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ArduStation Assembly Instructions

Posted by Jordi Muñoz on June 25, 2009 at 2:00pm


What you will need:
-ArduStation Kit
-Soldering Iron:

-Solder:

-Flush/diagonal cutters:

Recommended:
-Low Profile Multimeter:

-Disordering Tool:



-This is what you will find inside the ArduStation components antistatic bag (LCD is included of course):


-Lets start soldering the non polarized capacitors (.1uF), when you are done place the xBee headers:


-After you placed the xBee headers, place any xBee module you have available to hold the headers in the right angle, then solder:


-Continue with the Atmega328 socket and the buzzer, watch out with the buzzer polarity!:


-Now place the protection diode (check the white strip) and the power regulator, be careful both have polarity too:


-Lets continue with the potentiometers, one is for the contrast with the number "103" or 10Kohms (UP) and the other with the long pins is for the backlight LED, with the number "502" or 5Kohms (down).


-An extra picture:


-Now solder the first 100uF polarized capacitors, check out the white strip (negative).


-Now solder the second 100uF polarized capacitors, check out the white strip (negative).


-No solder the 16Mhz Resonator (orange/brown one), is not polarized, the reset button and the power jack (easy):



Now we need to solder the LED's, but i have chosen very bright LED's in order to see something under the sun, but they are clear, so no way to see the color and one of the was inverted polarity (the long pin is the negative). A solution for that is using a the multimeter, just choose the continuity option or diode test (both will work):

This trick works great for SMD LED, for normal LED will not be so effective but it will work. Anyway just place the multimeter probes in the LED and see in with side the LED turns on and check the color also the LED side that the multimeter red probe is touching is the positive polarity of the LED. In the back of the board you can check the positive polarity of the LED holes:


-After you solder the LED's in the right way, is time to solder the funniest part, the buttons:


-Turn the board and place the Atmega328 carefully (the little half-circle divot on the chip should be on the side with the little half-circle in the socket; ignore the position of the red dot on the chip, which is not meaningful). The processors comes with bootloader pre-loaded:


-Now just solder the LCD (you can use female headers so you can remove the LCD anytime) and the FTDI port. You are ready to connect it. Note: You can't upload code when the xBee is connected.


-When you are ready, just upload the ArduStaion demo code here. It should work with ArduPilot and show you real time telemetry as indicated:


-By pressing the buttons left and right you can change the screen data.


You can find the latest code here:
http://code.google.com/p/ardu-station/
The example is commented and you adapt this system to any of your projects!

Enjoy!
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Comments

  • Admin
    Thomas J Coyle III June 28, 2009 at 7:03pm
    Jordi,

    What is the size of the coaxial power jack on the ArduStation board: K, L, M, N, or none of the above?

    I need to find a plug at Rat Shack that will fit it.

    Regards,
    TCIII
  • helitron June 26, 2009 at 7:13am
    Just recognized that mine is also on the way already :-), great. Will also search for an appropriate enclosure then.

    Erwin
  • Developer
    Jordi Muñoz June 25, 2009 at 6:25pm
    Thomas,

    I suggest to make your own temporarily. I don't know how many time it will take and if is so expensive i will have to delay it.
  • Admin
    Thomas J Coyle III June 25, 2009 at 6:16pm
    Jordi,

    An enclosure sounds great. I was planning on making my own, but if DYI Drones plans to make one available, I am sure that you can provide it for less than I could make my own.

    Regards,
    TCIII
  • Developer
    Jordi Muñoz June 25, 2009 at 6:05pm
    I hope you will love it as much i do. Is the best tool to test the ardupilot in the field. Looking forward to make a nice enclosure too.
  • Developer
    Jordi Muñoz June 25, 2009 at 6:03pm
    You are all welcome! =)
  • Admin
    Thomas J Coyle III June 25, 2009 at 3:05pm
    I just checked the USPS tracking website and my ArduStation kit is winging its way towards Texas. I will probably have it by Saturday.

    Thanks for the speedy service Jordi. Much appreciated.

    Regards,
    TCIII
  • Moderator
    Gary Mortimer June 25, 2009 at 2:41pm
    Good job
  • Reto June 25, 2009 at 2:28pm
    Just went through order! Thanks for this nice kit and good work, Jordi!
This reply was deleted.