Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by brian on November 5, 2012 at 9:21am

I have created an autopilot for my 34 ft sailboat. It is road tested on a race and return trip from SF to Hawaii.

Appropriate hardware:
- developed H Drive using MOSFET drive + logic to handle approx 20 amps peak.
- developed hydraulic/electric drive system for tiller.
- computer (uProcessor) based control with 9 DOF sensors (magnetometer, rate gyros, accel.). An ATMEGA processor as found in Arduino Uno has been sufficient but is now out of room. Something with about 50K code space and 8K of RAM should be more than sufficient if compiling from C.

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Permalink Reply by Rick Sellens on December 31, 2012 at 8:29am

Do you have a pointer to more details on the project? I'd like to build/buy one.

Cheers,

Rick

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Permalink Reply by Victor on November 5, 2012 at 9:13pm

Thanks for the response. Do you have any input on a sensor module. The mini imu 9 on pololu, or the um6 has been suggested.

Thanks Victor

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Permalink Reply by brian on November 7, 2012 at 1:17am

I am using the ITG3200 3 axis gyro chip and an LSM303 magnetometer/accelerometer.

They are working quite well, and I believe Sparkfun and Pololu have implementations of both on carrier boards.

Regards,

Brian

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Permalink Reply by brian on November 8, 2012 at 11:00am

Hi Victor, I have two circuit boards developed. I am re releasing both. One is a motor driver for driving either linear or hydraulic systems. The other is a controller with sensors. If u hv interest in either let me know. Looking to defray board costs .

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Permalink Reply by Victor on November 8, 2012 at 11:17am

Yes I am interested. I am still working on the mechanical drive. Have a motor and looking now for a clutch. It will be a chain drive. H bridge to drive motor back and forth. Is there a way to exchange e mails?

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Permalink Reply by brian on November 8, 2012 at 4:17pm

Hi Victor,

I just sent you a Friend request, I think if you reply to that we can exchange email within the forum.  I know I have an inbox. I will see what the address is and send shortly.

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Permalink Reply by brian on November 8, 2012 at 4:20pm

HI Victor,

OK, EMAIL works once you have be friended someone.  An outline of this H Bridge, it is using a $5.00 control chip and 4 large NFETs. The control chip is for this application and has several failure mode protections. Once we establish an email path I can send you a schematic and we can discuss.

Brian

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Permalink Reply by Victor on November 8, 2012 at 4:43pm

Ok I accepted the friend request.

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Permalink Reply by brian on November 9, 2012 at 2:26pm

You should have received a message/email from me in the email acct on diy drones.

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