jDrones NEWS: IOBoard goes MAVLink 1.0
Time has come to make another exciting release. New software has been released for our mini IOBoard. With this software you are not anymore depending on static flashes, blinks and other patterns.
We made blog post about basic jD-IOBoard few weeks ago and you can read it in here. Now it just get's better and better.
jD-IOBoard now listens full MAVLink 1.0 protocol and acts depending on flight modes. Currently we are supporting ArduCopter and ArduPlane style flight modes but more has been planned. Basically all MAVLink compatible systems works fine with this.
Big thanks to Michael Oborne for his great jD-IOBoard Confgurator program that allows users easily to configure and test play different patterns. Michael is the man behind Mission Planner and also OSD Configurator.
On configurator you can create 16 step patterns and 8 patterns that can be binded on different flight modes. On right hand side of every pattern you have Test box where you can simulate your pattern. Just click Test and then change on/off positions to get your desired outcome.
With Configurator you can also upload our latest HEX files from Arducodes repository.
Here is quick demo video of how it works in real-life with 3 different patterns.
Currently we are only allowing REAR pattern to be changed but in future there will be others coming too.
You can always find latest HEX and other files from our: Arducodes repository (jD-IOBoard 1.4 MAVLink. HEX)
Latest Configurator can always been downloaded from our: Software repository (Setup.EXE). Setup file is available on our Arducodes repository too.
Configurator has builtin update feature installed so it will make sure that you always have latest version of it. Source code is on our repository.
jD-IOBoard can be found from our store at http://store.jdrones.com and also from our distributors around world.
Have fun with your flashing lights. Evenings are getting darker but planes and copter more brighter.
Regards,
Jani / jDrones
Comments
Jani, that is really cool, i was thinking something really similar with an extra row for pins and jumpers in my version 2 in order to wire RX PIN to do ISP without disconnecting the boards when new firmware was available for any of them.
Patricio, yep you need similar like that when you have more boards connected to telemetry port. We made really similar to yours but added button and few jumpers to make it more versatile. These similar boards will be available for other users soon too.
Heres picture/schematic how my test boards looks like
I have created a 1:3 Fanout adapter that is working great with Telemetry + OSD + IOBoard and APM 2.5.
I have done it cutting a Stripboard of 4x5 holes and soldering 4 rows of 5 pins from a pin strip. Then i Interconected the rows as shown in the diagram bellow
Stefano yes you can connect it. You can have same time telemetry radios, OSD and IOBoard
is it possible to connect if you also have telemetry radio transmitter on apm 2.5 board??
F11, I am not sure how he controls that boat and what all on it. I can can checkout from one of my friend who made program for it next time I see/talk wihm him. As far as I remember it was a full size boat.
I prefer if you do a burn test because I only have one extra board. I'm going to get a couple more from you because they make good animated lights for APMless quads and other uses. This week I will be getting some motors and other things from you. I sent you a picture about one motor I had a problem with.
And curious how your friend would use this to control a big boat? Lights on a full size boat?
Sure you can. I know that there are some people using those even to control their big boats etc. IOBoard is fully versatile on it's applications. Also one my friend already uses them to control hes RGB strips at his home.
PIN limit on Darlington array is 500mAh (according datasheet). But not fully sure if you can drive 6*500mAh simultaneously.as you might overload grounding on that case. After I am back from my trip (next monday) we can test and overload one IOBoard.
Anyone know how to get rid of the flashing green and red lights that happen about every minute? It also usually freezes the back blue light on or off when it happens. At night it's very undesirable when it happens at a distance because you lose orientatiion easier.
What causes the flashing and is it some normal alert I'm not aware of?
My details:
APM2 with built-in GPS
IOBoard from jdrones that I got a few weeks ago.
No battery monitoring set up if that matters.
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