Posted by Jason Short on October 27, 2009 at 9:41am
One of the biggest limitations I've run into with the ardupilot hardware is the use of functions that need to disable the interrupt register to do precise timing such as pulsein() or similar functions. Would the 1280 have the same issues?Have you guys considered a dual processor design for the Ardupilot? I can image I2C connected chips would give you the ability to offload the radio input and give you multiple UARTS.Are there any other design considerations for the next generation board or for an alternate design?
You need to be a member of diydrones to add comments!
I think that only with one processor (atmega328 or 1280) we could handle all of the functions of an autopilot (IMU, Navigation, and RC signals/failsafe) and I am working on this line and now I have an atmega running IMU code, GPS parsing, stabilization assist mode, Radio signal reading and servo outputs. The "RC priority" function (manual mode) is totally implemented inside an interrupt so it´s safe (If main code hangs, manual mode is always working).
I´d like the idea of use an atMega 1280 because it has more serial ports but I think that with only one processor and a good optimized code it´s posible to do all this things and keep the hardware more simple (and cheap!).
Well hopefully the new version will handle more than 4 servos.. At least 7 , preferably 9 would be great..
Different power connector as well would be great, the same one as eagle uses.. Then the board could meassure amps directly as well.
Add airspeed and altimeter aswell then to the shield so it can be used as vario, there are some glider pilots out here aswell.
Keep up the great work folks..
Assuming these three boards, er processors, will have nothing more in common than (+ - DAT CLK) It would seem immeasurably more flexible to layout the board so that these sections can each be broken off.
Benefits:
1. Upgrade the IMU without replacing the rest.
2. Locate boards as they best fit in the plane.
3. Leave the servo board in the plane (It has the most wires attached)
4. Sell Failsafe Servo unit or IMU for other applications.
5. Add magnetometer board to the suite
6. Add anything to I2C Bus: Downlink, Logger, VideoOSD, Sensor payload.
ArduPilot Mega will be a three-processor board: a 1280 for logic, an atmega328 for IMU and an atmega328 for failsafe/RC signal reading (replacing the attiny on the current board).
Replies
I´d like the idea of use an atMega 1280 because it has more serial ports but I think that with only one processor and a good optimized code it´s posible to do all this things and keep the hardware more simple (and cheap!).
JJ.
Different power connector as well would be great, the same one as eagle uses.. Then the board could meassure amps directly as well.
Add airspeed and altimeter aswell then to the shield so it can be used as vario, there are some glider pilots out here aswell.
Keep up the great work folks..
Benefits:
1. Upgrade the IMU without replacing the rest.
2. Locate boards as they best fit in the plane.
3. Leave the servo board in the plane (It has the most wires attached)
4. Sell Failsafe Servo unit or IMU for other applications.
5. Add magnetometer board to the suite
6. Add anything to I2C Bus: Downlink, Logger, VideoOSD, Sensor payload.