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abersailbot / bobalong

Bobalong is Aber Sailbot's microtransat attempt
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Identify Hardware #4

Open JSpringett opened 8 years ago

JSpringett commented 8 years ago

New hardware needs to be identified and selected for Bobalong, this task should not take long at all. The following hardware needs to found and acquired:

As well as acquired, how the hardware is wired up the microcontroller needs to be documented!!! Pictures would be great too.

Previously we used an Olimexino-32U4, this board is relatively cheap (Around $12.95), more importantly it uses low power components and had 2 serial ports(GPS and the ROWIND both use serial). Arduino's software serial is the devil!! Stay away from it!!!!!!!!!!!

We originally had a HMC6343 compass, this compass is great, low power and accurate. However it is expensive, though Dan has apparently found a cheap source, so nag him!

We used a Em408 GPS, they are quite nice.

As the hardware is selected and acquired, can it be mentioned in a comment on this issue please!

colinsauze commented 8 years ago

The 32u4 doesn't have 2 serial ports. It has one USB port which can emulate a USB to serial converter and a standard hardware UART. The USB port is only good for connecting to a PC (not to peripherals like GPS and Rowind), but it can do strange things to the behaviour of the device if power comes in over USB. If you want lots of real hardware UARTs use multiple 32u4s or get a Teensy.

naturesyouth commented 8 years ago

gps give good looking nema strings over serial at 9600, although looking to move to a Maestro A2200-A ( http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/gps-modules/7658968/ )