3D Robotics

[NOTE/UPDATE: All the below, from long ago, has been superseded by events. Basic ArduPilot proved capable of every this described here, so we cancelled this version of the product. Thinking about what the next version of ArduPilot could be can be found here. ]

Our main entry-level ArduPilot is designed to be simple, easy to use, and cheap so it just does navigation and leaves stabilization to an stand-alone FMA Co-Pilot with infrared ("thermopile") sensors. But you can tell by our release of our own IR sensor boards the other week, the ultimate aim of this project has been to release a more advanced version that does it all: navigation + stabilization in one. But a standard Arduino isn't powerful enough for all that. So what's the solution?

A dual-core Arduino! So here it is: ArduPilot Pro, with two Arduinos, a MUX/failsafe and built-in GPS onboard. Jordi's design incorporates everything you need for a fully-functioning autopilot, with a target price of under $100, including GPS and thermopile sensors. One ATMega168 processor handles stabilization and the other handles navigation, but because they talk to each other, you get a fully-integrated autopilot, with control over all aircraft channels.

We could have just switched to a much more powerful processor, but that would have cost more, be harder to program and wouldn't benefit from the easy-to-use IDE and the software libraries available for the fantastic open-source Arduino project. The downside of doing it as a dual-core board is that we have to program each Atmega168 processor, as well as the MUX's ATTiny processor, separately, which is why there are three ICSP ports on the board. But in the commercial version, which will come with all processors pre-programmed, there will be little need to fiddle with the stabilization and MUX code, so they can be treated as black-box hardware. (The ICSP ports are just there for anybody who wants to fiddle with them anyway.)

We haven't tested this one yet, so we're not quite ready to provide a link to buy the board. But the Eagle 5 files for the schematic and board are here and here.

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Comments

  • @gke

    I had a brief look at your site. Are you still considering whether to release the schematics and software?
  • Just joined DIYDrones. Very interesting work Chris. I built up a very similar autopilot a little while ago which was also based on the IR sensors. The Board is at the following link and more info is there if you backtrack.

    http://www.eganfamily.id.au/archive30nov2007/monash/research/uav/bo...

    I look forward to contributing where I can.
    Professor G.K. Egan
    UAV Research
  • Ok Chris, no rush.....mean while i´ll be using my RCAP and preparing the board till there !

    Gil
  • 3D Robotics
    Gil,

    We're not ready for this one yet. Our focus right now is on ArduPilot, which may include some thermopile stabilization itself. I wouldn't expect ArduPilot Pro to be ready for release until mid-year at the earliest.
  • Hi Chris, is it possible to share the code for this Pro version, i´ll be making one board but it is unusefull without the code.
    Thanks in advance

    Gil
  • Any body out there have BTA-06 for sale
  • Cool, I'll check from time to time then. I meant PDQ post-release, I know how it is.
  • 3D Robotics
    Sure, that's just a matter of code, so it's doable. But what's not doable is buying it pdq, since we won't release it until next year.
  • Is elvon mixing a possibilty with this? I'm a flying wing nut, so no rudder for me. If it can handle an elvon mode, I'd buy one from you pdq. Otherwise I'd have to build a new plane, and while that's not exactly a sad thing, it's gonna be a while.
  • Have you heard about the development of the Sanguino? Basically it is a beefier microprocessor, still an Atmel, but it still uses the arduino language and development environment.

    Announcement video

    The Sanguino site
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