Hi, I have a small boat that I want to automate using ArduPilot, so I want to use ArduPilot for Rovers and need advice to buy all the necessary hardware. I am completely new to ArduPilot and flight control.
In ArduPilot for Rovers it is written:
“The ArduPilot firmware in some configurations exceeds 1 MB in size. Some autopilots may not have enough flash memory to store the full firmware.
For the affected autopilots, a reduced firmware is generated. This firmware omits less-commonly used features in order to reduce the firmware size to less than 1 MB.” (source Firmware Limitations on AutoPilot Hardware — Rover documentation )
Holybro Kakute F7 Mini (only V1 and V2 are compatible)
Holybro Kakute H7 Mini v1.3
iFlight Blitz F745/F745 Mini]
Mamba MK4 F405Mini
MicoAir405v2/Mini
SpeedyBee F405 Mini
but it is not written for each if they allow ArduPilot for rovers full features or with limitations, only abour the entire ArduPilot so for drones/aircraft as well (“Due to flash memory limitations, this board does not include all ArduPilot features. See for details”). There are details here Firmware Limitations on AutoPilot Hardware — Rover documentation but I do not yet understand what concerns a boat. So I need help.
According to this the flash memory/RAM of most FC board processors do not match ArduPilot full feature requirements:
but I want to buy a hardware that enables to use ALL the features that ArduPilot can off for a boat.
Which Flight Controller board, mini format (20x20mm) (important as size is an issue for me), do you recommend me to buy? the cheaper the better but I want to be able to use all ArduPilot for boat possibilities and prefer to convenience other managing complexity due to hardware limitations.
For the GPS/compass, I plan to buy the Holybro Micro M10 GPS with IST8310 Compass
the best ideachoice is to start with a H7 based FC. These FC all have enough resources for a full featured Ardupilot firmware at also can features like LUA script. So this is futureproof for the next time and price-wise not much differnce to the older F405 based FC.
If you are able to solder small wires by yourself and small size is important than look to the Matek H743 mini or Matek H743 slim
The H7 will of course support all ArduPilot features, but is the H7 not overkill for using with a rover? I have no experience with ArduPilot yet, but I guess rover is just a sub part of ArduPilot features as I suppose most ArduPilot advanced features are for drones/aircraft. So requirements for ArduPilot to run a boat might be smaller even with all features of a boat.
I need to buy the least expensive still offering access to all what ArduPilot can provide for boats, as there is also good chance it gets completely wet (water is not far) and no longer working. So I might have to buy a 2nd or even 3rd or 4th if the boat capsize and broke the FC (even if I protect to my best).I have no plan for future applications yet, so prefer to focus on ArduPilot for boat current set of possibilities. Unfortunately this Ardupilot webpage about limitations Firmware Limitations on AutoPilot Hardware — Rover documentation is not understandable for me, as I do not understand what concerns a boat.
No, I don’t think that the H7 are an overkill.
Yes, you are right also the F405 based FC can move a simple boat but as you have seen all this boards limited in size of flash and run with lower clock (mathematical power). So it cannot run all features. The development of ardupilot is on going. We can see many people know have trouble due to the fact that the old FCs not support actual firmware builts and mission planner versions as these are always optimized for the actual FC generation. And this actual FC generation is the H7 family.
Mainly if you want to add some own specific features in future you can write your own simple scripts. This is a great nice feature but it don’t run on the F405’s.
So I understand that even for a boat a H7 is necessary for access to Ardupilot rover with no limitation. I was hesitating with a F7.
In terms of power consumption in use & in standby, is there an advantage of the H7 other the F7/F4 ?
Having a mini size FC is a necessity for my usage. As far as I know the SD card slot is for storing data about a trip and on the Kakute H7 mini it has been replaced with an onboard memory.
This onboard memory is not as big a SD card can offer but as my trips will not be long range, it should be enough. I can also retrieve data after each trip. So I guess SD card is not a necessity in my case.
Thank you all for your feedback, it helps to make up my mind how to make this project.
I currently use this transmitter for this boat: LDARC CT01 with receiver CR1800 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006859230537.html
Can I use my transmitter / receiver with ArduPilot flight controller? (or I need to buy a new transmitter / receiver?)
By reading it, I understand my transmitter & receiver are not going to work with FC / ArduPilot.
So I have to buy another transmitter unfortunately. When I am at it, I would to get one that is perfectly compatible with FC / ArduPilot.
Which transmitter has the best compatibility with FC / ArduPilot, offering either direct connection with the FC or through a tiny external board while allowing complete bidirectional telemetry?
I have always used a standard RC Radio for Rovers, most do. And that would be a Radiomaster. Radiomaster does make what they call a MT12 Surface Radio which is a typical trigger/wheel type like you have and some on the forum are using them. I suggest you go with the ELRS option for the Transmitter and get a matching Receiver.
I hate to suggest it but it fit’s your cheap theme; you could probably use a PWM to Sbus adapter with the radio you have. You would then just have the telemetry the current system provides which is limited. But, you could add a telemetry radio back to a ground station which you probably want anyway.
If you were to choose a standard radio like a Radiomaster TX16S, which is excellent, there is a system to get all the telemetry you need right on the Transmitter screen call Yaapu Telemetry. Many of us use this. Google search for it.
