Gumstix releases PX4-compatible Linux flight controller board

Thanks to Chris Crews in the forums, a new AeroCore from Gumstix. $199

The AeroCore from Gumstix offers everyone from enthusiasts to educators the opportunity to power their very own micro-aerial vehicle. With an ARM Cortex-M4 microcontroller running NuttX RTOS and an integrated connection for award-winning DuoVero series computers-on-module, AeroCore gives users a complete Linux installation on a PX4-compatible platform.

2 x 70-pin Hirose DF40 Connectors	70-pin Hirose DF40 Connectors (Expansion side)
24-Pin Header	8xPWM Outputs
40-pin header	GPIO/Breakout and Power
6-Pin Header	Cortex-M4 SPI Breakout
Accelerometer	3-Axis Accelerometer + 3-Axis Magnetometer
Barometer	Included
Gyroscope	3-Axis Angular Rate Sensor
Processor	ARM Cortex-M4 Microcontroller
USB OTG	USB Micro-AB Connector

Andrew Simpson from Gumstix adds some details in the comments:

I work at Gumstix and the AeroCore is so new that it won't even be officially announced until tomorrow morning!

The AeroCore is a DuoVero expansion board that can also be used standalone; the onboard microcontroller is the same as the one on the PX4FMU (STM32F4 series Cortex-M4), but some of the sensors are different (full tech. specs here).

I'm not very familiar (read: not at all!) with ArduPilot/APM and AP-HAL software, but I'm sure it can be made to work on the AeroCore with a little bit of effort. We're hoping the AeroCore will be a good choice for developers who want to do some interesting, high-level stuff in the air.

Thanks! Let us know if you've got more questions!

Andrew Simpson
Content Developer
Gumstix, Inc.

Hi Andrew, I appreciate the follow up info, thanks, that helps!

Is there any place I can go to find out more about the software running on this system? Is any software provided? Is there software for the nuttx side that directly queries and reports the sensor data? I'm also curious about data transfer rates possible between the sensor subsystem and the duovero.

The autopilot software I've been running is designed for unix/linux/gumstix and it's not hard to add a new 'hardware' driver. I'd anticipate it would be relatively straight forward to support this board if the communication protocols between the sensor subsystem and the duovero were documented.

Is there any place that lists the physical dimensions of this board?

Are servos powered through the board or can a separate source be used to power the servos?

Thanks,

Curt.

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Comments

3D Robotics

Chris Anderson April 25, 2014 at 4:41pm

For those in the Bay Area interested in learning more about this, the CEO of Gumstix will be presenting it at the SF Drones Meetup on May 22nd. Sign up here.
Stefan April 20, 2014 at 6:45am

Hi, Andrew, where can I find the schematics of the AeroCore?
Curt Olson April 17, 2014 at 10:25am

Hi Andrew, I appreciate the follow up info, thanks, that helps!

Is there any place I can go to find out more about the software running on this system? Is any software provided? Is there software for the nuttx side that directly queries and reports the sensor data? I'm also curious about data transfer rates possible between the sensor subsystem and the duovero.

The autopilot software I've been running is designed for unix/linux/gumstix and it's not hard to add a new 'hardware' driver. I'd anticipate it would be relatively straight forward to support this board if the communication protocols between the sensor subsystem and the duovero were documented.

Is there any place that lists the physical dimensions of this board?

Are servos powered through the board or can a separate source be used to power the servos?

Thanks,

Curt.
Cronselaar April 16, 2014 at 8:23am

I will be ordering a few for our varsity... This is awesome...
Cronselaar April 16, 2014 at 8:14am

The GPS module does seem a bit old though... I see a NEO5 on it.. Ublox on 8 already... Come on...
Cronselaar April 16, 2014 at 7:59am

Yes please... Will be awesome for some vision research!!!! And even cheaper than the Pix... :)
Curt Olson April 16, 2014 at 6:26am

Hi Andrew, can I ask a few questions?

I didn't see any information stating what gps is used on this board?

I think I saw that the duovero talks to to the sensor 'block' via a uart connection. What is the max/recommended baud rate?

How fast is the IMU queried?

Is there any specific reason you guys didn't pick the MPU6000 but used separate accelerometers and gyros?

Is there any way to feed in the RC receiver data to read the pilot inputs from the RC transmitter on the ground? Are specific receivers or receiver hacks required to do this?

How many duovero uarts are available for communication? Just the one console link, or are there more uarts exposed and available?

Thanks!
John Moore April 15, 2014 at 6:45am

Cool. Im confused about using this as stand alone vs with a DuoVero. What can it do on its own?
Simon Howroyd April 15, 2014 at 3:09am

mmmm looks power hungry. I like
Noli Sicad April 15, 2014 at 12:00am

2 interesting dev doc for Odroid U3 and Pixhawk (below),

http://pixhawk.org/peripherals/onboard_computers/odroid_u3

http://dev.ardupilot.com/wiki/odroid-via-mavlink/

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