Choosing an Adruino IMU for my application

Hi, I'm new to the Audrino microproccesor, but I see how it is used extensively in the drone community and would like to use it for my project. I'm very familiar with C and have programmed other processors in the past, so I'm hoping that experience plus all the open source help will help me with the learning curve.

 I'm hoping to use the Audrino as the microcontroller for an attitude control system for a student satellite project and I would like to get feedback for you folks who have much experience with the Adruino and its shields.

Application info:
I plan to make a sensor array of the theromopile sensors to sense the earth (somewhat like a horizon sensor) while the satellite is in orbit. So I would be using maybe 8 thermopile sensors. This would give be a crude angle of the satellite with respect to the earth. I also would like to use a magnetometer and gyro for orientation. I don't need an accelerometer since the accelerations in space are almost negligible. I would also like to control a single motor either over I2C or by a DAC...I don't think ill be using a PWM signal since my current motor controller doesn't have that as an input.

Most of the Adruino boards seem to have accelerometers, pressure sensors, and many PWM channels. As you can see, much of this I won't use, but I do need an I2C port and it seems only the higher end boards have this.

Question:
Can I get your advice in choosing a Adruino board? I would like to minimize the amount of "circuit making" that I would need to do, although I am open to that option too if it means less complexity overall.

Thanks for your help!
windell

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Replies

  • Thanks Chris! I appreciate the feedback. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but it looks like the ArduPilot doesn't say that it has an I2C port? Is this true? I see the analog output so thats good. Also, for the thermopile sensors, I'm going to be using more than the usual 6. Probably at least 8 or 10. I'm not sure what the output of the thermopile sensors are, but I don't find using an 8 channel ADC that interfaces with the I2C port if need be.

    On somewhat of a sidetrack....do you feel that the ArduIMU +V2 would be overkill or irrelevant for my application?
  • 3D Robotics
    Standard Ardupilot is designed to use thermopiles and can do what you want right out of the box. Follow the tabs above to learn more.
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