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Flight Controller

Former Member

Hello,

 

I am interested in developing a basic flight controller and I was hoping to get some guidance on getting the hardware setup correctly. I am working on a quadcopter that uses a CC3D. Once I get the moving parts worked out then I am going to replace the controller with my own controller.

 

My goals:

Research - I would like to use a realtime OS like freeRTOS and build a plugin architecture for robotics.

Sensors - 10DOF and GPS what sensors do you recommend and ideas on how to connect them like i2e, shields, etc..

ARM platform - STM32 seems very popular but I noticed in Ben Hecks video that freescale seemed to have some interesting stuff.

PCB  - I would like to design a single PCB with everything on it and worry about daughter boards and stuff later. Do STM32 or freescale boards come with a basic layout that can be modified to include all the extra sensors or do you have to start from scratch?

 

Some random questions:

I noticed when talking about I2C that it says 1 or 2 of them. Does that mean 1 or 2 busses or 1 or 2 sensors?

 

Thank you,

Ben

  • 0

    Sounds ambitious, I like it!

    The best way is to layout a FC (IMHO) is as two/three boards:

    • Processor/accellorometer/gyro/barometer
    • GPS + optional compass
    • compass (can be on GPS board or processor board but not as sensitive)

    Some additional features I would like to see integrated in an FC:

    • Telemetry including battery voltage and current consumption
      • Radio Tx for telemetry transmission and debugging back on the ground
      • logging
    • OSD (on screen display for FPV)
    • Small OLED screen + tact switches for making changes without a PC
    • Sonar / LIDAR for obstacle avoidance and ground detect

     

    I only have a little experience with modifying the Cleanflight code that runs on my STM32 based FC and can't provide any insight into the Freescale stuff.

    One other good forum (besides the myriad of Cleanflight based projects) is Paparazzi UAV: https://wiki.paparazziuav.org/wiki/Main_Page

     

    Good luck!

  • 0 in reply to bobalexander

    Hello,

     

    What is the best way to start laying out the main board. Does anybody have a basic layout of a board that can be modified or do I need to figure it all out. Whats the best method for talking to multiple board I2C?

     

    Thank you,

    Ben