Find it peculiar that 3drobotics homepage states the old apm2.5 is not compatible with the new GPS + compass combo. Especially since a feature of the apm2.5 is the ability to disable the onboard compass for an external.
The compass can be negatively affected by electromagnetic noise from ESCs, motors, and their associated wiring. The magnetic fields fall off rapidly with distance, so a little bit of separation from those "noisy" components makes a difference.
Its an upgrade in accuracy in a nutshell, from what I understand.
To that end it may simply be easier and more compact to do it this way, plus it makes connection to apm 2.5 and likely somewhat older boards minorly pheasable.
To those asking if the updated compass was usable with the older board: yes.
There is nothing stopping you from severing the internal compass linkage (unnecessary but a nice touch, and a show of endearment) and using the updated compass through external inputs, though I doubt it will be supported by default there is not much stopping you from just doing it yourself
Felix: That's correct. (Although 2.6 also rolls up all the small production and component improvements there have been throughout the 2.5 production history, including the higher-capacity fuse and overall reliability)
Comments
Aaron,
The only difference with the 2.6 is the omission of the on-board compass.
Rob G,
Yes, the case will fit the non-mag uBlox LEA-6, and yes they will be available for purchase.
Magnus,
Are you referring to this method?
http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/common-external-magnetometer-for-i...
Tom,
The compass can be negatively affected by electromagnetic noise from ESCs, motors, and their associated wiring. The magnetic fields fall off rapidly with distance, so a little bit of separation from those "noisy" components makes a difference.
Its an upgrade in accuracy in a nutshell, from what I understand.
To that end it may simply be easier and more compact to do it this way, plus it makes connection to apm 2.5 and likely somewhat older boards minorly pheasable.
To those asking if the updated compass was usable with the older board: yes.
There is nothing stopping you from severing the internal compass linkage (unnecessary but a nice touch, and a show of endearment) and using the updated compass through external inputs, though I doubt it will be supported by default there is not much stopping you from just doing it yourself
@Mathew just curious, couldn't you use the XBee or 3DR radio to connect to Mission Planner?
Manuel: Probably by the end of the week.
Felix: That's correct. (Although 2.6 also rolls up all the small production and component improvements there have been throughout the 2.5 production history, including the higher-capacity fuse and overall reliability)
the only change between APM 2.5 and 2.6 is the lack of an internal compass sensor?
Will be in stock at CanadaDrones pretty soon...
Will still support 2.5 and previous version but will start shipping this one as soon as we get it.
(order placed last week... not sure if I need to wait for GPS cases!)
Dany
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