Feasibility of Pi 5 and Pico on quadcopter
December 31, 2023, 19:43
Hi I'm relatively new to SBCs and microcontrollers. I'm currently working on programming a flight controller using a Pico W (running MicroPython) and Pi 5.
The Pico will be running the flight control logic in an infinite loop taking accelerometer, gyroscope and RC data (from FS-iA6B) and sending out PWM signals to the ESCs. What the Pi 5 will be doing is partial autonomous control where my group plans to use a GCS (like QGroundControl) and wirelessly transmit messages (MAVLink?) to the Pi 5 via ~~WiFi~~ another RF transmitter and it controls the Pico based on what we do in the GCS. There will be an external GPS module connected to the Pi 5 so it can do the location processing and just send directions to the Pico, which then controls the ESCs/motors to move to the target. I don't really understand MAVLink (and a lot of these in general) and would like to appreciate some guidance/explanations.
Also, is it possible to store multiple python files and have the Pi 5 re-flash the Pico on the go? I was thinking of something like having the Pi 5 store a whole bunch of programs like a calibration program, self-test program, flight program, etc. and whatever data from the prior programs (like gyro bias data from the calibration) to be stored in flash memory on the Pico or Pi 5, then load the flight program which grabs these values.
at that point why have the Pico? the pi 5 has gpio so it could do all this it's self
also WiFi wouldn't be a very good choice to make on this, your better off having a radio kit
We read that the Pi would run too slow or would need a RTOS
wth is an RTOS?
also no it would run fine, in fact faster than the pico
much faster
Like an antenna plugged into the computer's USB port? Are those expensive?
Real time operating system
the pi 5 would need an os yes, not sure what real time means because any os runs in "real time" but yes the pi 5 needs an os
that's fine tho
not much more than the rest of this project, I suspect $15. but it'd make the drone much more reliable
We're already using a FS-iA6B for manual control
It sends the iBUS packets into the Pico's UART
WiFi isn't very good at vertical stuff so pretty much as soon as you take off to any decent height youll have problems
what is that?
radio antenna?
not sure, that's a bit out of my league ig
anyway what's your motors like?
Emax RS2205 2300KV
ah ok that ensues a tad bit of confidence in me lol, but if anything important is sent via wifi I'd still be worried
Yeah I was worried about the distance
I mean volts, I don't know every motor of by heart
Since WiFi isn't known for long distance comms
yeah
It can run on a 4S, but we're using 3S so about 12 V?
ok not bad
4 of them?
Quadcopter so yeah 4
ok last few questions, do you know your total power consumption?
Not really why
Flight time is not a concern at this stage
oh ok
Just wondering if any of this is feasible
well apart from the things I pointed out, it seems possible
wait are these motors brushless?
Yes
yeah ok, you got the wearable pass from me
*feasibile
That's great, just that I need some guidance on understanding how all these work
Robotics and embedded is not an area I am familiar with
how the hell did you get this far without knowing too much?
you've done well so far
Sheer hard work
oh well you've got most of the knowledge I can give I think
But google can only take me this far so I've come here
I'm not too skill full myself. I know a server which specialises in this stuff if you want to join
in robotics
Yes please
ok one second
done, sent it to you
Thank you