Dear Friends,

in these summer Holiday i found the time to finish my porting of Arducopter 2.0.39 to Multipilot32 ( AP32 ).

In this video dimostration you can found the result of my work. We need only to finish the test on waypoint navigation .

The configuration of quad in the video is follow :

• VR Multipilot32.
• DIY Oilpan.
• DIY GPS MTK16.
• DIY Compass.
• Radio is Spektrum DX6.
• Motors is Keda 20-22.

The AP32 Upgrade Kit is Available for your Arducopter more info click here : http://www.virtualrobotix.com/page/multipilot32-1

In the next days will be available on repo : http://code.google.com/p/multipilot32/downloads/list

The functionality available and tested in the video are :

• Stable mode flight .
• Loiter + Altitude Hold
• Return to home.
• simple mode flight.

The code is fully compatible with Mission Planner i tested until rev 1.0.54.

I tested also the Copter Ground Station for Android it work fine !!!

The code support mavlink protocol and the platform tha use it.

The upgrade available using Multipilot32 are :

Imu refresh rate 1 khz instead of 200 hz , more stable flight.

PPMSUM radio input compatible .

SD card for save Option and log not on internal eeprom (Work in progress).

Radio Remap functionality for PPMSUMRECEIVER using Mavlink parameters (Work in progress).

Mixertable for define custom configuration using Mavlink parameters (Work in progress).

Thank you very much to all member of Arducopter DevTeam that help me in these work and for they great works:)

Thank you very much to all member of Arducopter DevTeam that help me in these work and for they great works:)

A special Thanks for Chris , Jason , Mike and Emile the beta tester taht setup and fly Arducopter32 on his quad and fly in fpv the quad during the test :)

Best

Roberto Navoni Foxteam

Interesting OpenSource project that use only a simple RaspberryPI 0 as DVB-S transmitter + RTL-SDR dongle  as receiver. 
This is less expensive DVB-S trasmitter ever developed. 
All the project is by Evariste he is a great developer and member of HAM Radio community ... now we are working togheter to a revision of system with low latency that fit the requirment of drone community .... now the latency is 2.5 second could became 200 ms with a power ampli for real use in outdoor scenario. If some one would join to beta testing of the system are welcome :)
This is the github where you can found the source code of the project .https://github.com/F5OEO/rpidatv

The receiver is an RTL-SDR standard dongle available on store like amazon or ebay for price less 30 $ . The decode is done using SDR technology the software from decoding is from Pabr the name is leandvb . This is the link .

http://www.pabr.org/radio/leandvb/leandvb.en.html

This software decode DVB-S directly from rtl-sdr stream. It's impressive :) 

Dear Friends,

today we going in production with the first batch of micro brain 5.1 board. After see some micro drone based on vrbrain fly , we decide to support the development of this great platform ... so we start to develop a special revision of VRbrain 5  for this kind of products where the small dimension and low weight are very important factor.

This is fully total autonomous platform available for micro drone.

These are the specification : 

CPU STM32F4 VR OS based on NuttX kernel.

1 EEPROM or FRAM device for parameter storage. 

IMU MPU6000 SPI.

MSIC Barometer 10 cm resolution.  

8 PPM Radio RC Input .

8 PWM ESC - SERVO Output.

1 SBUS Radio Input compatible with Futaba SBUS and Spektrum ,too

1 SBUS Servo Output.

SD Card Reader 

1 RGB LED 

2 LED Output 

1 Buzzer Output 

On board telemetry module availabe at 433 / 868 mhz. (option) 

connector for external VR GPS + MAGNETOMETER

dimension 4x4 .

native support of APM Firmware : 

APM Copter 

APM Plane

APM Rover 

Custom firmware available for boat and Paramotor Drone.

I think that special new mode ad hybrid loiter and drift are very interesting for these great toys :) 

some example of micro drone developed by Tommyleo and AleBS

Some info and example are available on italian forum baronerosso :

http://www.baronerosso.it/forum/modelli-multirotori/303284-idee-per-un-frame-da-micro-quad-fpv.html

This is the video doing by Bandit with a micro squid 

Dear Friend,

I'm happy to present the  prototype of Virtualrobotix thermal camera. 

