Comments

• 3D Robotics

  Chris Anderson August 12, 2012 at 5:39pm

  F11: Yes, if you already have a compiled hex file, you can load it with Control-F in the MP. If you don't have a hex, you'll need to use Arduino. 

  I think 2.7.1 can be run on the old 1280 if you disable the CLI and datalogging. (I don't have a 1280 anymore, so can't check)
• 

  steve August 12, 2012 at 5:25pm

  Is it possible to fit 2.7.1 on the 1280? I know I can't upload it via MP but can I strip out some things like logging so that it will fit?

  Also is there a way to upload older versions of the firmware using Mission Planner? I recall something about holding an option key down or something when clicking on firmware but I'm not finding it.
• Developer

  Randy August 9, 2012 at 6:46pm

  @Leonard,

       Re using the sonar and the optical flow, there should be no problem.  Really the sonar is for vertical position hold, the optical flow sensor for horizontal hold.  The interface is also different - the sonar uses an analog voltage while the optical flow sensor uses the SPI bus.  So, all in all, shouldn't be a problem.
• Leonard Gunter August 9, 2012 at 5:30pm

  i have my sonar mounted on the new 3dr mount is it ok to mount optical flow sensor on it also or will there be interference
• Dan August 8, 2012 at 4:36am

  I'm interested in using four digital (vs analog) led strips to do a sort of animation along the arms of my quad.  The LEDs would light sequentially from outside to in when the quad was descending and inside to out when it was ascending, with the speed of the animation being dependent on the speed of altitude change. 

  Do you think the jDrones board handle that?
• Developer

  Andreas M. Antonopoulos August 7, 2012 at 10:33pm

  As a "use case" for the LEDs I am trying to achieve the following:

  - Copter Visibility, also for night flying

  - Ability to see when a LiPo is plugged in (power-on light)

  - Navigational/orientation aid (red/green/white LEDs to distinguish left, right and forward)

  - Motors armed or disarmed indicator

  - Low voltage warning

  - Perhaps flight modes too
• Distributor

  Alec - Sydney August 7, 2012 at 10:30pm

  Bought 4 myself to start with. Just waiting on APM2.5s arrive. Plan is to have the flashing dependant on the current flight mode using mavlink and a few solid on for observation assistance, all powered from 3S LiPo.

  I'll let you know how it goes with some detailed instructions if i can.
• Developer

  Andreas M. Antonopoulos August 7, 2012 at 10:20pm

  Chris: 

  The LEDs I have allow a very broad voltage range. I am powering them directly from the LiPo at 10-12V.  I was planning on adding a Dean connector to the "high" voltage rail on the IO board, to plug it into the LIPO in parallel to everything else (off the PDB). Then chain the LEDs of the six outputs. 
• 3D Robotics

  Chris Anderson August 7, 2012 at 10:06pm

  Andreas: Yes, the software side looks fine. I'm mostly curious about how people have integrated the hardware/LEDs into their copters. 
• Developer

  Andreas M. Antonopoulos August 7, 2012 at 9:55pm

  I got one (jDrones IO board) and I'm trying out the new MAVLink-capable firmware for it. 

  Have you seen the online documentation?

  http://jdrones.com/jDoc/wiki:code_ioboard