zlite
Apr 17, 2009, 07:11 PM
Following the lead of the Arduino project, we've just upgraded the contest winning (http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/news.php?id=259) ArduPilot to the Atmega328 chip, which has twice the memory (32k flash, 2k of SRAM/EEPROM) of our original Atmega168. The new boards are totally backwards compatible with the current code, but they'll allow us to do a lot more with the code going forward, starting with version 2.2, which will be out in a week or two.
The new boards are now available (http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8785) from Sparkfun for the same $24.95 price as the old ones (yay Moore's Law!). Any backorders placed since we went out of stock with the old boards a few weeks ago will be filled with the new boards today.
Things we'll be doing with the increased memory in code 2.2 and beyond include:
--Choice between NEMA and binary mode GPS parsers, which will allow use of more GPS modules
--Better navigation routines, including crosstrack correction and relative waypoints
--Easier setup process for different airframes
--Use of additional sensors, attached via a forthcoming expansion board ("shield" in Arduino parlance) that comes with a differential pressure sensor for airspeed and throttle control.
The new boards are now available (http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8785) from Sparkfun for the same $24.95 price as the old ones (yay Moore's Law!). Any backorders placed since we went out of stock with the old boards a few weeks ago will be filled with the new boards today.
Things we'll be doing with the increased memory in code 2.2 and beyond include:
--Choice between NEMA and binary mode GPS parsers, which will allow use of more GPS modules
--Better navigation routines, including crosstrack correction and relative waypoints
--Easier setup process for different airframes
--Use of additional sensors, attached via a forthcoming expansion board ("shield" in Arduino parlance) that comes with a differential pressure sensor for airspeed and throttle control.