BeagleBone Blue For Quadcopter Flight Control
The BeagleBone Blue is a Single Board Computer / Robotics Controller created by BeagleBoard.org.
Previous blog posts related to the BeagleBone Blue
BeagleBone Blue Robotics Controller Kit - Linux - Review
Test Driving the BeagleBone Blue RTV
BeagleBone Blue Pan Tilt Servo Test
Beaglebone Blue Road Test Vehicle
BB Blue Pan Tilt Servo Lipo Battery Test
BeagleBone Blue - Drive Motor and Steering Servo Tests
Introduction
The BeagleBone Blue is a Single Board Computer unlike any that I have ever encountered.
A few months ago, I learned that it is possible to use the BeagleBone Blue as an autopilot flight controller of a quadcopter drone.
These videos are a demonstration of what is possible with the BeagleBone Blue. Credit to https://github.com/mirkix
Videos from https://github.com/mirkix/ardupilotblue
Tutorial and Code provided by mirkix
https://github.com/mirkix/ardupilotblue
Tutorial and Code provided by imfatant
https://github.com/imfatant/test
Tutorial and Code provided by De Funct
https://www.hackster.io/silver2row/bbblue-and-getting-arducopter-to-run-c034dd
Community: — ArduPilot documentation
Building a Quadcopter
I've never built a quadcopter. This should be fun.
The parts list in the following link was used.
https://gist.github.com/jadonk/6080ca92d6e225eb89d33ad7744e1775
Several of the quadcopter parts required for this project were out of stock at some of the listed retailers.
I found everything in-stock thru various retailers on Amazon.
Other Recommended Accessories for the Bone Blue
https://github.com/beagleboard/beaglebone-blue/wiki/Accessories
Purchase of a hex wrench tool set for assembly of this particular frame is recommended.
Building the Frame
Assembly required.
This kit comes with the props and a battery strap
Real Carbon fiber.
Frame assembled. Battery and ESC temporarily mounted ( location later changed)
Mock up of Blue, Props, ESC, and Battery.
The BeagleBone Case
Always wear eye protection when cutting any plastics.
M2.5 Nylon Screw Set from Adafruit. (metal screws in far right slot are from the Adafruit ProtoPlate for BeagleBone.
The heatsink was cut from one off of an old pc graphics card.
The Electronics
2C 1600mAh LiPo Battery can be charged directly from the BB Blue.
This Blade MLP4DSM is a Spectrum DSMX/DSM2 compatible transmitter
Lemon RX DSM2 Satellite Receiver is compatible with the transmitter shown in the previous photo.
Racestar RS 20Ax4 ESC
Ublox M8N compatible GPS/Compass Unit
This project is in final stage of being flight ready. Please stay tuned for upcoming content about this project.
In the next blog, I will detail the recent addition of the transmitter hardware and configuration updates (some of which mentioned in video)
Thanks for viewing this BeagleBone project blog
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