"@Charles, I could but I won't. The PX4 original is in eagle. Re-using the existing open source design and contributing back to it is easily worth $150.
I tried kicad. The libraries are simply awful. Overall it comes across as the brainchild of…"
"@Charles, I did do the board design myself. It's the only way to get what I want and to properly review the layout. That's an extra $150 for the private eagle license. If I ever want to sell these things then that will be an extra $500.
As I said…"
"@Ye, MAX21105 is more accurate than MAX21100 and cheaper. Availability was just a little too late for this project. It is cheaper since it does not have the motion merging engine that we can't use anyway. The interrupt mechanisms are simpler and I…"
"@Roberto, I forgot to say that the debug connector is too deep to be mounted when fitted in the aircraft. Anything but through hole connections is a no go. "
"@Bill, Not much market at all so far. I did this to make sure that I have something that fit inside the aircraft.
I don't plan to sell them since I will get into arguments with the local tax man and he will take most of my money away. I might get…"
"@Mark MAX21100 is one of the lower cost sensors. Around $3.50 @ 1k volume. It doesn't make any sense not to put it on. It will make a nice backup autopilot with an extra gps somewhere on the bus system.
The 64Mbit memory is about $1. I would put…"
"@James Pike - That is pretty much my thinking also. Thanks for the feedback.
@ben @thomas The FFC or sensor damping idea is nice but simply not for this project. Any additional connectors add too much size. I am already concerned that the power…"
"@James Pike. Out of curiosity what would you use it for?
@Kees. I have not decided on the configuration yet bu it is at least three. Two for the wings and one as a failproof. Then the autopilot of choice plugs into that system. If all the…"
"@Mark, debug is working after I discovered the bootloader update. I used it to get the qgc mavlink-ftp file upload working.
It looks like I am using rev Y silicon. How fu**ed am I?
I could do with getting some good luck on this project for a…"
"@benbojangles, I am not a company so this was funded with my pocket money. Anything other than very simple is too high risk and too likely to need respins. The prototype cost already runs at $1500. MAX21100 cost is low and flexi proto pcb cost is…"
A distributed and scalable autopilot architecture is attractive to me due to space and sensor positioning demands on my airframes. The existing range of autopilots simply doesn't fit. The uNode (microNode) is the result of my desperate attempts to…