HobbyKing has introduced an adaptor that makes it easy to flash Atmel processors such as those found on ESCs. Flash SimonK firmware without even taking them off of your multirotor! I've started a product summary here:
http://eastbay-rc.blogspot.com/2012/09/atmel-flashing-tool-from-hob...
I have one on the way, and some new XT-90 connectors,

That is cool!
Comment by druckgott on September 8, 2012 at 12:18am Thats is cool, but where can I get the software file for flashing an esc?
Up to now I only flash and find software for multicopter and so on...
Comment by Drone Savant on September 8, 2012 at 12:43am @dryckgott here is one resource that contains a list of ESC's and their respective SimonK firmware. Enjoy and good luck! http://wiki.openpilot.org/display/Doc/RapidESC+Database#RapidESCDat...
If you are not familiar with the process you can follow along here http://oddcopter.com/2012/04/03/flashing-my-escs-with-simonk-code/
Well it's about time somebody made one of those. I know I wasted an hour of my life trying to make a tool that's not as good as this one. I would have expected HK to sell it for a lot less than the $20 they're asking but still happy about it anyway.
I'm glad the guy who made the video didn't have an Octacopter! :-)
I think this tool will be especially useful for those escs that don't have the pads exposed. I think the hobby king blue series in particular. My understanding is that the blue series is a good ESC (it's got an external oscillator that runs at 16mhz while most ESCs use the internal resonator that only runs at 8mhz) but programming the simonk firmware on it has been a pain without this new tool.
By the way, does anyone know why you wouldn't flash your ESCs with the SimonK firmware? I've heard only good things about response time from supporters but only vague reasons why it shouldn't be used from detractors.

I saw this tool as well, but I have the F-40A ESC's and I think it's easy enough to do without it. I think they have the 6 pads in a row which is easy to do. I will probably be dabbling in this this weekend. And yeah, it's an octo...
Those XT-90 connectors look nice! I use XT-60 on medium size stuff, but my big stuff I use these huge red things that I don't like that much. I think I might switch over. The XT-90 just looks more compact and easier to use.

@Randy: Simonk firmware does not play nice with some low kV motors. The symptoms are loss of timing / sync and motor cutouts. A more robust ESC firmware that is still linear throttle / fast respose is wii-esc. They have a sync recovery system and better timing handling.
Comment by Kur on September 8, 2012 at 5:16pm This is very good. Thanks for sharing. Purchased. ;)
If anyone wants to buy this you can use these links to get discounts.
http://www.hobbyking.com/buddy.asp?code=4CE91CBB-157D-4B53-AA82-FC0...
http://www.hobbyking.com/buddy.asp?code=34055841-95A2-4704-B0AC-6AC...

I've got that AVR programmer, but can't figure out how to use it, what do I do?
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