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UDB4 Available Today from SparkFun

Posted by Ben Levitt on October 20, 2011 at 4:39pm

UDB4.jpg

SparkFun released a new version of the UAV Dev Board today.  It comes with a new, faster processor with much more program memory and RAM, and loads of extra digital and analog IO.

MatrixPilot 3.2 is already fully compatible with the new board, including support for the expanded set of RC Inputs, Servo Outputs, analog inputs, PPM Input, and even the native OSD.

The gyros have even less drift than on the UDB3, and thanks to Bill's continued research and development, the dead reckoning IMU is rock-solid.

Another nice feature is that SparkFun dropped the price down to $100!

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Comments

  • Dave_fr November 26, 2011 at 4:10pm

    Thanks for your answers !

     

    But then, why not selling the UDB with a bootloader already installed ?

     

  • Developer
    Pete Hollands November 26, 2011 at 4:03pm

    There is a workaround for the Pickit2 to work with the UDB3 dpic33F series which has been discussed on the uavdevvboard forum. Personally, I recommend you go mainstream and use the Pickit3 which is what I do.

    I have never used the pickit2 workaround on the UDB4. Best wishes, Pete

     

  • Distributor
    Martint BuildYourOwnDrone.co.uk November 26, 2011 at 3:52pm

    Hello Dave,

    I believe that the issue is the Pickit2, I have seen information which said it was PicKit3 only due to a change on the boards.

    I hope that Pete will come along and confirm this, or if there is a work around for the UDB4 and the Pickit2 to play together!

     

    Regards

     

    Martin

     

    www.buildyourowndrone.co.uk

  • Dave_fr November 26, 2011 at 3:43pm

    I'm trying to load the code with PicKit2. I use pickit2 as standalone with the pickit2 associated software. I connect the board with the triangle on the pickit2 facing the dash on the UDB4, power it with external 5 volt power source. After selecting dsPic33 I get the following message : "No device detected. Ensure poper capacitance on VDDCORE/VCAP pin".

    Does anyone know what I'm missing ???

  • Developer
    Pete Hollands October 25, 2011 at 12:52pm

    @Robert , Reading the code for MP3.2 I would say 216 samples per frame rate. There are 40 frames per second. ( DCM calculations; attitude control, servo in, and servo out reading). So shoudl be 216 * 40 which is 8640 samples / second.

    The 216 sample are added together and then averaged. The average is then used by the computations that create the Direction Cosine Matrix (those are done in a different interrupt thread at 40 times /second).

    Best wishes, Pete

  • robert bouwens October 25, 2011 at 12:03pm

    hi pete,

    do you know how fast the idg-500 is being read (oversampling)?

    i am not too familiar and reading the code it is not clear to me.

    thanks

    robert

  • DaveyWaveyBunsenBurner October 25, 2011 at 5:29am

    Fab,

    Are you having a bad day? You seem to be singling people out with little or none objective evidence.

  • Distributor
    Martint BuildYourOwnDrone.co.uk October 22, 2011 at 2:32am

    Hi Pete,

     

    Thank you for the information, I think or at least would I would like to think that people will know that these AP's are leading edge, very much like the APM's they have taken a while to reach a very stable place, and the wait and the road travelled has been very worth while :) I agree fully with Anish, can't wait, I just hope we have the same weather as today, clear sky, no wind and great sun shine!

     

    Regards

     

    Martin.

  • Anish October 22, 2011 at 1:44am
    @Pete look forward to it :)
  • Developer
    Pete Hollands October 21, 2011 at 11:49pm

    @Martin, I'm using the 3X brushless version. I will bring the my programming environment for the UDBs including the Pickit3.

    Maja looks interesting. I don't know actually don't know anyone else that it is using it yet with UDB3 or 4.

    One thing on the UDB4. Set everyone's expectations, it's a brand new design. Leading Edge. So we hope there will not be any teething problems, but people need to be realistic. It's flight tested, but it will be a year till we really know all the issues associated with a new design. (It took that long for everything about the UDB3 to emerge).

    Best wishes, Pete

     

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