The Robot Thread

For my robot project I have a general F405 flight controller questions for resora

Usually with an embedded device I like to plug in a new device and observe it booting from a serial console.

With a flight controller they all use UARTS.
There seems to be some standardization.
UART1 =ERLS
UART2+UART4=Telemetry
UART3=GPS
UART5=VTX
UART6 seems to be open.

Is there a console available on the Flight Controller Firmware and Program? Can you watch the device boot up over a UART?
Supposedly there is INav on my SoloBoot F405 WING. How can I see it in action? Get version of firmware installed?
Is it possible from the command line with MAVconnect or do I need QMissionPlanner?

I want to connect RockPro64 to the flight controller. I assume UART is the best path to communicate? Can it be used to monitor the FC?
Is there any other uses for USB3 jack on FC besides firmware flashing? IE. console?
 
With a flight controller they all use UARTS.
There seems to be some standardization.
UART1 =ERLS
UART2+UART4=Telemetry
UART3=GPS
UART5=VTX
Click to expand...
UART6 seems to be open.
Click to expand...
Yes, this is configured in the ports tab, example png betafly
 

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Is there a console available on the Flight Controller Firmware and Program? Can you watch the device boot up over a UART?
Supposedly there is INav on my SoloBoot F405 WING. How can I see it in action? Get version of firmware installed?
Click to expand...
QGroundControl on FreeBSD can be compiled locally, I'm currently reading for cmake, there is CPM, and ports prohibits loading libraries when there are already your own system files, there you can also configure the firmware, if it's ardupilot. You can also configure MissionPlaner
betaflight and inav for electron, nothing works for me, the browser crashes, for me ardupilot looks cooler.
Often manufacturers block access to the console, everything must be done through the program, even in the CLI section
 
I wonder how a Lead Acid -Deep Cycle battery is going to work for a ESC based on power Lipo/NiMH ???
Click to expand...

I wouldn't advise it, lead batteries are not very suitable for this, now they use li-ion, because they have more volts per cell and they are high-current, up to 45 A to be exact, and some have a higher energy density per weight. In addition to milliampere hours, there are many other parameters in batteries
 
I really appreciate all your advice. I am really willing to push the limits for batteries.
Unfortunately I already bought two Lead Acid batteries. For a wheeled rover weight is not a problem. I am using an electric wheelchair Jazzy without the chair. 350LB capacity.
The real problem is price. LiPo are expensive. 10X energy density and 3X price. I replaced the two original batteries to test with for $85. They are 12V U1 Lead Acid 300CCA.

I have bought pairs of unconventional ESC. Will test both.

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Plan on soldering XT60 to Matek F405 Wing BEC. I will use 4S 18650 to power controller.
I plan on wiring the ESC direct to battery via XT60. I don't need power sensing from controller/BEC or I can populate those solder pads later.
Three wire R/C connector to S1 and S2 from second controller. Remove positive lead in R/C connector..

I picked up a Kids Power Wheels Car at curb and it has this controller I gutted out. Need to teardown. Car has nice features including remote steering motor.

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Not all have Wifi on the Engine Controller. Some use bluetooth:

My robot rover looks similar to this one:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLue5p1RQMk
I am ditching the controller and joystick.
 
I realize that a Mobility Wheelchair is for indoor use. After tearing apart the first motors/gearbox I bought in Post#1 I realized the nuances.
The smallest hole will find water. One slot for anti-rotation pin caused all the internal damage. That and just sitting outside.

Sealed motors are needed for outdoor use. Especially off road.

The above video the guy wants to use a Jazzy for mowing the yard. That is an unrealistic goal. Jazzy is indoor device and yard work is not the best task for it.
I thought about putting a pan on bottom to protect undercarriage and protecting motors with sleeve. Not worth it...

So far I have $100 for two Jazzy wheelchair. $85 in batteries... $200 for 3 flight controllers and some wiring. ESC's maybe $175
That is really not bad.
I would have more spent if I went R/C-Truck-Traxas route.

Driving 200miles for the hospital bed wheels was a waste of $160. But I did tear them down and learn alot
That was where I realized they were the same as mobility wheelchair motor arrangement. Probably same people make them.

