ArduPilot Mega 2.0 Does Drone Autopilot on the Cheap - buffwruch1963

This one is for all those autonomous vehicle makers out there who need a cheap autopilot system to cause IT go down. Among the bits of awesome seen at the 2012 Bay Area Maker Faire, was the ArduPilot Mega 2.0 (APM2) from 3D Robotics, a complete afford source autopilot system.

The APM2 room is equipped with the MediaTek 3329 system on a chip, Dataflash (a serial interface for heartbeat storage), a digital get the picture, a motion-tracking system, a barometric pressure sensor, and more. Accordant to 3D Robotics, the APM2 nates be used "to turn any fixed, rotary wing or multirotor vehicle (even cars and boats) into a fully autonomous fomite; capable of performing programmed GPS missions with waypoints."

This board is besides compatible with the Arduino microcontroller, and we all know how much everyone loves Arduino! The APM2 will set you back $199.95, which is certainly non rubber at every since other systems like the GPS Module Harbour for Arduino–which includes only the GPS module–will set you back $117. For only $82.95 more you get a whole lot more potentiality. And many higher oddment autopilot systems will set you back out thousands of dollars, and so this looks like it's great for hobbyists.

Now the best part: You keister expend it with available open-source microcode disposable at DIYDrones. Neediness to automate a model woodworking plane? Use Arduplane. For a circle-extension aircraft (toy copters, etc…), use the Arducopter, and for a ground operating theater water vehicle, use ArduRover. Not bad, eh?

A word of warning: Don River't just go and pick one of these up if you're not reputable with electronics. This is for the on-key DIYer, so you'll decidedly want close to savvy of microcontrollers, programing, and whatever it is that you're nerve-racking to automatize. But once you get at that place you'll represent able to add automatic pilot to things similar this sweet footling UAV (visualised below)–which used the APM2–that the 3D Robotics chemical group had on display at Jehovah Faire:

UAV made by 3D Robotics utilizing APM2 — UAV ready-made by 3D Robotics utilizing APM2

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