The Arduino Uno does not contain enough IO lines to handle all of the things that you want to support.

The Arduino MEGA2560 has a lot more IO than the Arduino Uno. I have played with servos connected to the Arduino Uno and I happen to know that the servo software utility that is available for free can support a maximum of 8 servos at the same time.

My friend wrote the auto landing software himself. It was his first effort so he learned the hard way that you have to pay close attention to details. There is a lot of $$$ at stake so the maximum in due dilligence is called for.

hgmjr

Great.. I am checking the website to see what options they have, I do not think they have other than the MEGA and the UNO, I will order it, I am living in Abu Dhabi and will order everything I need for this project together, will let you know

 

The Arduino MEGA2560 is designed to be powered either directly from the USB port (during software development) or from an external power supply once you get to the point where you need to power several connected devices.

It has 256K bytes of program memory so there is plenty of code space for your program.

hgmjr

 

The reason you don't need a dedicated microcontroller programmer is that the Arduino is has a built-in boot loader that supports program code download.

hgmjr

 

The reason you don't need a dedicated microcontroller programmer is that the Arduino is has a built-in boot loader that supports program code download.

hgmjr

Thanks a lot, I will learn everything about it and will order it within few days God bless you!

 

I noticed that we can't control the speed of the motor without using the potentiometer with this Board.

Please see this: http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/Knob

Shall I buy separate ones? Your advise is highly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

You don't need the potentiometer, it's just there as an example. You can do whatever you like in code.

 

I noticed that we can't control the speed of the motor without using the potentiometer with this Board.

Please see this: http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/Knob

Shall I buy separate ones? Your advise is highly appreciated.

Thanks.

Markd77 is correct. The potentiometer is being used in support of the tutorial. Motor speed can be made to be commplete depended on your control signal whereverit originates.

The Arduino software library supports PWM. You will probably use this function in controlling the speed of your motors.

hgmjr

 

I'm thinking that this project rather involved. I suspect it is going to take you a bit longer than the month or so that you put as your target. That is unless you have the luxury of working on it 24/7. There is a lot to learn.

hgmjr

 

You don't need the potentiometer, it's just there as an example. You can do whatever you like in code.

Thanks a lot, it's very precious.

 

Markd77 is correct. The potentiometer is being used in support of the tutorial. Motor speed can be made to be commplete depended on your control signal whereverit originates.

The Arduino software library supports PWM. You will probably use this function in controlling the speed of your motors.

hgmjr

I'm thinking that this project rather involved. I suspect it is going to take you a bit longer than the month or so that you put as your target. That is unless you have the luxury of working on it 24/7. There is a lot to learn.

hgmjr

Thanks a lot for your continuous kind support, we created before more than one project in interfacing lab, we used motorolla 68K processor, using assembly language, we created stand alone PC with ROM and RAMs, Traffic signal, IC detector, etc.. So I think this microcontroller is much easier than the 68K one and I have good idea on how to deal with the manuals and the manual sheet, and in case any difficulty allaboutcircuits forum with my friends (specially Hgmjr) are there

I am so glad to be here with you all.

Thanks for you all.

 

I and our other Arduino knowledgeable members are here to assist you.

hgmjr

 

I and our other Arduino knowledgeable members are here to assist you.

hgmjr

Thanks! I really appreciate that

 

I have ordered the Arduino Mega 2560 from the site: www.smartprj.com, it's Italian site mentioned on the arduino official website.

Cost is 41.00EUR + 12.5EUR for shipping to Abu Dhabi in 2 weeks using postal service, so total: 53.5EUR.

Now I have doubt if output power can support brushless motors like specifications below:
http://www.cnchelicopter.com/servlet/the-1834/QD1100B-upgrade-motor-for/Detail

No. Of cells: Li-Poly 3S
Max efficiency:> 90%
Axis: 3.17mm
Weight: 43.9g
KV: 1100RPM / V
No Load Current: 0.60A
Max Load Current: 15A
Max Power: 155W

or this one:http://www.cnchelicopter.com/servlet/the-1881/AKE-icecold-lightning-460R4200TF/Detail
Specifications
KV value: 4200RPM / V
Shaft Diameter: 3.17mm
Weight: 84g (approximately)
Maximum voltage: 11.1V (3S lithium battery)
No load current: 4.5A
Maximum current: 50A
Efficiency:> 95%
Maximum Power: 500W
Installation hole diameter: M3.0 *suggest to use 40A or up Brushless ESC , And the discharge rate of the lipoly battery 30C up.

Will the board output high voltage like 10 Volt? High current like 10A? Will it be suitable for my application?

I have ordered this motor: http://www.cnchelicopter.com/servlet/the-1946/XAircraft-X450-four-rotor/Detail , but cannot find information about it, but because it has been used in an aircraft and proofed, I ordered it!

I hope the board will be compatible with the brushless motors I ordered.

Also I am looking for compatible transmitter (by computer)/receiver(on aircraft) device with this board to send commands to the aircraft without any wires, do you know any? I will write a program and run it to control my aircraft.

If you give me an overview about motors voltage and current to be used with this board, and about transmitter and receiver would help me a lot saving more time as information is not easy to get without help of experienced mates

Thanks a lot..

 

For a brushless motor you need a brushless ESC. You can get it from the same shop the motor is from. It is controlled like a servo.
They are different to normal DC motors - you can't just apply a voltage to make them turn.

 

For a brushless motor you need a brushless ESC. You can get it from the same shop the motor is from. It is controlled like a servo.
They are different to normal DC motors - you can't just apply a voltage to make them turn.

Thanks, but if I have 5 Servos + 4 Brushless motors, do I need 9 ESCs to control them??! The Arduino does not have the ability to control all motors with one ESC? Thanks.

 

You need 1 ESC for each brushless motor, the servos don't need them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brushless_motors
The ESC takes a control pulse the same as a servo.
If you need reverse make sure the ESC supports it (plane, helicopter and some cars don't need it).
Hgmjr mentioned the capability of the Arduno to be 8 servos - you essentially need 9 servo outputs. It might be possible to extend that somehow.

 

You need 1 ESC for each brushless motor, the servos don't need them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brushless_motors
The ESC takes a control pulse the same as a servo.
If you need reverse make sure the ESC supports it (plane, helicopter and some cars don't need it).
Hgmjr mentioned the capability of the Arduno to be 8 servos - you essentially need 9 servo outputs. It might be possible to extend that somehow.

Precious information! But what do you mean by reverse exactly? You mean reverse rotation of the motor? It's not supported? I am going to buy this ESC: http://www.cnchelicopter.com/servlet/the-1922/Xaircraft--new-20A/Detail maybe specifications are not mentioned but you might be familiar with it.

Thanks a lot.

 

I think it is probably forward only because it is on a helicopter website. Obviously you never need to spin the blades backwards on a helicopter. If you need the motors to go in both directions you need one ESC with reverse capabilty for each motor.

 

I think it is probably forward only because it is on a helicopter website. Obviously you never need to spin the blades backwards on a helicopter. If you need the motors to go in both directions you need one ESC with reverse capabilty for each motor.

For the time being, I do not think I need to reverse. Thanks for the info

 

Greeting guys! Sorry for being late! I got busy with 2 international web applications! I got the Arduino Mega 2560 Board and I just started the blink testing! It is an amazing board and good start! I will start research on how to use motors with boards and to write simple programs!! I will post the progress Thanks all!!!