New autopilot hardware
I needed more RAM, more flash to store my autopilot code on. Unfortunately, 44 pins PICs don’t have such big amounts of memory. So I had no other option than to design a PCB for a 64 pins SMD chip. But I quickly admitted that my PCB fabrication skills (and tools) are not good enough to make such fine pitch prints. Luckily, there are some great cheap PCB fab companies. I decided to use Olimex. Four PCB’s arrived on my doorstep 15 days later: two for the Pic32, and two for the dsPic33 (I still haven’t decided which Pic to use in the future…).
Main features:
Common:
- Choice between PPM in or PWM in
- 5 Servo outs. Software and a “daughter board” could always add additional servo outputs.
- 2 axis-compass module (3 axis in the future) using I²C
- digital barometer using SPI
- the 5DOF, analog input
dsPIC33 version:
- Powered using the BEC
- Atmel flash chip for data logging
PIC32 version:
- Switched power supply
- Micro-SD socket for data logging
Because everbody loves pictures (dsPic33 version):
Populated with the sensors:
28 November 2008, 00:32
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Hi Tom, do you have these boards available, i would mind to try one of these ?
cheers— Gil, 19 January 2009, 19:10 | #
Hi Tom, do you have these boards available, i would mind to try one of these? Would they work with a quadcopter or a helicopter?
Thanks
Mark
— Mark, 9 February 2009, 20:45 | #
Hi Gil, Mark and a lof of other people
I’m currently working an on all-in-one module (so the picture above, but with the 5DOF and pressure sensor integrated on 1 board). It will run the same software as on this board.
The board will be able to fly a quadrocopter, but the software will need to be adapted. All functions (IMU, servo, gps, ...) are nice well documented libraries, so this shouldn’t be too much of a problem!
Come back from time to time to see when it’s done (expected: in about 3 to 4 months)
— Tom, 9 February 2009, 20:53 | #
Great Work!
I will try dsPIC 33 Family. Present some specification…for using with Matlab-Simulink.
— Todor/Tezo, 26 February 2009, 17:46 | #
Hi,Tom!
Can you,please,clarify about how you designed power supply?The switched regulator makes a lot of noise.Inductor and 220uF cap make it better,but although not good enough
— Paul, 31 March 2009, 07:54 | #
Hi Tom.
Realy great work. Price for hardware & soft? (email)
— Artur, 3 May 2009, 23:25 | #
Tom,can you,please,specify about the heading of your board ?Is it forwarding North,and why did you reverse 5 DOF board,does it matter?
Thanks
— Paul, 21 May 2009, 12:14 | #
decide to PIC32
— rod, 8 June 2009, 08:21 | #