In last months we work a lot on this new project , it's based on new Flir Lepton sensor and VR uBrain 5.1.

We implement an a specific firmware on uBrain for control the flir sensor , read image , trasmit it in realtime by USB or Bluetooth to PC or Mobile application.

The actual function supported in early prototype are : 

Live video streaming.

Recording on SD card.

Snapshot by event (push a button or specific programmable event).

We storage raw data and telemetry data from sensor so is possible to have a very detailed information about the temperature of all the point available in the image .

Is possible to analyse the image of VR Thermal Camera in realtime or in post processing with a specific appication. 

Actually we are developing specific application for our UAV especially for VR Spark as an alternative payload , actually we intend to propose this solution for video inspection in energy enviroment or solar field and a lot of other UAV or not UAV application if you are interested on this kind of technology contact me at : 

r.navoni@virtualrobotix.com

best

Roberto Navoni

This is a video example of our you can add the telemetry module to VR micro brain and test the board with VR Pad Station. Now is possible to connect directly VR micro brain and VR micro Gimbal to VR Pad Station by a usb OTG cable.

These are the board developed by VR Lab : VR micro Gimbal , VR Multi Constellation GPS 8  ,VR Micro Brain and plug and play VR micro telemetry board .

Example how is possible to assemble  the boards togheter , the form factor is very small and lightwheight . 

This is an a video example of new VR micro Gimbal in action.

This is a very exclusive video  example of fully autonomous fly using VR Leash experimental kit . You can set the position where put the drone by VR Leash natural reposition system or by PAD / Smartphone user interface available in VR Pad Station Pro.

Some of board use in these drone is already available : 

VR micro Brain : http://www.virtualrobotix.it/index.php/en/shop/autopilot/vrbrainmicro51-detail

VR GPS 8 : http://www.virtualrobotix.it/index.php/en/shop/accessories/gps-ublox-8-detail

VR micro Telemetry option 433: http://www.virtualrobotix.it/index.php/en/shop/accessories/vrx-radio-telemetry-kit-433-mhz-europe-38-detail

VR micro Telemetry option 868: http://www.virtualrobotix.it/index.php/en/shop/accessories/vrx-radio-telemetry-kit-868-mhz-europe-38-61-detail

VR micro Gimbal Board :  will be available at december 

VR Leash : available for OEM and Pro project.

Best

Roberto

Today i recived this mail , I would share it with the member of Dev Team , Thanks a lot :)

Hello,
It is with great pleasure that I send you this news.
There has been a project in Portugal in which an autonomous boat and hexacopter cooperate for monitoring of rivers. http://riverwatchws.cloudapp.net/

We just recently have been mentioned in Hack a Day http://hackaday.com/2014/01/30/riverwatch-an-autonomous-surface-aerial-marsupial-robot-team/
The hexacopter uses the VrBrain as it's controller, and some additional hardware. I thought you would be happy to know about this usage of the VrBrain and maybe help share it.
Thank you so much for reading and for all the work you have put into this.
 Paulo Rodrigues

Thank you too Paulo and at your team for this great work :) 

This is the Post on hackaday :)

Every once in a while we get a tip for a project that really, really, really blows our minds.This is one of them.

It looks like a basic catamaran with a few extra bells and whistles — except it is so much more than that. You’re looking at a fully Autonomous Surface Vehicle, complete with a piggybacking 6-rotor UAV. It’s decked out in cameras, sonar sensors, laser rangefinders, high accuracy GPS-RTK tracking, an IMU, oh, and did we mention the autonomous 6-rotor UAV capable of taking off and landing on it?

It all started out as a simple experiment within ECHORD (the European Clearing House for Open Robotics Development), and since then it has become a fully funded project atUNINOVA, a Centre of Technology and Systems in Portugal.

The purpose of the mind-blowing robot team is to collect data of river environments — think of it as Google Maps 2.0 — which is almost an understatement for what it is capable of.

You seriously have to watch the video after the break.

Dear Friends,

after 4 months of hard work the first Virtualrobotix RTF frame is ready , we received first two sample yesterday . We are very happy to this result .

