The more we get into the RC world, the more we're shocked by how overpriced and underpowered a lot of RC equipment is. Most of the specialty electronics, from ESCs to servo amplifiers, are just cheap PIC chips with a few support components. The parts cost a few dollars, but the completed boards often sell for as much as ten times that
A good example is the failsafe/multiplexer ("MUX"), which allows you to switch between two inputs for RC control (in our case, that would be RC or autopilot control). The main one on the market is the RxMUX, which costs $79 (shown below).
We thought we could do better. So Jordi created the DIY Drones Failsafe/MUX (shown at the top of the page), which uses the same Attiny45 and multiplexer as ArduPilot. Ours is $16.90, and is literally both one-fifth the size and one-fifth the price as the RxMUX. It also includes all sorts of other goodies, such as recognizing the middle position of a three-position switch and having a programmable signal-loss behavior. Plus it's open source, so you can do anything you want to the code.
Our failsafe/MUX is four channels, rather than eight (everyone preferred the smaller one and thought four channels was enough) but if you want an eight channnel one like RxMUX we can make it for you easily for about the same price.
Here are the two side-by-side, with a 9V battery for scale.
What else can we take 80% of the cost and size out of?
Here (U.S.) the Sheriff would need a COA. Not impossible but hard to come by and very limited. Than we have the ACLU knee jerking on privacy. I had suggested to my DOJ contacts that they take the equipment out into the community like they do the K-9s
Patrick, I don't want to be part of an illegal activity. And I have confidence that wise minds (including yours!) will be able to influence the regulatory process so that the reasonable stuff that we're promoting is not made illegal. But if, god forbid, impractical and unrealistic laws are passed, I predict that will be ineffective and widely ignored.
We will, of course, abide by any relevant laws. But if the laws are nonsensical, we we also avoid being under their jurisdiction, including moving operations abroad if necessary. DIY Drones is an international community--we have participating members everywhere and development will migrate to the most hospitable environments.
Even if we are to suppose all of that is true, why do we want to be part of some illegal activity? We as a group have to ask ourselves (globally), do we try and work toward a solution that allows for the sale, development and use of at least some of these products? The point of a hobby is enjoyment, looking over your shoulder detracts from that enjoyment.
Tell me: how can open source be stopped? Seriously. The hardware is just a commodity processor, like any Arduino board (tens of thousands of them are out there)--you don't even need ArduPilot. The code is out there. Short of banning all RC planes, I don't see any way to shut this down. Even if they locked me and Jordi up, most of our developers are outside the the US.
The FAA can pass regs on autonomy in model aircraft, but how can they enforce them? How can anyone tell whether a park flier has an autopilot onboard or not? How would most hobbyists even know about the regs? Given how silly such regs would be for the tiny bits of foam that most of us fly, entirely within line of sight at the local park, why would the average hobbyist even care? (Remember, very few of us are even aware of the AMA and its policies, and it's 100% focused on this area)
We're strong advocates of responsible flying and promote adherence with FAA guidelines at every opportunity. But there has never been a successful regulation of open source technology in history. I think that's because it simply can't be done.
I think you misunderstand my position. It’s not that I dislike the open source concept or think that it lacks merit, the approach for application just needs more thought. To be honest, those that were in attendance at your presentation (AUVSI show) were the same folks who put their cloven hooves down on the notion of uncertified autopilots (hobby/amateur uav’s). The notion of some “guy” with his open source autopilot plays to the vendor mantra of “We are safe and those guys are well, just crazy!”
Can’t say that I am privy to people’s balance sheets, but that sounds in line with the hobby industry. If you haven’t already, you guys may want to get some liability insurance.
Patrick, I realize that you're not a big fan of open source and think that we're a corrosive influence in the traditional industry, but we're not idiots either. Our price is 2.6x our cost, which allows for plenty of profit, even when we sell wholesale to third parties.
BTW, ArduPilot has already generated more than $100,000 of economic value (sales of it and accessories) to our partners in the six months it has been available. Do you know any hobby-level autopilot that has done the same?
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Old thread, but since Garrick was asking where to get these, Acroname still sell's "Jay's" RxMux. And it is only $19 and still 8 channels.
https://acroname.com/products/RXMUX-8-CHANEL-2-1-SERVO-MULTIPLEXER
You speak with fork tong
We will, of course, abide by any relevant laws. But if the laws are nonsensical, we we also avoid being under their jurisdiction, including moving operations abroad if necessary. DIY Drones is an international community--we have participating members everywhere and development will migrate to the most hospitable environments.
Ignorance of the law rarely washes as an excuse…
Tell me: how can open source be stopped? Seriously. The hardware is just a commodity processor, like any Arduino board (tens of thousands of them are out there)--you don't even need ArduPilot. The code is out there. Short of banning all RC planes, I don't see any way to shut this down. Even if they locked me and Jordi up, most of our developers are outside the the US.
The FAA can pass regs on autonomy in model aircraft, but how can they enforce them? How can anyone tell whether a park flier has an autopilot onboard or not? How would most hobbyists even know about the regs? Given how silly such regs would be for the tiny bits of foam that most of us fly, entirely within line of sight at the local park, why would the average hobbyist even care? (Remember, very few of us are even aware of the AMA and its policies, and it's 100% focused on this area)
We're strong advocates of responsible flying and promote adherence with FAA guidelines at every opportunity. But there has never been a successful regulation of open source technology in history. I think that's because it simply can't be done.
Can’t say that I am privy to people’s balance sheets, but that sounds in line with the hobby industry. If you haven’t already, you guys may want to get some liability insurance.
BTW, ArduPilot has already generated more than $100,000 of economic value (sales of it and accessories) to our partners in the six months it has been available. Do you know any hobby-level autopilot that has done the same?
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