The VR Gimbal DEV Board #1 is going in germany :)

Ludwig Färber will be the developer that will receive the first VR 3 axis Gimbal is  this is our donation for his great work on :
http://code.google.com/p/brushless-gimbal/
What there is in kit :
Hardware :

VR Gimbal :
Micro Controller is STM32F1 at 72 mhz.
3 Axis Brushless Direct Drive gimbal :

•     Roll    (MOT1)
•     Pitch  (MOT2)
•     Yaw    (MOT3)

For each channel we have 3 high power pwm output .

1 USB port.
1 Serial port that support mavlink protocol.
1 Power module that support until 3S battery.
4 Radio RC Input for :

•     Control ROLL Setup.
•     Control Pitch Setup.
•     Control YAW Setup.
•     IR control repeater.

4 Analog Input 0-3.3v

VR 9DOF I2C IMU

Inside the VR IMU there are :  MPU6000 (6 DOF) + HMC5883 (3 DOF)

I2C IMU that support 3 axis . It  is on camera module , so we can know exactly the position of camera and control in realtime the 3 Brushless motors.

Cable for inteconnect the VR Gimbal Board with VR 9DOF I2C IMU

A Jumper for put the VR Gimbal in bootload mode.

Firmware :

The bootloader we use maple bootloader ported on VR Gimbal board.
On board we put first 32 bit release of BruGi 049B r69 (Martinenz board's firmware) . This version of firmware ,  support only 2 axis gimbal , the 3axis version is coming. All the boards is yet ready and tested for 3 axis managment.

Software :
We develop a VRGimbal Gui .net it's compatible with Windows 32 and 64 bit.

What do you need :

You need to download the Universal ide  follow this link  :

https://vrbrain.wordpress.com/installing-and-compiling-the-code/

And also need a ttl <-> usb converter

as this one :

https://www.olimex.com/Products/Components/Cables/USB-Serial-Cable/USB-Serial-Cable-F/

We are working on usb serial will be available in the end user product. The hardware will be the same will be only update the serial library.

Today we open pre order for first 20 pcs  of board . We'll send a  mail to first 75 developer that ask me to reserve the VR Gimbal.
The revision for end user will be available in some weeks a new batch is in production .

Some usefull link :

The code repository here you can find workspace with library and code and also VR Gimbal GUI.

http://code.google.com/p/vrgimbal/source/browse/#svn%2Fbranches

This is official VR Gimbal User Group join us for updates about the project:

http://www.virtualrobotix.com/group/vr-gimbal-user-group

for buy or reserve your VR 3 Axis gimbal send a request here : info@virtualrobotix.com

You will be inform about the status of the stocks .

The price for developer is updated to a promotional price of  95 euro for fist 20 VR Gimbal Dev Kit .

The end user price will be for 2 Axis Gimbal of 120 euro and for 3 Axis Gimbal of 165 euro.

Best
Roberto Navoni

Dear Friends,

this is the first test of VR Gimbal that control 3 axis ... it's only pre alpha revision of code. 

At the end of this week 31 / 05 / 2013

We finish to implement the VR Gimbal LT library .

• The i2c imu with mpu6000 + hmc5883 work fine .
• The SPI imu with mpu6000 + hmc5883 work fine.
• The 3 driver motors work fine : we check at different refresh rate and with different qty of force.
• Radio decoder library work fine : with ppm and ppmsum.
• AP_LIB work good and save the parameter on internal eeprom .

Now start to implement 

PID control and FORCE control lib ... in this video is possible to see the first revision of firmware with the pre alpha code . Not yet available PID only P control and we are using same code used in the past for contol servo with external potentiometer.

In the next week start to work on complete PID control and absolute control approach.

with this version of firmware we are testing : 

• if imu on i2c work fine .
• if the hardware motor work fine .
• if the 3° axis control work togheter with other axis without problem.
• if the serial port for setting parameter working fine . We test also wireless control of gimbal and all work fine.
• if the radio encoder work fine.
• if the ap_parameter work and is serialize right in eeprom.

All is ok so the board is ready for prodution :) That's good step for us :)

So in this early test on 3° axis we found that we need more force on 3° motor on yaw respect of other 2 axis when we are in limit situation . So wee need to use bigger motors with more couple. 

About the developer sorry for delay but before to confirm the start of pre order we prefer finish to test electronic board of first batch .

For more info check here :

http://www.virtualrobotix.com/group/vr-gimbal-user-group/forum/topics/vr-gimbal-3-axis-32bit-direct-drive-gimbal-controller?xg_source=activity

Best

Roberto Navoni

This is the video of first fly test

Dear Friends,
with great pleasure we present the latest developments of the prototype # 1 of our first drone RTF.

The idea for this drone , began when Carlo a student  of the faculty of Industrial Design in Milan came to us to do her thesis ... we tried to think of something completely new and that it was not the classic drone MK or DJI 450.

In addition to the aesthetic aspect ,appreciated by the community, we have especially tried to make the drone in a very functional, easy to maintain, expandable with options which will be released in the future.
The frame initially was made with 3D printing, combined with inserts from epoxy glass and carbon fiber .

Our designer Carlo ... ,now officially came into VRI , with Flavio  studied the FEM of the drone to achieve a good level of resistance to twisting of the drone. Particular attention was held for the theme of the vibrations.

This is the BOD Logo.

The BOD have inside : 

• VR Brain 4.5
• GPS Ublox 6H
• 3DR Radio
• 4 30 Amp ESC with WiiEsc firmware.
• use 4 T-Motord engines.
• with 12 inch propelles.
• 3S - 4S 4500 mah battery
  

The feature available are the same available in arducopter32 rev 2.9.3

• Flight in acro and stable mode.
• Loiter , return to home and auto navigation.
• Auto landing and takeoff

After making the first  hovering Emile will take care to test it in order to put a little 'under pressure the drone.

Thanks to all the time for this great results :)

Best Regards
Roberto