We start some month ago presenting some design concept.

http://www.diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/what-kind-of-design-do-you-prefer-for-your-next-drone

Then after a long selection and technical evaluation of platform doing on 3d cad , testing the frame with FEM simulation and then send the prototype to our maker company.

The next step is test on air. Inside we put our flight control platform VR Brain , 3DR Ublox GPS , 3DR radio telemetry module , VR ESC and VR Radio .

We are working hard on a lot of component and we'll be on air in one month .

• The VR Copter design is from italy :) 
• This Copter is in a 550 category. 
• The weight of frame is around 330 gr.
• Below support different configuration of payload ad in front will be available a revision of VR Copter with VR Direct Drive Gimbal that's coming ,too
• The tile is removable , so if drone crash you can change the tail or in future will be different configuration available.
• We are available also to customize the frame with your colors or texture on it . With our modular approach we haven't limit to customize our platform.

We need your help to understand if you like our new and innovative drone platform and what kind of feature do you like on it :)

We are searching farm in the world that have competitive price for production of this frame . We have two kind of version of project one for going in production with professional 3D printer. We are evaluation also to buy one . If someone have some suggestion about a good product at competitive price that's welcome :)

The other opportunity is to produce by molding technology process , but we need a good price for it :) In italy is not enough competitive price :)

 if you can help us comment this post or contact us at info@virtualrobotix.com 

Best

Roberto Navoni

Ecco il riassunto di tutte le guide per mettere in volo un Quadricotero in configurazione standard :

Here is a guide to setup a Quadrocopter in standard configuration :

Volo X o +   *** Flight mode X or +
Multipilot 32 *** Multipilot 32
OilPan *** OilPan
Ricevente standard *****  Standard RX
Esc PWM  ****   PWM Speed controllers
Magnetometro Diydrones   ****   Diydrones Compass
Gps Mtek Firmware 1.6  ****   GPS Mtek Firmware

Touchthebitum

Guidaglobale.doc  (Italiano)

GuidaglobaleEng.doc (English) V.1.01

GuidegénéralFR.docx (Français)

After the VR micro Brain 5 we finally present you the VRBrain 5.
We had to work a lot on the operating system, new drivers and all the infrastructure to support the mission planner firmware repository, this is why it took so long to release the board.

Today the board is available on the store.
Here are the first pictures of the OEM version, I prefer to show you the board without enclosure because  it's a jewel of technology :)

It will initially be available in the basic version, and only for more experienced users that will join our advanced developer program we will have available a version that supports up to 3 IMUs with (Accelerometers , Gyroscopes , Magnetometer and barometer ) and also support up to 2 VR Multiconstellation GPS Ublox 8. 

The board has an on board CAN Bus driver, an SD Card and it's driven by the NuttX RTOS real-time operating system.

It natively supports Futaba and FrSky SBUS receivers (up to 18 channels) and will support Spektrum satellites 

Full tech specification :

Hardware:

• CPU:
  • ARM CortexM4F microcontroller with DSP and FPU.
  • 1024KiB di flash , 192KiB of RAM.
  • 1 SD Card Slot support until 64 gigabyte.
  •  Jtag support for onboard realtime debugging.
• IMU Sensor:
  • mems accelerometer and gyroscope (different option , available pro certify ,too ) 
  • barometer with  10 cm resolution.
  • 2  SPI expansion BUS for optional IMU
  • 1  sonar input.
• RC 
  • 6 RC INPUT standard PPM.
  • 1 PPMSUM 
  • 1 ARM Switch
  • 1 SBUS input compatible with  Futaba and  FRKSY technology. 
  • 8 RC output ( 60 - 490 hz ) , 4 optional RC output ( in SBUS mode)
• Expansion BUS
  • 1 CAN BUS .
  • 2 serial port for interface VR GPS Ublox 8
  • 1 i2c bus for magnetometer connection.
• Additional IN - OUT
  • 3 Output Switch digitali (ULN2003) 2 LED 1 BUZZER.
  • 1 input for voltage control.
  • 1 input for current control.
• Dimension 6x4.
• Available plastic and aluminium case as option.

IDE and development kit . 

• Eclipse IDE.
• Arm GCC Toolchain.
• Support real time debug .

Firmware:

For this platform are available many libraries developed by the community Virtualrobotix and Diydrones. 

