We've got the physical ArduPilot boards now, and the above is one with the components mounted. As you can see, it's pretty small! We've got channels 3 and 4 (throttle and rudder--that's the ESC and servo in the pic) from the RC receiver (at left) going through the autopilot. It can handle two more channels, but we're not using them right now. When the autopilot is in control, it will steer with the rudder and maintain altitude with the throttle. Elevator and ailerons are under the control of the FMA CoPilot for stabilization.
Channel 5 is used to turn the autopilot on and off and goes into the on-board hardware multiplexer/failsafe that Jordi designed and we've incorporated into this board. Finally, that's the GPS (EM406) in the top left corner.
This board is just for testing, and I can already see a few small tweaks to make in the next board (we'll switch to a different GPS connector, for instance). I'm still working on the code, meanwhile, but I can already tell you that it will be much simpler (and better) than the Basic Stamp code, thanks the superior hardware of the Arduino. Speaking of which, this project got a nice call-out from the official Arduino blog!
I'm not sure what you mean by "mounting instructions". The each component is labled on PCB. Just make sure to solder in the polarized components the way they're shown on the PCB (long lead on the capacitor is +, stripe on the diode the way it's shown the board, ICs with the notch where it's shown, etc)
It's based on Boarduino, so you may find the instructions here helpful.
Chris, with the intend to try to reproduce your results I bought a card from BatchPCB.com. They send me the ArdupliotBeta3. Please tell me where can I find the electrique schemas, the mounting instructions and the list of components. Also Please tell me where can I find the programs to see the files type pcb, sch, etc. you are using for the hardware. A bientôt, Georges
A correction on the GPS: it turns out that the helical GPS is 3V only, and ArduPilot doesn't have its own power regulator (it uses the receiver/ESC power) so we can't use that one. Any other GPS that uses 5V will do, however....
great news... i cannot wait to have that board... this means that i will have 2 arduino boards on board my plane. i hope this will not cause any problems... :) i was planning to use Picopilot as autopilot and an Arduino-Nunchuck configuration as flight stabilization. now i can quit Picopilot and switch to this Ardupilot...
This GPS with a helical antenna is even better and will work fine with our board. Just splice the cable into a female three-hole servo connector, with the same V-, V+ and Tx wires connected as per the EM406. More here.
I have just ordered two boards and the FMA CoPilot for testing.
I'll work on the other copmponents tomorrow.
I have a spare Boarduino Kit so I'm good there.
The GPS is out of stock at SparkFun can you suggest an alternate ?
Yes, X1 is the crystal and S1 is the reset switch. Both come with the BoArduino kit.
I'm not sure I understand your second question. It's an Arduino--it can do anything any other Arduino can do (include talking to each other, via serial or anything else)
Ok, I did'nt know X1 and S1 came in the kit. I think, I will buy the BoArduino Kit to make things eazy.
Can the BoArduino Kit talk to other BoArduino's?
Comments
The free Eagle PCB software is here.
I'm not sure what you mean by "mounting instructions". The each component is labled on PCB. Just make sure to solder in the polarized components the way they're shown on the PCB (long lead on the capacitor is +, stripe on the diode the way it's shown the board, ICs with the notch where it's shown, etc)
It's based on Boarduino, so you may find the instructions here helpful.
A correction on the GPS: it turns out that the helical GPS is 3V only, and ArduPilot doesn't have its own power regulator (it uses the receiver/ESC power) so we can't use that one. Any other GPS that uses 5V will do, however....
I have just ordered two boards and the FMA CoPilot for testing.
I'll work on the other copmponents tomorrow.
I have a spare Boarduino Kit so I'm good there.
The GPS is out of stock at SparkFun can you suggest an alternate ?
Ready for any software you have available
I'm not sure I understand your second question. It's an Arduino--it can do anything any other Arduino can do (include talking to each other, via serial or anything else)
Can the BoArduino Kit talk to other BoArduino's?
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