Difference between revisions of "ESC"
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ESC (electric speed controllers) are required for driving | ESC (electric speed controllers) are required for controlling / driving brushless dc motors. <br/> | ||
While most esc's will work well with fixedwing, rotorcraft have higher requirements. <br/> | While most standard esc's will work well with fixedwing, rotorcraft have higher requirements. <br/> | ||
Positive features for rotorcraft: | Positive features for rotorcraft: | ||
* faster response to input signal | * faster response to input signal ! | ||
* higher torque | * higher torque | ||
* accept higher or other input signal (higher pwm input or I2C) | * accept higher or other input signal (higher pwm input or I2C) | ||
* less noise | * less noise | ||
Standard ESC can be used, but with a little work and | Standard ESC can be used, but with a little work and an alternative firmware they will work better. | ||
= AVR (ATmega) based ESC = | |||
Simon Kirby develops an alternative firmware for ATmega based brushless motor controller, written in assembly. <br/> | Simon Kirby develops an alternative firmware for ATmega based brushless motor controller, written in assembly. <br/> | ||
Features: | |||
* 16MHz operation on most boards | * 16MHz operation on most boards | ||
* 16-bit output PWM with full clock rate resolution (~18kHz PWM with a POWER_RANGE of 800 steps) | * 16-bit output PWM with full clock rate resolution (~18kHz PWM with a POWER_RANGE of 800 steps) | ||
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* Smooth starting in most cases | * Smooth starting in most cases | ||
* Forward and reverse commutation supported, including RC-car style reverse-neutral-forward PWM ranges, with optional braking | * Forward and reverse commutation supported, including RC-car style reverse-neutral-forward PWM ranges, with optional braking | ||
[http://wiki.openpilot.org/display/Doc/RapidESC+Database Hardware compatibility (Openpilot)]<br/> | [http://wiki.openpilot.org/display/Doc/RapidESC+Database Hardware compatibility (Openpilot)]<br/> | ||
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= SiLabs based ESC = | = SiLabs based ESC = | ||
Some newer ESC are build with a Silicon Labs MCU with a 8051 core. <br/> | |||
They have a C2 programming interface.<br/> | Some newer ESC are build with a Silicon Labs MCU with a Intel 8051 core. <br/> | ||
They have a C2 programming interface and therefore need a special programmer.<br/> | |||
Steffen Skaug provides an alternative firmware, written in assembly. | Steffen Skaug provides an alternative firmware, written in assembly. | ||
Features: | |||
* Can be configured for helicopter MAIN motor or TAIL motor operation. Or as MULTIcopter motor operation. | |||
* Main motor operation has governor functionality and multicopter motor operation has closed loop functionality. | |||
* Motor operation can be damped for fast motor retardation. | |||
* Many parameters can be programmed, either from PC applications for setup and configuration, or from the TX. | |||
* Supports 1kHz, 2kHz, 4kHz, 8kHz or 12kHz positive or negative pwm as input signal, as well as regular 1-2ms PPM signal. | |||
The easiest way is to program and set up the esc with the BLHeli setup tool (no surce available :( ). | |||
Programmer: <br/> | Programmer: <br/> | ||
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[http://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/Pages/ToolStick.aspx Silicon Labs Toolstick] available at [http://at.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Silicon-Labs/TOOLSTICK850-B-SK/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMuqBwn8WqcFUs%2fwPRHCOTglcuiSRjY%2fEIM%3d Mouser] for 8€. | [http://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/Pages/ToolStick.aspx Silicon Labs Toolstick] available at [http://at.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Silicon-Labs/TOOLSTICK850-B-SK/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMuqBwn8WqcFUs%2fwPRHCOTglcuiSRjY%2fEIM%3d Mouser] for 8€. | ||
[http://www.helifreak.com/blog.php?u=144146&blogcategoryid=119 BLHeli Setup tool] <br/> | |||
[http://oddcopter.com/2012/07/18/flashing-silabs-escs-with-blheli-firmware/ tutorial on oddcopter.com] <br/> | |||
[https://github.com/bitdump/BLHeli bitdump/BLHeli] git repository | [https://github.com/bitdump/BLHeli bitdump/BLHeli] git repository | ||
= Open BLDC = | = Open BLDC = | ||
Open hardware / open software brushless controller project. <br/> | Open hardware / open software brushless controller project. <br/> | ||
From small low cost up to 200A continous hardware, but currenty | From small low cost up to 200A continous hardware, but currenty under development. | ||
Anyone wanna help ? :) <br/> | Anyone wanna help ? :) <br/> |
Revision as of 17:24, 3 January 2014
ESC (electric speed controllers) are required for controlling / driving brushless dc motors.
While most standard esc's will work well with fixedwing, rotorcraft have higher requirements.
Positive features for rotorcraft:
- faster response to input signal !
- higher torque
- accept higher or other input signal (higher pwm input or I2C)
- less noise
Standard ESC can be used, but with a little work and an alternative firmware they will work better.
AVR (ATmega) based ESC
Simon Kirby develops an alternative firmware for ATmega based brushless motor controller, written in assembly.
Features:
- 16MHz operation on most boards
- 16-bit output PWM with full clock rate resolution (~18kHz PWM with a POWER_RANGE of 800 steps)
- 24-bit timing and PWM pulse tracking at full clock rate resolution
- ICP-based pulse time recording (on supported hardware) for zero PWM input control jitter
- Immediate PWM input to PWM output for best possible multicopter response (but NOT where soft start or really any significant current limiting is needed!)
- Accepts any PWM update rate (minimum ~5microseconds PWM low time)
- Optimized interrupt code (very low minimum PWM and reduced full throttle bump)
- Configurable board pin assignments by include file
- Smooth starting in most cases
- Forward and reverse commutation supported, including RC-car style reverse-neutral-forward PWM ranges, with optional braking
Hardware compatibility (Openpilot)
Hardware compatibility (google docs)
sim-/tgy git repository.
SiLabs based ESC
Some newer ESC are build with a Silicon Labs MCU with a Intel 8051 core.
They have a C2 programming interface and therefore need a special programmer.
Steffen Skaug provides an alternative firmware, written in assembly.
Features:
- Can be configured for helicopter MAIN motor or TAIL motor operation. Or as MULTIcopter motor operation.
- Main motor operation has governor functionality and multicopter motor operation has closed loop functionality.
- Motor operation can be damped for fast motor retardation.
- Many parameters can be programmed, either from PC applications for setup and configuration, or from the TX.
- Supports 1kHz, 2kHz, 4kHz, 8kHz or 12kHz positive or negative pwm as input signal, as well as regular 1-2ms PPM signal.
The easiest way is to program and set up the esc with the BLHeli setup tool (no surce available :( ).
Programmer:
owsilprog uses a Arduino.
Silicon Labs Toolstick available at Mouser for 8€.
BLHeli Setup tool
tutorial on oddcopter.com
bitdump/BLHeli git repository
Open BLDC
Open hardware / open software brushless controller project.
From small low cost up to 200A continous hardware, but currenty under development.