Developer

[UPDATE: This project is now being ported to a proper Google Code repository and manual. For instructions, start there. You can also join the ArduRover User Group here.]

Hello to ALL, the new firmware for APMRover v2 has been tested successfully on my rover on may 1st, 2012 on full autonomous reco mission following a navigation plan. This new release of the APMRover v2 works on the APM v1.4 with the OilPan shield (magnetometer + MT3329 GPS) and also of course on the APM v2. The previous version of the APMRover v1.0 was a light size version specially designed for the APM1280 CPU (only) board and the MT3329 GPS.

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For the frame, I have used a Traxxas Monster Jam Grinder with a brushed and high power motor Titan 12T and its XL-5 ESC.

The APMrover UGV is able to run itself following a list of recorded waypoints. The waypoints list (FPL) can be preloaded with the APM Mission Planner OR better in live, recorded by the pilot himself (with the SW7) during a manual run and then replayed in a full autonomous mission.

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The firmware APMrover2 for APM v1 + OilPan or APM v2 successfully tested can be downloaded HERE

The APMrover v2 is also online on the official ArduPilot-Mega GIT repository HERE

Below the PID setup for the APMrover v1 and v2:

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The light firmware APMrover1 for APM v1 (CPU 1280 or 2560) that I have tested can be downloaded HERE 

Here's how to connect your cables:

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More infos at: http://diydrones.com/profile/JeanLouisNaudin

Have Fun and Enjoy with the APMrover...

Regards, Jean-Louis

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Comments

  • Hi Chris,

    I had brown out problems to start with, I have isolated the power supplies running a seperate battery and BEC to the input and receiver. Ive got to the point of isolating the positive/power from the ESC to the APM2 output positive rail. Only the negative and and control signal are connected to the APM2 from ESC and steering servo, the postive is connected to the servo off board and that has fixed alot of crashing issues.

    I have the APM2 and receiver removed from the rover and power by USB and its still crashing selecting auto.

    Im curious about the ch5 input changing mode when it should be ch8, has the code changed or is there another flag or function that im missing? I have verified that ch5 is working correctly in manual and aquire mode with being able to store and deleted WP's from the APM2

    Any more ideas?

    Chris

  • 3D Robotics

    Chris: I found that switching into auto was resetting the board sometimes, too, but I'm not sure it's the code. It might be that the sudden servo/motor commands in auto mode are causing your BEC to sag, leading to a brownout. Have you tried with stand-alone power supply/BEC?

  • Hi All,

    Some help and input please

    I have loaded on the latest version of APMrover on my APM2. The trouble im having is that the mode switch is not working on input 8. I have found that the input switch is working on input 5, but when i go to auto mode (pwm 1100) it resets the APM2.

    Being new to C and the code i haven't worked out how to change the input channel yet.

    Is there something i have missed?

    Cheers

    Chris

  • T3

    Okay, it's been a while but I'm trying to get back into this again.

    I'm having issues connecting the APM to the Mission Planner. Each time I try to connect, I get

    "Getting Params.. (sysid 1 compid 1)"

    and then it times out with a connection failed. When I click to get more details, it says my serial link isn't fast enough.

    I'm using a bare 1280 board and I had it working a couple of months ago. The only differences are before, I was using a netbook for everything but now I'm using a MacBook with Windows 7 running in bootcamp instead of a netbook.

    Any ideas what could be wrong here?

  • Ordered APM2 kit and new U Blox GPS! 

    Alan

  • Hello fellow ArduRover developers & tweakers,

    I'm helping set up the ArduRover wiki and I'm currently focusing on including parameters pertinent to ArduRover. I want to also specify the range/options for the parameters ie boolean, range [0..100], or string_. If you check out the page let me know what parameters/values are missing or maybe I listed some that aren't used.

    'ArduRover Config' WIKI Page

    Thanks!

    /ron

  • Okay okay I see where I was confused. In my mind I just needed to use the standard 8.4 NiMh battery to plug into a BEC to plug into the APM to power EVERYTHING. But Unless I'm (still) mistaken the battery needs to power the ESC. And I need a separate source to power the APM and the servos.

    Or I believe I saw that I could use a separate BEC in parallel with the ESC that goes straight to the APM so I end up with:

    Battery

    --ESC

    -----APM

    --BEC

    -----APM

    Or am I still missing something

    Thanks for your help haha I feel like I already know the answer but I can't seem to grasp the reality

  • Admin

    @TFrancis,

    It is better to pull the red wire pin out of the three pin conncector and tape it out of the way rather than cutting it. Also I recommend that you use a BEC big enough to handle the APM and the steering servos. I would recommend a BEC of at least 3 - 5 Amps so as not to get voltage sag and the resetting of the APM during operation. You might want to consider powering the BEC from a separate battery so that the motor will always get full power from its own battery.

    Just a thought.

    Regards,

    TCIII

  • 3D Robotics

    TFrancis: Please see the manual (a work in progress) here

  • Hey DIY community, 

    I'm getting near the final stages of setup for my APM Rover using the Traxxas Stampede. I've been reading through the comments and doing some internet research, but I'm still not 100% on how the BEC connects. The default on my traxxas is Battery > ESC > APM 2. Since the ESC has a BEC in it I need to cut the red wire. I figured that I put the BEC between the battery to the APM but it seems like the connectors on the BEC are way smaller than the connectors on the battery. Also what confuses me is that according to the first picture it seems that JL still has the battery connected directly to the ESC (the thick red and black wires)

    So in short, where does the BEC go and HOW do I connect it  

    Thanks a lot, TFrancis

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