Native support of the operating system Nuttx rev 6.20 to 7.30. 

Bootloading and Automatic Update standard and custom firmware. 

Repository Server with native support Mission Planner 32 and 64 bit.

The supported UAV firmware are  : APM Copter, Plane and Rover

Our dev team support and improve VRBrain NuttX operating systems and AP_HAL_VRBRAIN . The Hardware Abstraction Layer for integration with APM firwmare enviroment. 

The mini site is available at : 

http://vrbrain.wordpress.com/

For more info send a mail to : info@virtualrobotix.com

The link where you can buy the board and find more info is this: 
http://www.virtualrobotix.it/index.php/en/shop/autopilot/vrbrain5-detail

For this product is available a professional customer support program. University and Research Lab use VRBrain 5 in advanced research project. Join to our pro dev team today :) Some company that want certify their drone ask the support to our dev team for support during the qualification test .

For more info send a mail to info@virtualrobotix.com 

Dear Friends
in this video I present the first flights made ​​with the new frame designed by Virtualrobotix.
The frame drawn using last generation 3D Cad , is made of carbon fiber and aluminum.
The frame is designed for users who want to have a frame strong, lightweight, reliable and easily customizable.
The version presented in the video and 'the naked version, we are also ending the production of the cover.

This is a render of cover developed for VR Copter X4-8

The current configuration of the drone is:

• VR Brain 4.5
• GPS 3DR
• Arducopter32 rev 3.0.4 Firmware
• 4 ESC Turnigy 30 AMP with firmware SIMONK
• 4 Engines MK 3638
• 4 Props APC 12 can 'mount up to helices 14-15
• Zippy 5800 mah battery support until 10000 mah 3S 
• GoPro hero3 white.
• Futaba radio module with Jety 7-channel PPM.
• Is possible to implement the VR Copter also as coaxial X8 as in the render 

All electronics  mounted on six dampers it is easily removable and can be inspected.
The battery is mounted above the distribution board to limit the vibrations transmitted to the VRBrain 4.5

Weight without GoPro and 1490 grams without battery
Take-off weight of 2068 grams including battery and GoPro
Flight time from 5800 mah battery with 14 min of flight with 70% of battery used.
The final version of the frame should weigh 150-200 grams less.

The maximum payload is 1 kg .
The frame will be available in kit form in the month of September.

We are working also to some option as VR Gimbal frame for GOPRO and small DSLR.

I Fly this frame for 2 hours with my VRBrain 4.5 and firwmare Arducopter32 rev 4.0 

The results is very impressive , the loiter is great , return to home ,too :) 

See the video .... 

If you have some suggestions about the frame are welcome :)

for more info : http://www.virtualrobotix.com/profiles/blogs/vr-copter-a-new-frame-for-your-vrbrain-with-fantastic-arducopter3?xg_source=activity

Best

Roberto

Dear Friends,

today i doing my first flight with new revision of VR Dragon.

Dragon components are :

VR Brain (Multipilot32 ).

VR Imu Full

6 x 50 Amp Motorius ESC

6 x 13 APC propeller.

6 x Turnigy Motors

Carbon Fiber Frame.

The first gimbal tested is PhotoHigher AV 200.

This kind of configuration can

I put on Dragon for the test 2 kind of camera  Panasonic SD90 and Canon EOS 600D.

During my test i found some problem on rolling shutter on SD90 . The Canon EOS 600D don't have any kind of problem it is perfect camera.

Dear friend,

This is last video doing by Marco with his Marcopter HV2 Full Carbon

yesterday we release last revision of Arducopter rev3.1rc5 for VRBrain with no OS the AP_HAL_VRBrain is very similar to APM.

more tech info about vrbrain here : http://www.virtualrobotix.com/page/vr-brain-v4-0

The name of our revision is APM Copter rev 3.1.11 this release is without OS , We have also available the NuttX-PX4 revision of code but only in alpha revision for dev team test.

see here for more detail on nuttx os on VRBrain : http://www.virtualrobotix.com/profiles/blogs/vrbrain-4-5-last-updat...

