my hobby is model warship combat (NTxBG,ORG)
think battle bots on the pond. i would like to incorporate mission planner capabilities into our fleet of cargo transports. i am old OLD school and have just enough know how to get into trouble with this, so i am asking for help. i think i want to use the the ESP-32 for the controller.
stop/go lt/rt 10/15 ft target range. i need some one to hold my hand, please.
I think you would be much better of using a standard Flight Controller. Many to choose from.
Autopilots
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thanks dave
i understand it might be easier. i am looking at cost
(6 /8 ships) and i do not need 80-90% of a standard Flight Controllers capability. i also want to exploit the Bluetooth feature on the esp-32
Here is one link that has a few more links within the post thread. If you are more interested in tinkering with the esp-32 and it’s required accessory components than running the boats I suppose it’s a good choice. Cost? Not so sure about that. There are relatively cheap supported Autopilots.
ESP-32
followed the links now how should i get in touch with those developing esp-32 as a rover control
I am also playing with the ESP32 as Ardupilot Rover Controller. But more to learn and experiment with Ardupilot Firmware.
Yes the ESP platform itself is relativ cheap but it is only the controller. No Sensors are built in. No SD built in. So all assesories you need you have to buy extra. So at the end price rises.
Also not all funtions of Ardupilot are running on ESP32. For example I have at the moment problems with scripts.
Also Firmware upload is little different. I am using the ESP32 development environment as missionplanner is not supporting this firmware upload for ESP32
Just get a normal FC and a dirt cheap ESP32 for telemetry and connect them using a serial port.
Try Ardupilot Discord, ESP32 channel
Watched one of your groups videos. I think you will have a much easier time waterproofing ,or armoring for that matter, a Flight Controller where all is integrated on one small board.
i am putting this on what are essentially target ships i need no sensors or other peripherals i just want to be able to show up pond side, in put a course loop into mission planner and have the fleet follow set course until they time out or get sunk. my requirements are left/right stop/go and adhere to the course line within 10/15 foot. may move up to acoustic feed back for ship to ship separation
You need an IMU, you need a barometer, you need GPS, you need a magnetometer. You will need an RC System to Configure and tune the craft. This is all routine stuff for a Boat running Ardurover.
A ~$40 flight controller and a ~$20 GPS/Compass module will get you there.
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@feanjeger listen to dave
maybe, the boats are currently controlled by rc radios. GPS i do need but i see no value for IMU, barometer, or magnetometer. these craft are constrained to line of sight within the area of a football field +/-. i am not trying to build automatous rovers just obedient little target ships
You don’t understand what’s required as minimum sensors for Ardupilot. Did you read any of the documentation? Without an IMU you have nothing but a microcontroller running code like a hamster on a wheel. There are NO use cases for Ardupilot running w/o an IMU. NO use cases to run position control w/o a sensor to establish position. It doesn’t have to be GPS but for your use case it does. It goes on…
i said yes to GPS. my position parameter’s are a +/- 3 meter
i get it flight controller’s are your go to hammer. i have what i see as a tack problem, so i am looking for a tack hammer solution. senseless hamster’s would make fine capt’s for these ships
Then you need to find another firmware. Or write your own. ArduPilot will not work without those sensors
Sorry man, I don’t know what you are saying here. Your use case is basic but if you want to use Ardupilot you are way off base with your expectations. Wondering what the point of further posts if you don’t get this?
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No, they are the target hardware for the entire platform.
Asking if you can use ArduPilot without an autopilot is a bit like asking if you can use a flashlight without its batteries. The two are inexorably connected.
ESP32 and ArduPilot is more of an entry point for budding hardware and software developers to get their feet wet without high cost. It doesn’t remove the core peripheral demands. And it’s a terrible entry point for turn-key expectations.
ok, i yield. so can someone walk me into a solution under $100.00 part#s. webpage etc.
OK, yes we can do that! Your needs are basic for a Rover.
If all you want to do is run an Auto Mission on a boat with no custom programming (scripting), then any of the cheap F405 based Flight Controllers will work for you. Matek and Holybro(Kakute) would be good choices at the lower cost end. Others might suggest a Speedybee FC at even lower cost, well OK. Then you will need a GPS/compass Module. Any M10 with a compass will work.
It’s clear you guys are adaptive hobbyists so you can make this stuff work and I think it’s the 1st time we have seen this application for Ardupilot so very cool.
It occurs to me that you might want more capability at some future point. So consider a Flight Controller that will run a script. These are H743 based controllers with an Sd card.
Might also need a replacement RC receiver if the one in use doesn’t have PPM, SBus, DSXM, or similar single pin output.