ArduPilot Mega Updates, updates!

I have several stuff i would like to explain! Let's enumerate them:

1.-The first batch of ArduPilot Mega's may be released this Wednesday 28.

2.- The lasted shield is ready (codename: Foxtrap) and has many advantages compared to the last board, including the Invensense gyros (cheaper and better against vibration), smaller board size, can be used on the top or in the bottom, build-in absolute pressure sensor (Bosch) and i removed the differential pressure sensor, but you can still add it as an optional expansion board.

The price still the same.... ;-)

Facts you already know about the shield:
-3.3V Regulator.
-Relay switch for cameras, lights or payloads.
-12-bit ADC.
-Build-in Data Logger (The Black Box).
-Piano DIP switch for servo reverse.
-Build-in FTDI, serial to USB.
-Dedicated Modem/OSD port.
-I2C Port for Magnetometer.
-Two buttons (one momentary, second slide).
-Expansion analogs ports and more.

You can give a look to the Eagle Files here:
ArduPilotMegaShield_F1.brd
ArduPilotMegaShield_F1.sch

Latest boards:
ArduPilotMegaShield_F2.brd
ArduPilotMegaShield_F2.sch

About the development names I use: Alpha1 never made it, Bravo1 is the one i sent to Julio (private release), Charlie1 luckily arrived late, Delta1 was canceled because i decided to remove the differential pressure sensor and add the absolute pressure sensor. Eco1 was also canceled because i switched the Gyros from ST to Invensense. Current released candidate is the Foxtrap1..

Check the new logo:

I will order the first batch this Monday, i hope they arrived fast to test and release!

I have many other stuff going on! I have to leave so you will see later.. ;-)

BTW, Thanks to Scott Plunkett for the Bosch absolute pressure sensor and Bill Premerlani for the Invensense gyros explanation!

@Andrew, I don't know if I would agree with your statement on the gains. I have found the servo gains to be fairly tolerant of airspeed variation, and the navigation gains need to be dependent on ground speed, not airspeed. Having or not having an airspeed sensor has no bearing on managing airspeed when flying with or against the wind. The airframe does not know what the ground is doing beneath it. It will fly the same airspeed for a given pitch angle and throttle setting regardless of it is heading upwind or downwind.

I have flown the same airframe with ArduPilot w/ 2.6 both with and without the airspeed sensor. For general waypoint flying I found the system to be easier to set up and to produce equal navigation performance without the airspeed sensor.

I think having the airspeed sensor optional is OK. It is needed for some applications, but not others, and it adds complexity and cost.

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Comments

Developer

Jordi Muñoz April 26, 2010 at 7:45pm

BTW i also forgot to mention that Invensense gyros are inmune to RF interference, 900mhz xBee for example.... The current ST gyros are affected by some modems...
Developer

Doug Weibel April 26, 2010 at 6:46pm

@Andrew, I don't know if I would agree with your statement on the gains. I have found the servo gains to be fairly tolerant of airspeed variation, and the navigation gains need to be dependent on ground speed, not airspeed. Having or not having an airspeed sensor has no bearing on managing airspeed when flying with or against the wind. The airframe does not know what the ground is doing beneath it. It will fly the same airspeed for a given pitch angle and throttle setting regardless of it is heading upwind or downwind.

I have flown the same airframe with ArduPilot w/ 2.6 both with and without the airspeed sensor. For general waypoint flying I found the system to be easier to set up and to produce equal navigation performance without the airspeed sensor.

I think having the airspeed sensor optional is OK. It is needed for some applications, but not others, and it adds complexity and cost.
Alessandro Vitali April 26, 2010 at 12:52pm

Tanks guys for this awesome Work tanks, Jordi, Chris, Bill and all the development group of this project.

I don't see the time to prove IT on my airplanes .
John C. April 25, 2010 at 8:39pm

Thanks for the response! We'll see how they all come together shortly!
Developer

Jordi Muñoz April 25, 2010 at 8:09pm

John, the beta board don't have the fuse, but the functionally is the same... There's a new board with minor changes that will be released later, the first Sparkfun batch (the one that may be released soon) is very similar to the beta board...
John C. April 25, 2010 at 7:56pm

Hey all....great news on all of this...putting together plans for a second plane to fly this board....

I've asked this a few other places, and hadn't heard anything yet.

Do we know if there are any changes from the APM Beta board to the APM production board that would make the Beta board downlevel at this point?

Not a big deal to me, I knew what I was buying, just wondering if I should plan for a production board right off the bat as well.

Thanks!

JC
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson April 25, 2010 at 7:22pm

Miles that's right in the tab above.
Miles April 25, 2010 at 5:30pm

It would be really great if on the DIY drones store a list of parts that need to be purchased to make the autopilot functional. As I am sure there people that maybe attempting to build the Argumega for the first time and won't have a clue about every sensor cable etc and might end up doing multiple orders.
Developer

Jordi Muñoz April 25, 2010 at 11:34am

Scott Plunkett point me to the sensors, i saw them before but they were not available...
Developer

Jordi Muñoz April 25, 2010 at 11:34am

Lew,

On the SparkFun UAV competition Bill explained to me that he is working on the new UDB. So he give a try to the Ivensense gyros and shipped out some protos, some of those users test them on helicopters, the reports indicated that they were AWESOME compared to the ST gyros. He also explained me (briefly) how they work internally, I actually don't remember quite well the details (I was distracted with the noise around), but i remember clearly him rising the hands and saying: So they are virtually vibration immune, they are great!".

I didn't use them before because Arduino 10-bit ADC is not enough resolution for them, but now we are using 12bits...

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