On VRBrain the Arducopter code use use only 6-7 % of cpu resource .... on APM 2.x use from 70 % to 95 % of cpu ... so we have a lot of resource available for doing reliable test of advanced functionality . The code need only 480 kbyte we have available 60 % of flash for develop new functionality .

Last revision of code work very well ... we are very happy of these fly result ... in italy a big community of user start to switch to VRBrain from Arduflyer or Cirus Board AIO.

http://www.baronerosso.it/forum/modelli-multirotori/274499-vrbrain-...

Update in 3.1.11

SPI BUS speed for MPU6000 increased to 8MHz
ENHANCEMENT of MPU6000 enabled by default (MPU6000 @ 1KHz and gyro full scale @ 1000dps)
update to latest 3.1rc5 of arducopter code
Corrected bug in Dataflash log download
Yellow led on board now show Scheduler activity.

Please upgrade to this release following this link.

THe Gyro and Accels now are sampled at 1KHz instead of 200Hz and main loop averages 10 samples every main loop.

This has imprved flight performance, but it is still in test, so use accordingly. With this version you can try to rise the INS_FILTER partameter to 42Hz or 98Hz, but you must have vibration under control.

Have fun and fly safe!

Best
Roberto

original blog post : http://www.virtualrobotix.com/profiles/blogs/vr-gimbal-nex7-preview

Best

Roberto

After an hard work  VR Lab team finish the porting of AP_HAL library to VRBRAIN.

Now we start doing first test on Arducopter rev 3.0 and Arduplane 2.71 . 

Emile yet start to do first test on Arducopter rev 3.0 the great news is  that in the next week we start to doing the first test of Arduplane on VRBrain . Our beta tester is Daniele Avagadri . He is member of Virtual Robotix Italia team and have a 12 years of experience on RC airplane.

here info about VR Brain the price start from 150 euro.

http://www.virtualrobotix.com/page/vr-brain-v4-0

Last video doing by Marco Robustini

Here you can find the firmware repository :

http://code.google.com/p/vrbrain

ap_hal project is available in ap_hal_newdir branch.

This is mini site for ready to fly firmware :

http://vrbrain.wordpress.com/

for more info send a mail to : info@virtualrobotix.com

original blog post : http://www.virtualrobotix.com/profiles/blogs/arducopter-arduplane-and-ardurover-firmware-based-on-ap-hal-libra

Thanks to Emile , Andrew , Pat and the other member of the team for the support to our work and for the ap_hal multi platform code revision.

Best

Roberto Navoni

These are the first two ready to flight prototype picture of VR Brain Core .

Are available for OEM and Beta tester different configuration of board with STM32F4 or F7 and with some additional connector like USB / SD Card or without connector that normally are available on custom distribution board.

Actually we are working at the first custrom distribution board for our VR Wasp , the ultra light complete drone compliant to under 300 gr drone for urban enviroment .

This is a picture with comparison between VR Brain 5 , VR Brain Core 6 and VR uBrain 5 as you can see the design of the core is adapt for fast protyping and for simple integration inside custom design.

For check the new VR Core 6 on air we decide to use this simple frame in 5 minutes we replace the VR uBrain and test the new board . 

In the video you can see the result of first flight ... It's impressive :) 

All the APM firmwware normally available for VR Brain 5 : Copter, Standard Hely , Plane , Rover , Boat it's available for VR Core. 

Here will be more information about the new OEM board : 

https://vrbrain.wordpress.com/

For VR Core there is a porting of Cleanflight by TommyLeo 

https://vrbrain.wordpress.com/quick-start-guide/speedyflight-2-31-multiwii-32-by-tommyleo/

We are discussing with Alessio Morale one of the founder of Libre Pilot project for support it inside his project.

I hope that you like this new design. It's not a replace of vrbrain and vrubrain but it's for OEM and special custom design where the integration is the must .

The board is only 5 grams 

for more info contact me at : r.navoni@virtualrobotix.com 

Best

Roberto Navoni

In this video you can see the first flight doing with Virtual Robotix IMU , in the test i only check the sensor board , Gyro and Accelerometer , in the next test i check navy and input output functionality.

Today was a windy day , after solve with Randy a problem on the YAW control .. i doing the preflight check , all seem to work fine and so decide to going in the sky.

