Pix Racer - Copied from RCGroups

[Fletch]

Original Here - http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2576614

Intro :

As announced in late 2015, a new PIXHAWK  FMUv4 generation has become reality.

The new Pixracer (formerly called XRacer) is available now and its going to be fully supported by the Arducopter and PX4 community. Its a genuine open source project, already running with PX 4 stack software / QGroundControl (QGC), later as well with Arducopter / Mission Planner (MP).



Its design was created by Nick Arsov and Phillip Kocmoud and architected by Lorenz Meier, David Sidrane and Leonard Hall.



This is not just another small Pixhawk knock off or derivate, the Pixracer is the first autopilot of the new FMUv4 Pixhawk generation, coming with an upgraded Invensense Sensor generation. (bye bye tricky LSM) and a plug in Wifi board. A real upgrade compared to former versions.



ESP8266 ESP-01 Wifi Board plugged in. The ESP8266 is working already with  QGC (QGroundControl) and Android out-of-the-box, there´s no need for another radio. The only thing which doesn´t work yet is Firmware update via Android - but its coming for sure. For the download of the QGC Android App https://play.google.com/apps/testing/org.mavlink.qgroundcontrol its required to sign up @ QGC user group https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/qgroundcontrol

Pixracer specs :

MCU - STM32F427VIT6 rev.3

FRAM - FM25V02-G

LDO Ultra low noise LDOs for sensors and FMU

MPU9250 , ICM20608 , baro MS5611, mag HMC5983

Connectors - GPS+I2C, RC-IN, PPM-IN, RSSI, SBus-IN, Spektrum-IN, USART3 ( TxD, RxD, CTS, RTS ), USART2 ( TxD, RxD, CTS, RTS ), FRSky-IN, FRSky-OUT, CAN, USART8 ( TxD, RxD ), ESP8266 ( full set ), SERVO1-SERVO6, USART7 ( TxD, RxD ), JTAG ( SWDIO, SWCLK ), POWER-BRICK ( VDD, Voltage, Current, GND ), BUZZER-LED_BUTTON

MicroSD card reader

RGB LED

Micro USB

WiFi ESP8266 802.11bgn ( optional , or included @ pre-order) . This popular add on is a very inexpensive solution, around 6$, you might want to check its wiki as well: http://www.esp8266.com/wiki/doku.php?id=getting-started-with-the-esp8266

JST GH series connectors for easy and robust peripheral connections
   
Dimensions - 36 x 36mm with 30.5 x 30.5mm hole grid with 3.2mm holes

Weight Pixracer - ( incl uSD and WiFi ) - app. 10.9g , ACSP4 - 7.86g

Full set of professional flexible cables for almost any peripheral module included.

Power supply - 5-5.5VDC from USB or PowerBrick connector.

Pinout





First official movie from Lorenz Meier about the Pixracer :

https://youtu.be/mpb6Cq023N8

Housing Proposal :



STL and SolidWorks drawings for two versions available : One 22mm high and incoporates the wifi module.The other one is only 17mm high and comes with a slot for the connector or a sticker covering it.

Power Module option : ACSP4 ( 36 x 36mm power distribution, current, voltage sensor with 5V/2.5A ultra low noise buck and 12V/2A ultra low noise buck ) companion is coming as well.



ACSP4 specs :

Battery voltage Up to 8-9S , 10S burst
Current - 90A tested, 120A airflow cooled burst ( not tested )
5.3V 3A BEC for the FC ( current+voltage sensing )
12V 2A BEC for video, etc.
12V power cable supplied ( 2 x power cables supplied with Pixracer V1 )
Dimensions - 36x36mm, 30.5x30.5 screw grid with 3.2mm dia holes
JST GH connectors for 5.3V, current and voltage sensing
JST GH connector for 12V
Features: DC-DC Buck regulators - LT5610AB ( ultra low ripple/noise with ECO power saving burst mode with light loads )

Software

1. PX4 Stack discussions https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/px4users

2. Arducopter discussions http://diydrones.com/

Hardware Manual

1. Manual V1 https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwGTTqZqRwPLVy1jVzdTYkhOZ3c/view

2. Wiring https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwGTTqZqRwPLSVlVOGNrT29fSWc/view

Manual add ons

GPS Wiring / FrSky Port  Howto Connect:  See attachment

Pixracer pages by pixhawk.org

https://pixhawk.org/modules/pixracer

http://discuss.px4.io/

Further links

Groundstation / Telemetry

http://qgroundcontrol.org/

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/qgroundcontrol

Shop

http://www.auav.co/product-p/xr-v1.htm Note: The shop often claims to be out of stock, just write a mail to get one.

Setup proposal by gervais:










Bigger, printable size attached.

If you find faults, feel free to PM.

This post is under construction To be continued.  Proposals warmly welcome.  All informations / pictures / diagrams are preliminary.

[Marty McFly]

Thanks for that link Ewan got me wanting to have one,Marty and the borrowed doggie

[Fletch]

Just read the post towards the end ....

Not sure how the ardu project is gonna go.

Maybe worth waiting before you commit!

[gervais]

Good evening, gentlemen !

Thx for copying the RCG post that well :-)

I can confirm, Arducopter is running as well :-)

Short demo of my AC maiden:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK8IfzGB40s

But PX4 is an interesting alternative by now !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2cPTwd47R4

[Fletch]

So what';s the difference between ardu and px?

[gervais]

PX4 http://px4.io/ Flight stack has been designed by Lorenz Meier and team, the creator of Pixhawk, ETH Zurich, Switzerland. To be used with QGround Control CGS (QGC).

It was formerly mainly used by devs, but it started to get pretty end user friendly and its offering ready to Pre-Sets even for VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing vehicles) .

Overall still less functions than Ardu, but its growing pretty fast by now. Devs are available here http://discuss.px4.io/ 

The good thing is, its possible to try APM flight stack and PX4 with the Pixracer and other PX4FMU hardware (like the Pixhawk 1), no different hardware requirements, so its easy to switch even temporarily.

The QGroundControl Groundstation (available for PC, MAC and Android, later for iOS) http://qgroundcontrol.org/  is working with Ardupilot SW as well, nice alternative for Mission Planner. Just try the latest (daily) build. http://qgroundcontrol.org/downloads

[teslahed]

Why would anyone want to try the PX4 stack? What features does it offer that arducopter doesn';t?

[gervais]

Besides the fact that PX4 flight stack was first @PX4 Hardware and now @ Pixracer, it´s matter of taste und curiousity. Worth a try. VTOL users have (had?) no other choice.

Additionally there are voices fearing that Arducopter development will suffer due to strongly decreased 3DR support, so its always good to know about existing and working alternatives.

As I understand it all of the following devs were dropped in 2015 and 2016: Michael Oborne, Robert Lefebvre, Grant Morphet, Leonard Hall, Bill Bonney, David Sidrane, Michael Carpenter, and Philip Rowse.

Out of this interesting thread , which isn´t related to hardware only:

http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/last-sell-for-many-legacy-3dr-product?id=705844%3ABlogPost%3A2179975&page=10#comments

Nevertheless, its just a proposal. I´m not associated with PX4 devs, I´m a PX4 stack beginner as well.

[Fletch]

https://youtu.be/5oIrj_vwlLY