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3D Robotics

APM boards now available in the DIY Drones store!

Posted by Chris Anderson on December 24, 2010 at 11:00am

3689383080?profile=originalWe now have the ability to make the APM boards ourselves, so we can offer the full set of ArduPilotMega gear from the DIY Drones store. APM boards are now in stock (we'll be replenishing supply daily, so check back in a day if the current supply runs out). Starting next week, we'll be offering all-in-one packs of APM electronics.

 

Note that this is the new 1.4 version of the board, which makes several improvements/changes:

  • RC ports are now numbered according to RC convention: 1-8 (rather than the previous board's 0-7)
  • Now comes with right-angle connectors for your RC and servos at no extra charge!
  • New protection circuitry should make it impossible to blow out a MUX, not matter how wrong you plug in your cables.
  • Because of this new protection circuitry, the USB cable will not power the RC/servo rails. You MUST supply the board with its own power (an ESC or other power source) on the benchtop if you want to connect a RC receiver or servos. This is not an issue in an aircraft, where the whole board is powered by the RC connections.
  • The onboard regulator was replaced with a better one (more power handling, lower dropout voltage, better heatsinking). If you are supplying power directly from a battery (and removed the SJ1 solder jumper), you should supply between 6 and 9v. A two-cell (7.4v) LiPo will work fine.
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Comments

  • 3D Robotics
    Chris Anderson December 29, 2010 at 7:16am

    F11: Sparkfun does not have lots of versions. There was the earlier ArduPilot (not Mega) board, but that's a totally different project and won't fly a quad. 

     

    We will release smaller and cheaper boards over the next year that are compatible with the APM/ArduCopter software, but for now the current APM board is the only one.

  • steve December 29, 2010 at 6:48am
    I'm already using this board if it's the one that comes with the kit that Jani is shipping but I would like to make another smaller quad. Are there smaller cheaper versions of this board? I noticed sparkfun had a lot of versions of it but is it possible to build a quad on the smaller boards or is this APM the only/best way to go? I don't need GPS, magnetometer or wireless but I would like to stay with the same software tools that work with this APM.
  • 3D Robotics
    Chris Anderson December 28, 2010 at 2:17pm
    Yes, as mentioned in the post, we plan to offer all-in-one kits (but still kits, not pre-soldered) early in the new year. Pricing will probably be the same--it costs the same for us to manufacture.But as with all technologies, as components get cheaper and volumes go up, we'll pass the savings on.
  • 3D Robotics
    Chris Anderson December 28, 2010 at 11:38am
    APM boards are now back in stock. We're making 30-40 a day, so they should stay in stock now.
  • Ron Holley December 27, 2010 at 3:55pm

    Tried DIYDRONES superstore a couple of times today, no success in adding APM to cart. Any idea if this a software glitch or out of stock.

    Thanks, 

    Ron

  • MarioLucich December 27, 2010 at 2:09am

    Do you have any plans for adding other stuff like the XBee to your list?

     

    Regards,

     

    Mario

  • Admin
    Thomas J Coyle III December 26, 2010 at 3:57pm

    @Chris,

    Sounds good to me. Rather buy from DIY Drones Store than Sparkfun. I think that you guys know how to get the product right as you are as close to the product as you can get! LOL!

     

    Regards,

    TCIII

  • 3D Robotics
    Chris Anderson December 25, 2010 at 11:25am
    Tom: As long as we're not shipping complete finished autopilots we're okay. We've had legal advice that just selling components are acceptable.
  • Rana December 25, 2010 at 9:56am

    Thomas, probabaly it was because no one in US is allowed to export complete autopilot.

    The same thing was confirmed to me by Jordi when I requested him to locally get one APM for me from Sparkfun and send along with the IMU board of APM.

     

    regards

     

    Rana

  • Admin
    Thomas J Coyle III December 25, 2010 at 9:46am

    @Chris,

    What about the liability issue that kept you from producing the boards originally?

     

    Regards,

    TCIII

This reply was deleted.