We've wanted to be transparent with the community on our plans for ArduPilot Mega to get feedback, but I fear we've also introduced uncertainty and confusion. Here are some tips and pointers that may help you plan your ArduPilot path.
First, don't expect ArduPilot Mega until well into the new year. Second, it will be considerably more expensive than ArduPilot. Third, it won't necessarily work any better than the current ArduPilot for basic autopilot functions--it's just for people who want two-way telemetry and a more compact installation. Fourth, we'll continue to support the current ArduPilot. These are two different products, for two different customer classes.
We'll also be releasing a product that's for a lower end of the market, an even simpler, cheaper autopilot for inherently stable aircraft (this is a turn-rate limiter autopilot that will outperform the PicoPilot at less than 1/4 the cost). Also Q1.
So think of ArduPilot as a family of products: Entry, General and Pro.
ArduIMU is not part of the ArduPilot line. It's for people who want to integrate an IMU/AHRS into their own project.The IMU in ArduPilot Mega will be custom for that product.
Unless you're really trying to save money, I suggest most people start with the current ArduPilot. It's mature, stable and will be supported as long as we can see. ArduPilot Mega will someday get there, but unless you're willing to deal with our teething pains for the next year, you'll be a lot happier with the current product.
Moril, we're designing everything from scratch. But note Jason's comment about the virtues of thermopiles. For the next 12 months, or so, while we work through the bugs, I suspect mostly people will be happier with the thermopile-based autopilot. IMUs sound easy but are a bear to get working reliably. Don't underestimate the advantages of absolute horizon reference systems!
I'm mostly interested in 2-way comm which this will provide and a setup that will read all seven channels of my radio. I'm afraid that might be tough without the PPM data from my radio. The PWM data can overlap the 6th and 7th channel. If I read in loops at 25hz I should be able to do it. Until then I can just add a ardiuno mini for 2 way for now.
Believe it or not, I've been holding back my questions on this topic since I know Jordi and Chris are working hard on it. I'm really struggling with which direction to go with respect to hardware, but I have a very strong desire to go with Arduino Mega + Failsafe/MUX + GPS and get the basic ArduPilot running. Then, I'd really like to use ArduIMU and the built-in DCM to output the serial information to the ArduPilot code on the Mega, but convert the angles to the corresponding analog variables (that are expected to be IR) in software without messing with an intermediate D/A conversion. It just seems that Arduino Mega gives me the most flexibility for developing this direction, as well as working on the ground station project (requiring a second Mega), and associated 2-way communication to help tuning happen faster. I know some of you are shaking your heads - this guy is crazy, but there have to be others thinking along the same path I just outlined, right?
The ArduPilot code will run on any Arduino, including the Mega. Of course it won't do anything useful if you don't have all the right inputs, from GPS to RC to sensors, and you'll have to find your own way to connect them, but technically it's possible.
Ah - I was just going to add that - the MUX/failsafe. Other than that (and the tangle of wires), is there anything technically wrong with the concept? I understand it is not the best path, but I'd like to stick with Arduino, otherwise I'd be more inclined to try the UAVDevBoard.
Andy, I wouldn't recommend that. You don't have the MUX/failsafe chip, and much depends on that. I think at best you're looking at a tangle of wires on a breadboard, and at worst you're reinventing the wheel. If you want an open-source IMU-based board now, get the UAVDevBoard.
If I were to jump in now by purchasing a Arduino Mega and either the IR sensors or the ArduIMU and the associated to-be-built analog adapter, is it reasonable to run the ArduPilot code on the Arduino Mega, as if it were a standard ArduPilot?
Stated another way, can I build an ArduPilot with Arduino Mega hardware, and then morph into ArduPilot Mega later as that becomes available? At least from a technical standpoint?
I think <$300 is a good price target for the works, including GPS (but not including wireless telemetry and ground station hardware). But we'll see. As always, everything will be open source and all software will be free and open to all.
We'll probably sell the autopilot board itself through third parties, for regulatory reasons. (We don't sell autopilots; we give away autopilot technology for others to sell and sell stuff around them)
Comments
Believe it or not, I've been holding back my questions on this topic since I know Jordi and Chris are working hard on it. I'm really struggling with which direction to go with respect to hardware, but I have a very strong desire to go with Arduino Mega + Failsafe/MUX + GPS and get the basic ArduPilot running. Then, I'd really like to use ArduIMU and the built-in DCM to output the serial information to the ArduPilot code on the Mega, but convert the angles to the corresponding analog variables (that are expected to be IR) in software without messing with an intermediate D/A conversion. It just seems that Arduino Mega gives me the most flexibility for developing this direction, as well as working on the ground station project (requiring a second Mega), and associated 2-way communication to help tuning happen faster. I know some of you are shaking your heads - this guy is crazy, but there have to be others thinking along the same path I just outlined, right?
Stated another way, can I build an ArduPilot with Arduino Mega hardware, and then morph into ArduPilot Mega later as that becomes available? At least from a technical standpoint?
We'll probably sell the autopilot board itself through third parties, for regulatory reasons. (We don't sell autopilots; we give away autopilot technology for others to sell and sell stuff around them)
JC