Homebuilt ROVs Forum

I know you are waiting for this... and it will be available soon.

This is the new ROV-Control V3 Software for homebuilt rovs
The software works with a special Control-Unit - The X³-Control

And this is X³Control


eight PWM-channels for motor-controller
four two-way switching relays
four channels of high power LED PWM(dimmable)
two I2C bus for sensors
RS485 full duplex data interface to 1.5 km
Digital temperature sensor
Dual processor 16Mhz
256KB of internal memory
256K I2C EEPROM
Highly efficient 6.5-18VDC power supply
Non-contact on and off (magnetic contact)
Bootloader (firmware updates via RS485)

This board looks very interesting. I went to the web site but it only has a 'holding' page with minimal details.
What type of processors are on the boards?
Would you include the dimensions of the board? width, length, height.

Many thanks.

Hey, yes iam currently working on shop and wiki and hope it will work this weekend.

X³-Control is using Atmega 2560 and Atmega 8
The dimensions are 82 x 55 x 13mm - it perfectly fits into a zigarette-box.

Here you can see a testboard using eight speedcontroller with brushless-motors, compass/gyro, magnet-contacts for switching the unit and one high-power-LED with constant current source.
Over USB-Data you can connect over a 4-pole cable over a mile.

Thanks for your prompt reply - I look forward to seeing your shop and wiki when you have them up and running.

The board will fit in the enclosure I am making, so that is great news!

I have a number of questions but rather than repeat yourself I am sure the answers will be on your wiki and in your shop.

Looks like a great board!

Please ask your questions so i can be sure it will be in wiki for everyone. Iam very interested in your questions so i can learn about what the first questions be.

OK... Here goes.
1. There is a boot loader mentioned in the specification - Can the atmega on the board be programmed with Arduino software?
2. If not Arduino, what software are you using to program the atmega devices?
3. Does the board need the bespoke software you are writing?
4. I see you have a constant current driver for the high power pwm dimmable LEDs is the board supplying that power? (board says 1A/LED)
5. What voltage(s) does the board need?
6. How much does the board consume without peripherals?
7. Is the digital temperature sensor on the board or on a fly lead?
8. Will you have a separate power distribution board for the thruster motors?
9. Are there other i/o ports available? e.g. to have a moisture detector - which does not really require i2c.
10. When will the board be available?
11. How much does the board cost?

Thanks.

1. You can use X³-Control only with the ROV-Control V3 software.
2. You can update firmware with the ROV-Control V3 software over data-connection. No need to connect other cables.
3. Yes. The hardware is sold with the software-license.
4. You connect your LED-supply to to the third blue screw terminal
5. To the first screw-terminal you connect power voltage 6,5-18VDC for control-unit. The second is for ground(-). We recommend using 4S Lipo.
6. The board consume max.130mA. The power-supply provides 1A for onboard and connected modules.
7. The tempsensor is build-in. You can connect up to eight temp-sensors to I2C.
8. We are testing powers-switching modules for speed-controllers.
9. You can connect up to seven PCF8574 (will be available on breakout-Boards) for switching and up to eight PCF8591 (will be available on sensor-board) to connect current-sensors, lipo-cellvoltage-sensor and other sensors connect to ADC.
So you get up to 56 switch-channels and 32 ADC inputs.
Also you can connect SHT25 humidity sensor to I2C.
10. We hope starting sale on this weekend. There will be a preorder-offer for seven days. We start delivery at 1.12.2013.
11. The starting-package includes control-unit, USB-Data, magnet-contacts, led-board and other stuff .You will also get a licences for downloading and using the ROV-Control V3 software and updates.

I can't wait to try this board out! This looks like it will be a great all-in-one board for an ROV! Gonna be a great step forward for our hobby!!