So as a totally newbie, I see so many choices that it's a bit overwhelming... If I understand the major configurations/history correctly..
APM 1.X based on ATMega1280
APM 2.x is an ATMEGA2560 and ATMEGA32U-2 (for USB) based platform
APM 3.x : future ARM based Arducopter version
dsPIC Based Platforms
STM32F1 ARM Cortex M3 Based Platforms:
Quadrino hardware running MultiWII firmware
AutoQuad6
QUESTION 1: If the APM has an ATMega32U-2, what is the similarly named "ArudPilotMega'" that Sparkfun sells ( https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10294 ) that has an ATMega328)?
QUESTION 2: How do the the Pirate/NextGen (NG) firmware fit into all this (i.e. ArduPirates SuperStable, Arducopter NG, Ardupirates NG, etc)? Paparazzi / Eva?
QUESTION 3: Is the MultiPilot32 the only one that uses an external IMU Shield / FreeIMU while all the others don't mention IMU / OilPan because it's built into the main FCB?
QUESTION 4: Why do some software packages (OpenPilot, Gluonpilot2, PX4) not run on platforms of similar hardware? These incidentally don't run software from other platforms either.. why?!
QUESTION 5: Will most Ground Station software work with any platform? (AndroPilot, HappyKillMore, etc)
QUESTION 5: Would most all frame work with any platform above? For example, the popular frames seem to be X, H, Stretched-X, either 4, 6, 8 motors, but will any of these work regardless of the controller board / software? Is there a sturdy one that is recommended for newbies?
QUESTION 6: Would most Radios work with any platform / frame above? PPM-Sum, Fry-Sky on a Futaba, Graupner MX-16?
QUESTION 7: What's recommended to see real-time video from the uav (either via goggles or pc)?
Wow, sorry for the long first post, but just have a million thoughts/questions that are running through my head!
APM 1.X based on ATMega1280
APM 2.x is an ATMEGA2560 and ATMEGA32U-2 (for USB) based platform
- ArduPilot Mega (APM) 2.6 running Arducopter 3.0.1 firmware .
- AIOP All In One Pro Flight Controller V2 running MegaPirateNG (MP NewGen) and MultiWii firmware for UAV capabilities
APM 3.x : future ARM based Arducopter version
dsPIC Based Platforms
- AutoPilot UDB5 UAV Development board with IMU, running MatrixPilot firmware
- AUAV3 running MatrixPilot firmware
- Gluonpilot2 (dsPIC33) with Xbee running GluonPilot firmware
STM32F1 ARM Cortex M3 Based Platforms:
- MultiPilot32 hardware with ArduIMU+V3 Shield, running Arducopter32 firmware (i.e. 32 bit version Arducopter 2.x)
- Naze32 running MultiWII firmware
- PX4 running PX4 firmware, and also Arducopter32/APM2.6 via ATMega emulation
- VR-Brain (MP32F4 v4) running Arducopter32 firmware, and possibly in the future PX4 firmware
- OpenPilot running OpenPilot GPS/GCS software
- AeroQuad32/Baloo running LibMaple firmware
Quadrino hardware running MultiWII firmware
AutoQuad6
QUESTION 1: If the APM has an ATMega32U-2, what is the similarly named "ArudPilotMega'" that Sparkfun sells ( https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10294 ) that has an ATMega328)?
QUESTION 2: How do the the Pirate/NextGen (NG) firmware fit into all this (i.e. ArduPirates SuperStable, Arducopter NG, Ardupirates NG, etc)? Paparazzi / Eva?
QUESTION 3: Is the MultiPilot32 the only one that uses an external IMU Shield / FreeIMU while all the others don't mention IMU / OilPan because it's built into the main FCB?
QUESTION 4: Why do some software packages (OpenPilot, Gluonpilot2, PX4) not run on platforms of similar hardware? These incidentally don't run software from other platforms either.. why?!
QUESTION 5: Will most Ground Station software work with any platform? (AndroPilot, HappyKillMore, etc)
QUESTION 5: Would most all frame work with any platform above? For example, the popular frames seem to be X, H, Stretched-X, either 4, 6, 8 motors, but will any of these work regardless of the controller board / software? Is there a sturdy one that is recommended for newbies?
- Hoverthings FLIP FPV
- QAV500,
- APM 3DR Y6
- Parrot's AR Drone 2
QUESTION 6: Would most Radios work with any platform / frame above? PPM-Sum, Fry-Sky on a Futaba, Graupner MX-16?
QUESTION 7: What's recommended to see real-time video from the uav (either via goggles or pc)?
Wow, sorry for the long first post, but just have a million thoughts/questions that are running through my head!