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SmartDriveDuo-30 and Pixhawk

PostPosted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 8:34 pm
by gianakop
Hello everybody!

I have bought from Cytron the SmartDriveDuo-30 Dc motor driver https://www.cytron.io/c-93-dc-motor-driver/dc-motor-driver/p-mdds30, and I'm trying to make an autonomous tracked robod with Pixhawk (https://pixhawk.org/)as a brain.
Does anyone knows how to manipulate both?
In which mode must I turn my SmartDriveDuo-30?
Is the Microcontroller Analog/PWM the appropriate mode?

Re: SmartDriveDuo-30 and Pixhawk

PostPosted: Tue Jul 31, 2018 1:21 am
by gianakop
The sure is that a similar motor controller, the Sabertooth can work together with Pixhawk
Here is a video that demonstrates this cooperation:
Pixhawk connection with Sabertooth 2×12 mixed mode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY_vMaAfObA
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY_vMaAfObA[/youtube]

SmartDriveDuo-30 I think is better, so I think that can also work together with Pixhawk...

I appreciate any suggestion...

Thank you in advance
Nikos

Re: SmartDriveDuo-30 and Pixhawk

PostPosted: Wed Aug 01, 2018 11:06 am
by Idris
Hi gianakop,

I never use Pixhawk but I believe it is compatible. What is the signal come out from the Pixhawk that you plan to connect to MDDS30?

Re: SmartDriveDuo-30 and Pixhawk

PostPosted: Thu Aug 02, 2018 12:00 am
by gianakop
Idris WROTE:Hi gianakop,

I never use Pixhawk but I believe it is compatible. What is the signal come out from the Pixhawk that you plan to connect to MDDS30?



Hi Idris,

The signal that comes out from Pixhawk is an RC signal

Here is what Pixhawk says for connections with a Motor Driver for Skid Steering controll (diferential robot):

" “Skid steering” vehicles control their direction and forward/reverse motions by varying the speed of two (or more) independent wheels. For these style rovers the left wheel should be connected to RC Output 1 and the right wheel should be connected to RC Output 3."
Image
Here you can see the original article:
http://ardupilot.org/rover/docs/rover-motor-and-servo-connections.html




Thank you Nikos

Re: SmartDriveDuo-30 and Pixhawk

PostPosted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 9:13 pm
by gianakop
Hi again,

After a lot of tests, a successful way to connect SmartDriveDuo30 and Pixhawk is to set SmartDriveDuo30 in RC Mode with microcontroller (Indepentent Both) and connect Pixhawk’s RC1 and RC3 outputs to RC1 and RC2 SmartDriveDuo30’s inputs using two 3Ways Connector Extension Wires
Image
On Mission planner sofware you can also do the following:

1) From menu: INITIAL SETUP--> Mandatory Hardware --> Servo Output set: #1 Throttle Left, and #3 Throttle Right(tick also the reverse option on that)
Image
2)From menu : INITIAL SETUP --> Radio Calibration Tick the Reverse option
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Re: SmartDriveDuo-30 and Pixhawk

PostPosted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 4:06 am
by gianakop

Re: SmartDriveDuo-30 and Pixhawk

PostPosted: Sat Aug 11, 2018 8:26 pm
by ober

Re: SmartDriveDuo-30 and Pixhawk

PostPosted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 1:29 am
by gianakop
Here is the video from my Skid Steering test...


https://youtu.be/nPxv-j1DYSA
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=8&v=nPxv-j1DYSA[/youtube]

Re: SmartDriveDuo-30 and Pixhawk

PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2018 9:30 am
by Idris
Hi gianakop,

This is great! I have share your steps to interface between MDDS30 and Pixhawk in MDDS30 Product Page. Thank you very much. :)

Re: SmartDriveDuo-30 and Pixhawk

PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2018 1:27 am
by gianakop
And one more video from the real world.....

https://youtu.be/JzlUV0LO-RI