Blogs

Navio+ - new version of Raspberry Pi autopilot [+ copter video]

Posted by Emlid on January 7, 2015 at 4:08am

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We are happy to announce the new version of our Raspberry Pi autopilot - Navio+, that was developed to run APM under Linux. With more than 300 Navios in the wild we’ve got plenty of feedback and now it is time for an upgrade. We have been so busy testing and flying it, that almost forgot to share our latest progress.

For those who never heard of Navio - Navio is a sensor and connectivity shield that allows to run APM’s Linux port directly on Raspberry Pi. Compared to the classic autopilot hardware it is more flexible and provides higher performance for additional tasks as well as for scientific and research purposes. For example, it is possible to perform GPS real-time processing or image recognition.

Full HD video from Raspberry Pi Camera Module can be streamed over long-range Wi-Fi or LTE thanks to the Raspberry Pi’s built-in hardware 1080p H.264 encoder.

To achieve better performance we provide Raspbian image with kernel patched by RT-PREEMPT patch from Ingo Molnar that allows for minimal latencies and real-time scheduling.

 

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Here’s a list of main features of the new version:

  • New version is compliant with Raspberry Pi’s HAT standard, it fits both on Raspberry Pi Model A+ and Model B+. Our favorite combination is with Raspberry Pi A+, it is very compact and fits on a 250mm copter frame nicely.

  • Power module port for Pixhawk-compatible power modules. Power module provides clean power to Raspberry Pi and sensors from a Li-Po battery as well as current and battery voltage information.  

  • New GNSS receiver - U-blox NEO-M8N, latest generation multi-constellation receiver that supports GPS/Glonass/Beidou and provides better precision and higher update rate.

  • Triple source power supply with ideal diodes - now you can power your Navio+ simultaneously from power module, servo rail and Raspberry Pi’s USB. And if one power supply fails Navio+ simply switches to another.

 

And other improvements:

  • New MCX antenna connector for solid connection.

  • New RGB LED that looks much smoother.

  • Additional LED indicators.

  • Extended voltage range for PPM input - both 3.3V and 5V are supported.

  • AUX input\output for custom purposes.

 

Navio has already successfully driven rovers (Himoto Mastadon, Wild Thumper) as well as controlled copters (HobbyKing Spec FPV250 V2) and planes (Multiplex Easystar 2, Hobbyking Bixler 2).

 

You can get more information about Navio+ on our website - www.emlid.com

Best regards,
Emlid team

P.S. Check out the video of Navio copter fighting with an air flow above the table:

 

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Comments

  • Mikhail Avkhimenia January 8, 2015 at 2:32am

    @vishwanath rambhatla 

    All that is needed is to pass raw gps data to the RTKLIB software, configure it to use corrections from the reference station and then pass the resulting NMEA stream back to the ArduPilot. We're currently working on solving the issue of APM and RTKLIB sharing the SPI bus. 

  • Mikhail Avkhimenia January 8, 2015 at 2:28am

    @Stephen Gloor

    We'll sure post our progress on ODROID-C1. Also, if used with Navio there would be no need to use ODROID's power connector as Navio powers the host board back.

    @Andrew Tridgell

    I've just received the ODROID-C1 board, hope that the default distro has spidev and i2cdev for quick start.

  • Stephen Gloor January 7, 2015 at 9:11pm

    Yep - not really interested in the Pi camera as I use a C920 connected via USB that does the H264 compression however CUAV works really well on the quad processor U3 so it should work well on the C1.

    Just wish they would put a decent power connector in instead of that 2.3mm one.

  • Developer
    Andrew Tridgell January 7, 2015 at 9:06pm

    ahh, nice, I've just ordered a Odroid-C1. That would make a nice combination.

  • Stephen Gloor January 7, 2015 at 8:43pm

    Would love to see the ODROID-C1 version.  Make sure you post here when it is done.

  • Mikhail Avkhimenia January 7, 2015 at 1:06pm

    @Arnaldo Santos

    Banana Pi states that their header is compatible with Raspberry Pi, but mechanically the board does not seem compliant - mounting holes are different and there are components that may prevent mounting.

    But there is a better alternative for those looking for more powerful replacement for Raspberry Pi that is compatible with Navio - ODROID-C1. It's header is compatible with Raspberry Pi as well as it's form-factor. Navio sensors should be accessible from it, but currently it isn't possible to run APM on it since it requires a couple of drivers (GPIO, RCInput) and RT-kernel for Amlogic processor. We have plans to support it and currently doing a research on that matter. 

  • Mikhail Avkhimenia January 7, 2015 at 12:52pm

    @Dan Murray 

    Thanks for support! You'll be the first one to get it:)

  • Arnaldo Santos January 7, 2015 at 11:32am

    Great Update! I am wondering if this Navio board have compatibility with Banana-Pi?? (chinese rasp-pi)

  • Dan Murray January 7, 2015 at 10:57am

    Thanks, that worked - looking forward to playing with it.

  • Mikhail Avkhimenia January 7, 2015 at 10:50am

    @Dan Murray,

    Sorry for the trouble, the issue is fixed now and orders should work.

This reply was deleted.