I'm using the same PID used with oilpan , there're not significant difference ... In the next day i try to use 300 °/s gyro ADXL 610 to check the difference respect of Inversense.

I think that the new board will be available in the next week for the people that are interest to evaluate it .

This board is an upgrade of original Oilpan board , it's compatibile at 80 % with the original dirver , my idea was to improve it and put my experience on gps and uav on it. I add some feature as subsystem power control , gps battery backup , improve temperature compensation on gyro , add gyro that i used on MP8 the same of mikrokopter.

In these days i doing small upgrade to adc driver and to the code .. i think that tomorrow i can doing a first flight for test it , On Artificial horizon yet is ok .. i need to upgrade the driver of compass .. and right projection.

My idea is to have only one board put on MP32 or APM without , cable to or header to connect the device togheter .. if you need can disconnect the sensor imu and put it where you want and can connect it by cable to navy board.

Do you like VR IMU ? This is tech info :

Preliminary VR IMU 1.0 (Dominate the Sky) Technical specification:

Imu Sensor :

• 1 Gyro Z : Inversense ISZ500 500 °/s resolution 1 axis.
• 1 Gyro XY : Inversense IDG500 500 °/s resolution 2 axis.
• 3 Gyro ADXL 610 300°/s resolution same used on Mikrokopter (option).
• 1 ACC ADXL 335 3G resolution.
• 1 Magnetometer 3 Axis HMC5883 compass functionality.
• 1 ADC 12 BIT ADS7844 8 channel. 2 channel used for temp compensation.
• 1 FET for ON / OFF subsystems.
• Possible to disconnect the Imu sensor and connect to Navi by a cable.

Navi Sensor:

• Barometer : BMP085
• GPS Mediatek all in one (Default) protocol MTK16 10 Hz update integrated Aerial.
• Locosys GPS (optional).
• UBlox GPS (optional).
• GPS Battery Backup.
• 1 FET for ON / OFF subsystems.

Input Output:

• 6 12 Bit analog input available for Board Setup or for interconnect accessories.
• 4 Digital Output
• 3 Status Led available
• Differential pressure sensor for air speed. ( possible to disconnect from in-out board and connect it by cable)

Product page : http://www.virtualrobotix.com/page/vr-imu-10

Best Roberto

This is the first preview of Next Gen STm32F7 flight control by Virtualrobotix.  New core , much power and a reliable solution based on industrial micro controller. 

A new oem and hobbyst platform with full support for :

• Copter 
• Helicopter 
• Plane
• Rover
• Boat

This new form factor is simple fast prototyping platform for your own custom design but a reliable design for your final solution. Th standard version of VR Brain core 6 support standard STM32F4 micro controller.

Suggestions are welcome.

Will be available in mass production Q1/16 prototypes for our OEM customers will be available in December 2015

If you are not already our OEM partner and are interested to the product  contact me at r.navoni@virtualrobotix.com 

Best

Roberto 

In these years we're doing a lot of experience to develop , electronic board , frame , esc , imu .

The last products was dev product only for hobbist .. now we decide to join force with other partner and start to work on professional platform , improve it and put all our experience in drone used for professional application. The first product is VR Dragon Y6 . This is a Hexa Coax developed by my friends Antonio CEO of FlyCam Italy that ask me to improve his original idea. This platform can support a heavy lift payload , you can put on it professional HD cam and fly for more of 15 minutes , with the coax conf is possible to lost a propeller and landing without big problem. For develop this kind of product we develop professional custom electronic board , firmware frame and  gimbal , this product will be optimize during the professional service doing for filmaker service.

For more info contact : lasernav@gmail.com

Best

Roberto

Arducopter 32 Roadmap presentation finished. Thank to all the member that join us.

This is the recording of presentation that i will be online for user that don't saw the presentation :

http://www.freebinar.com/WebConference/RecordingDefault.aspx?c_psri...

Sorry for technical problem that are doing during showing ... We can do better in future :)

During presentation i used freemind for eplain the complexity of the project I add to this post the original file .

In the next day i add it with more update

Best

Roberto

FreeMind File Download it and use Freemind program to view it

Link to Freemind program :

http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Download

P.S.

if you see in the file some error or would propose some update contact me or resend updated file.