Can ArduRover software be used on any Arduino Mega?

Posted by emile 'butch' alline on November 8, 2013 at 1:36pm

I realize that it may take some work, but can I use my existing Mega, GPS, 3DR radio and load it with ArduRover software and have something that works like an APM2.5 and uses Mission Planner? 

I have an APM 2.5 on my quadcopter and I am pleased with the way it works and integrates with MP.  I have built a rover from scratch (hardware and software), but I am not so pleased with the way it works ;-(

Thanks, any suggestions would be appreciated

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Replies

  • Joseph Brandine July 24, 2014 at 4:52am

    Good Morning,

    I have a similar situation.  I recently inherited a very nice track robot, with a Mega2560 control board, 3 Sabertooths one for the 2 motors and 1 for flipper arms  (sabertooths are in packetized mode) and one serparate for the camera motor.  The hardware is great, their software is horrible, it's just a wifi connection and controlled with gamepad running a .net program.  So no autonomy.  I would love to use the existing hardware (with  some wiring changes) with the APM firmware and Mission planner.  

    Do you have any advice, or some guidance that you can give me.

    • Admin
      Thomas J Coyle III > Joseph Brandine July 24, 2014 at 6:08am

      @Joseph,

      I believe that your requirements would require a very extensive rework of the existing ArduRover2 firmware.

      Unless you are a very knowledgeable Arduino programmer, you might be better off adapting the existing hardware to either an APM or Pixhawk instead of adapting the firmware to the existing hardware.

      Regards,

      TCIII ArduRover2 Developer

    • Joseph Brandine > Thomas J Coyle III July 24, 2014 at 6:32am

      I'd like to take a stab at getting the APM firmware running.  I realistically only need the motors controlled.  The flipper and Camera can be controlled other ways.

  • Admin
    Thomas J Coyle III November 8, 2013 at 1:46pm

    @emile,

    Yes, you can use an Arduino Mega board and an Arduino Mega Shield to duplicate the APM2.5.

    You will have to decide if you want to keep the original APM2.5 functional pin outs or change them in the hardware and software.

    Regards,

    TCIII ArduRover2 Developer 

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