New board to allow use of 5Hz GPS modules with ArduPilot

(Shown at left above, with a Locosys LS20033 GPS module for size comparison) ArduPilot is designed to use the solid and reliable EM406 GPS module, which is a 5v, 1Hz device that works well under most conditions. But if you want more precise navigation, you may want to upgrade to the 5Hz Locosys module that Dean Goedde is using with AttoPilot. That's a 3.3v module, so you can't just plug it into the ArduPilot board. Instead, Jordi has designed a special daughterboard that does the following: --Converts ArduPilot's 5v power to 3.3v power --Provides a EM406 connector, so it's a direct plug-in replacement for the EM406 --Provides a break-out connector so you can add a wireless modem, such as a Zigbee. --Power LED We may release this as a pre-made product, but in the meantime you can make your own. Buy the board from BatchPCB here. Components:

2 x 0.1uf capacitor, 490-2536-1-ND or, PCC1828CT-ND (recommended)
2 x 1.0uf polarized capacitor, 493-2364-1-ND (optional)
1 x Power regulator SMD, LM317EMPCT-ND
1 x Blue Led, 160-1643-1-ND
1 x 240 ohms low tolerance resistor <= 1%, RG20P240BCT-ND
1 x 390 ohms low tolerance resistor <= 1%, P390DACT-ND
1 x 10 kohms normal resistor, P10KDACT-ND
1x EM406 connector, Sparkfun

Eagle files (schematic and PCB) are here.

I beleive the GPS should work fine, just make sure you get the pinout correct.
As it happend I will be testing what i believe is the exact same GPS as soon as i recieve my Ardupilot.
Some time ago, Dean Goedde maker of the Attopilot compared the LS20033 (a very similar gps as to what you are planning to use) to the LS20033 (the one this daughterboard was designed for)

I quote:
"I have EXTENSIVE testing of the 5Hz MediaTek LS20033 and LS20031 in AttoPilot... The larger LS20031 outperforms the smaller antenna version (LS20033) hands down in controlled experiments for solidity of GPS lock and retention of lock in steep banking turns (45+ degrees)"

That being said, the GPS you describe(or very similar) is used in many OSD's by FPV guys and they pretty happy.
Hope this helps.
Nick

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3D Robotics

Chris Anderson March 1, 2009 at 9:44am

Ken: it sounds like you may have soldered on the LED the wrong way around. Can you unsolder them and try again with another one?
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson March 1, 2009 at 7:45am

Ken: Could be (I didn't design the board). Can you try and see?
kitemaker Ken February 28, 2009 at 11:50pm

Chris: I made one of these daughter boards to learn how to do surface soldering. It is working fine powering my LS20031 at 3.3V, but the power LED doesn't light. The LED is speced at 10k. Is it possible this should instead be a 1K LED, like those in the ArduPilot?

-Ken
Nick Sargeant February 12, 2009 at 9:44am

I just thought its about 3am here so apologies for any grammatical and spelling mistakes in the last post...
Nick Sargeant February 12, 2009 at 9:41am

I beleive the GPS should work fine, just make sure you get the pinout correct.
As it happend I will be testing what i believe is the exact same GPS as soon as i recieve my Ardupilot.
Some time ago, Dean Goedde maker of the Attopilot compared the LS20033 (a very similar gps as to what you are planning to use) to the LS20033 (the one this daughterboard was designed for)

I quote:
"I have EXTENSIVE testing of the 5Hz MediaTek LS20033 and LS20031 in AttoPilot... The larger LS20031 outperforms the smaller antenna version (LS20033) hands down in controlled experiments for solidity of GPS lock and retention of lock in steep banking turns (45+ degrees)"

That being said, the GPS you describe(or very similar) is used in many OSD's by FPV guys and they pretty happy.
Hope this helps.
Nick
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson February 12, 2009 at 9:24am

Michal: Looks interesting, although we'd need to find a retail source and then test it. But just out of curiosity, what particular advantage are you looking for with 5Hz? We're finding that 1Hz actually works fine for most applications.
Scott McCain February 10, 2009 at 8:03am

You could run a second diode from circuit ground to the GND pin of the voltage. This will fix your .7v drop on the output (BTW I didnt look at the schematic, just assuming your are using a linear regulator)
Kim Skatun February 2, 2009 at 2:17am

"The level converter is very easy to use. The board needs to be powered from the two voltages sources (high voltage and low voltage) that your system is using. High voltage (5V for example) to the 'HV' pin, low voltage (2.8V for example) to 'LV', and ground from the system to the 'GND' pin"

So what I think of doing is to solder a cable from ground pin in HV to groundpin LV and then one resitor from there to vcc(200k??) LV and a resistor from vcc in HV to LV(300k??)

Shouldn't that work just fine then?

How did u make those nice plots in google earth? What about make an interface with googlemaps/google earth where u can just click on the map to set the waypoints and then transfer them to the ardupilot?
Kim Skatun January 30, 2009 at 8:23am

I thought it had powersupply, sure it doesn't?
Nick Sargeant January 29, 2009 at 10:34am

Ah, ok. Thanks

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