The Paparazzi team have released a new IMU board called Asprin. It's just the accelerometers, gyros and magnetometer sensors (no processor) and is available for $110 at Joby Robotics.
Strangely, I can't find any mention of it being open source. Is it actually possible that Paparazzi is no longer supporting open source hardware? That would be sad if true. They seem to have deleted the Hardware folder from their repository. [Correction: the hardware repository is here. It only has the schematic of Lisa (no board file) and no files at all for Asprin]. I've asked for clarification, but haven't heard back yet.
Remember that Paparazzi's tagline is "Bringing freedom to UAV since 2003". Maybe it should be "Bringing freedom to UAVs, 2003-2010" ;-)
[UPDATE: The official statement: "For the time being the Eagle files for Aspirin are not released in a OSHW definition compatible way. We at Joby Robotics would love to be able to release the files. But we don’t feel comfortable with that at the moment. It is a continuing discussion here at Joby Robotics, so let’s hope for the best! 
P.S. Aspirin is not a “Paparazzi” design as such, it was developed at Joby Robotics with close collaboration with Paparazzi community. It may have not been reflected by the article properly for some readers."]
[UPDATE2: On March 3rd, the Joby team did decide to release the files and open source the boards. Lisa is here and Asprin is here. Good news!]
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Comments
I realize the point of this thread is to determine paparazzi's open sourcedness, but in the meantime, just a reminder to those that might be interested, an identical suite of sensors (although maybe not as nicely voltage regulated) is available as an open source arduino compatible board with code is described here:
http://www.diydrones.com/forum/topics/freeimu-designing-a-free-as-in
I can shed light on this. Paparazzi Project is and always will be completely open source. However, it is also possible to have hardware that is compatible with Paparazzi that is not. If Lisa/L or the new IMU is or is not is has nothing to do with Paparazzi. Notice it's made by JobyRobotics.
A good analogy would be that Linux is open source. Hardware that runs Linux is not always open source.
FWIW: The hardware that is open source is extensive and still available by typing this command: svn svn://svn.savannah.nongnu.org/paparazzi/paparazzi-hardware paparazzi-hardware
OpenUAS: thanks for your response, which is helpful. It's not that I want it now, it's just that I want to know whether Paparazzi is still committed to open source hardware or not. Once a product is for sale it is by definition no longer under development and OSH guidelines call for the release of the design files (both board and schematic).
It's perfectly okay of companies (such as uBlox, as you mention) to choose not to do that, but then they aren't open source.
If you're telling me that the Paparazzi team is still fully committed to open source and the full Eagle design files for both Lisa/X and Asprin will be made available shortly, I would be very glad to hear that and will monitor that closely.
Can you in fact confirm that?
First of all, please do not confuse the Opensource Paparazzi GPL software with 3rd party hardware, regardless open or closed.
Anyhow, understand is that the Lisa/X design is still in flux (and the software is in heavy flux). The philosophy behind Lisa/L is to have a full options board to testdrive the Paparazzi software on the stm32 and improve the software. When we feel it works as it should, it can be run on another smaller e.g. Lisa/M (Which is also still in development stage), it is just lots of work...
For Esden's IMU full PCB design to have it now, I think your options are to stuff the board schematics into e.g. Altium, position the components see http://paparazzi.enac.fr/wiki_images/Aspirin_IMU_documented.jpg , do the autoroute and adjust at will then you can make the board if you need. Should work with the same software, or you are free to improve an submit changes.
You already asked esden as I understood from your post here http://paparazziuav.org/2011/02/21/aspirin-imu-release/ but my impression is you want it now, and are unhappy you can not have it. Keep in mind the original third party hardware developer does not needs to provide brd files if the developer does not want to provide this, or feels like he is ready for it yet. Just like uBlox does not need to provide their brd or whatever files to the Paparazzi project or you, I think someone else also does not need to at the moment when you want them. I feel sorry for you but that is how I see it.
About the "takes a lot of work to get it right?" is about using third party hardware and integrate code so it can be used into a Paparazzi based autopilot. The Paparazzi team just does it best to get as much 3rd party sensors working we deem could help out users.
I understand that you are enthusiastic about that board, I would advise you to test one first, then see if it really fits your needs anyway.
Hi Chris,
I got no info about the new hardware, but as OpenUAS pointed out, the mailing list and the wiki are still the main communication platforms of the community. The blog is just starting and probably not the fastest way to get in contact.
Regarding Lisa I´m looking forward on getting my hands on Lisa/M... High performance in a receiver-sized package. But first going to test my ArduIMU. Let´s work together!
OpenUAS: I left a comment on the official announcement post. They responded but would not confirm that it will be open source hardware. Asprin is already finished and for sale, so what do you mean it "takes a lot of work to get it right?" The Eagle files obviously exist and the repository is there; how hard is to put the files in the repository? The fastest way to put this issue to rest is to simply post the .sch and .brd files. Until they're up, people are right to worry.
Given that Lisa has been out for a year, can you point me to the Eagle board file (.brd) for it?
Of course it will be opensource, you silly ;) It just takes a lot of work to get it right. And I wonder WHO Chris might have contacted and "I've asked for clarification," certainly not the mailinglist ;) BTW the repository is wrong correct is https://github.com/paparazzi/paparazzi/ and when the Git migration is fully ready https://github.com/paparazzi/hardware for... indeed the hardware... But anyone willing to help out, plz join the Paparazzi project and submit your patches and improvments. But OK, we all loooove gossip don't we :-) ?
BTW I heard a rumour it will contain alien biochemical elements... LOL
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