I wish other people would post their experiences. I know I am not the only tinkerer here...

First Time Setup and Configuration — Rover documentation

ardupilot.org ardupilot.org
 
I was trying to think of a reason to have an ARM64 computer onboard with FreeBSD on my Jazzy Robot with flight controller...

I have come up with it. A diagnostic system for the robot itself. GPIO temp sensors to the motors and gearbox and maybe battery monitoring.
Plus WifiAP and more GPS. Extra cameras and maybe cellular comms? Speakers and Mic on mast? Trying to add features that do not overlap flight controller.

VTX is expensive. 5.8GHz video transmitter board.($200 no cam)

But some of these flight controller boards have a feature called On Screen Display.
From what I can gander you must use an onboard camera and it will overlay "OnScreen Display" from flight controller onto video from camera....

So I guess you have to transmit video back to base camp to see real time video with overlay of OnScreen Display via VTX .
 
I had an idea to take one of those kids electric car/jeep things and hook everything to a RPi
NovaDrive-24V-Two-Seater-Ride-On-Jeep-for-Big-Kids-with-Parent-Remote-Control-Four-Wheel-Susp...webp


Iirc years ago they had like 4 small motors per-wheel and simple wiring with 1 pedal and a battery. That model has a remote and implies they're a little more hi-tech nowadays, but I'd still gut it for a Pi.

Then maybe take the same set-up and toss a blade underneath for a lawn-mower, or sprayer and gallon-water tank for a sprinkler (or both :p; if the basics are easy to wire I'd have a few wild machines)
 
Indeed I have harvested three of these Kids Toys. The biggest drawback is steering system. It is complete trash but with some flat washers you could improve it alot.
"PowerWheels" is the latest one I grabbed and it has a servo in the steering column for remote steering. So it could be useful. I think the 4 drive motors on it would make it much more complicated. My midsize one has 2 drive motors on rear and I think that was ideal.
With 4 drive motors you get into different wheel speed needed and that gets messy.
I don't really know the sophistication of ArduPilot but I am pretty sure Skid Steering is supported. That is where I am starting. Then onto 3 Servos with steering.
 
I will give up my little nugget I have been contemplating. For my first steering robot kart I might go this route> A coleman go-kart.
www.craigslist.org

Coleman all electric go kart - atvs, utvs, snowmobiles - by owner - vehicle automotive sale - craigslist

I am selling a coleman all electric go kart it is a evgk200. Does not have battery, or charger. Has roll bar but is damaged and was removed. If interested let me know.
www.craigslist.org www.craigslist.org
Long drive for something broke. They are $2K new and the drive system is nice. Battery was junk in these. Many complaints on sales sites..

I am pretty sure this is the drivetrain they use:

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Parts > Go-Kart Parts > EVGK200

parts.colemanpowersportsusa.com parts.colemanpowersportsusa.com
 
I really fought hard to resist The Amazon DeepRacer car.
Look at the front tires. Really bad alignment and its fixed. You need to buy a mod tie rod end that is adjustable to fix the issue..
This thing needs all kind of tweaks and I don't want to do that.

Racing Simulator Software - DeepRacer

DeepRacer is the fastest way to get rolling with machine learning, literally. Get hands-on with a fully autonomous 1/18th scale race car driven by reinforcement learning, 3D racing simulator, and global racing league.
aws.amazon.com aws.amazon.com
 
I would like to see the details of the Japanese Robots that are assisting with Fukushima Meltdown.
Rad hardened STM32 controllers ??? They Japanese have been leaders in robotics since their inception..

Pololu seems to be a well document brand for robot controllers:

Pololu - 4.3. Connecting an RC Receiver

User’s manual for the Pololu Simple Motor Controllers.
www.pololu.com www.pololu.com
 
But some of these flight controller boards have a feature called On Screen Display.
From what I can gander you must use an onboard camera and it will overlay "OnScreen Display" from flight controller onto video from camera....
Click to expand...
Yes, you can set such indicators to be displayed on the screen or in the glasses, such as speed, voltage, connection quality ...

Rad hardened STM32 controllers ???
Click to expand...
Rad-Hard are very expensive, Rad-Tolerant type chips are cheaper
 
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