFoundError
 
         # Call the function with a local file
-        result = get_xml_data("/path/to/local/file/", ".", "test.xml")
+        result = get_xml_data("/path/to/local/file/", ".", "test.xml", "ArduCopter")
 
         # Check the result
         self.assertIsInstance(result, ET.Element)
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ def test_get_xml_data_remote_file(self, mock_get):
             pass
 
         # Call the function with a remote file
-        result = get_xml_data("http://example.com/", ".", "test.xml")
+        result = get_xml_data("http://example.com/", ".", "test.xml", "ArduCopter")
 
         # Check the result
         self.assertIsInstance(result, ET.Element)
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ def side_effect(filename):
         mock_open = mock.mock_open(read_data='<root></root>')
         with patch('builtins.open', mock_open):
             # Call the function with a filename that exists in the script directory
-            result = get_xml_data(BASE_URL, ".", PARAM_DEFINITION_XML_FILE)
+            result = get_xml_data(BASE_URL, ".", PARAM_DEFINITION_XML_FILE, "ArduCopter")
 
         # Check the result
         self.assertIsInstance(result, ET.Element)
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ def test_get_xml_data_no_requests_package(self):
 
             # Call the function with a remote file
             with self.assertRaises(SystemExit):
-                get_xml_data("http://example.com/", ".", "test.xml")
+                get_xml_data("http://example.com/", ".", "test.xml", "ArduCopter")
 
     @patch('requests.get')
     def test_get_xml_data_request_failure(self, mock_get):
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ def test_get_xml_data_request_failure(self, mock_get):
 
         # Call the function with a remote file
         with self.assertRaises(SystemExit):
-            get_xml_data("http://example.com/", ".", "test.xml")
+            get_xml_data("http://example.com/", ".", "test.xml", "ArduCopter")
 
     @patch('requests.get')
     def test_get_xml_data_valid_xml(self, mock_get):
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ def test_get_xml_data_valid_xml(self, mock_get):
         mock_get.return_value.text = "<root></root>"
 
         # Call the function with a remote file
-        result = get_xml_data("http://example.com/", ".", "test.xml")
+        result = get_xml_data("http://example.com/", ".", "test.xml", "ArduCopter")
 
         # Check the result
         self.assertIsInstance(result, ET.Element)
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ def test_get_xml_data_invalid_xml(self, mock_get):
 
         # Call the function with a remote file
         with self.assertRaises(ET.ParseError):
-            get_xml_data("http://example.com/", ".", "test.xml")
+            get_xml_data("http://example.com/", ".", "test.xml", "ArduCopter")
 
     @patch('requests.get')
     @patch('os.path.isfile')
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ def test_get_xml_data_missing_file(self, mock_isfile, mock_get):
 
         # Call the function with a local file
         with self.assertRaises(FileNotFoundError):
-            get_xml_data("/path/to/local/file/", ".", "test.xml")
+            get_xml_data("/path/to/local/file/", ".", "test.xml", "ArduCopter")
 
     @patch('requests.get')
     def test_get_xml_data_network_issue(self, mock_get):
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ def test_get_xml_data_network_issue(self, mock_get):
 
         # Call the function with a remote file
         with self.assertRaises(SystemExit):
-            get_xml_data("http://example.com/", ".", "test.xml")
+            get_xml_data("http://example.com/", ".", "test.xml", "ArduCopter")
 
     def test_remove_prefix(self):
         # Test case 1: Normal operation