diff --git a/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.cpp b/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.cpp
index f2abcc13ec..4be8a1b116 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.cpp
@@ -2399,6 +2399,39 @@ bool AP_Param::set_by_name(const char *name, float value)
     return false;
 }
 
+/*
+  get a value by name
+ */
+bool AP_Param::get(const char *name, float &value)
+{
+    enum ap_var_type vtype;
+    AP_Param *vp = find(name, &vtype);
+    if (vp == nullptr) {
+        return false;
+    }
+    switch (vtype) {
+    case AP_PARAM_INT8:
+        value = ((AP_Int8 *)vp)->get();
+        break;
+    case AP_PARAM_INT16:
+        value = ((AP_Int16 *)vp)->get();
+        break;
+
+    case AP_PARAM_INT32:
+        value = ((AP_Int32 *)vp)->get();
+        break;
+
+    case AP_PARAM_FLOAT:
+        value = ((AP_Float *)vp)->get();
+        break;
+
+    default:
+        // not a supported type
+        return false;
+    }
+    return true;
+}
+
 /*
   set and save a value by name
  */
diff --git a/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.h b/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.h
index 9c892cc912..1fb5386288 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.h
@@ -286,6 +286,15 @@ public:
     /// @param  value           The new value
     /// @return                 true if the variable is found
     static bool set_by_name(const char *name, float value);
+    // name helper for scripting
+    static bool set(const char *name, float value) { return set_by_name(name, value); };
+
+    /// gat a value by name, used by scripting
+    ///
+    /// @param  name            The full name of the variable to be found.
+    /// @param  value           A refernce to the variable
+    /// @return                 true if the variable is found
+    static bool get(const char *name, float &value);
 
     /// set and save a value by name
     ///
@@ -293,6 +302,8 @@ public:
     /// @param  value           The new value
     /// @return                 true if the variable is found
     static bool set_and_save_by_name(const char *name, float value);
+    // name helper for scripting
+    static bool set_and_save(const char *name, float value) { return set_and_save_by_name(name, value); };
 
     /// Find a variable by index.
     ///