[nitromethane]

So I had this idea rattling around my head of a RevoNano compatible FC in a DIP-like package that can be soldered or socket mounted to something like a PCB frame or something for a while now.

Last weak I started playing around in KiCad and started to work on a PCB and now finaly have something to show.

I'm kind of interested what you guys make of this

[Brian]

I kind of like the idea.  I've had ideas in the past of designing something similar, but making it stack-able.

Have you seen the Microduino boards? https://www.microduino.cc/

[nitromethane]

Yes, stacking was also an idea with this. I could eventually try to make an OSD, OPlink, Brushed ESC for micro quads, base board with power distribution and voltage/current sensor etc. modules compatible with this footprint...

As for the current board design, I think I'm pretty close to being done.

[Mateusz]

Yes, stacking was also an idea with this. I could eventually try to make an OSD, OPlink, Brushed ESC for micro quads, base board with power distribution and voltage/current sensor etc. modules compatible with this footprint...

As for the current board design, I think I'm pretty close to being done.

Hi nitromethane, this is one of best hardware ideas I have seen recently. It would open up a lot of possibilities for hacking and experimenting with this flight controller.
Since Kicad is open-source, will you make your files also open ? I can imagine lots of hackers would pick it up, start prototyping on breadboard customizing design and coming up with new interesting applications. Also the list of supported hardware would potentially grow with this. It looks really great Maybe someone would pick it up and made it pin-compatible with RPi Zero
DIP package would be really great for improving this platform.

[m_thread]

I really like this idea as well. An obvious thing would be to design a 'motherboard' with connectors that can easily be used.
/F

[Brian]

From what I can tell on the microduino, they have larger diameter holes for the headers so that the machined headers can sit flush with the board.  It makes for a very compact solution.

I would be interested in seeing the pinout for the headers to see what would be available for communicating between boards.  Have you considered adding a CAN transceiver?  I really like the idea of using CAN for inter-board communications, and you can get pretty small transceivers that work at 3.3V.

You might also look at the Craziflie 2.0 expansion port for ideas: https://www.bitcraze.io/2014/08/crazyflie-2-0-expansion-port/

[lucas]

Agree with m_thread:  The user will nedd a "motherboard" to which the Flight Controller connects.  Please, please design that motherboard with 30.5 spaced appart holes on it!!.  They don´t even need to be 4.  Just 2 will suffice but without them mounting will be difficult.

Regarding connectors.  You will need some that are either tight enough to prevent the FC from moving, or flexible enough to dampen the airframe vibrations.

Really like this idea and would love to see it came into fruition.

[Brian]

Unfortunately, I think it's going to be difficult to make something with larger components with this design.  For example, the RFM22B module used on the OPLink/Revo is 16mmx16mm.  I don't know the exact dimensions of this board, but it looks like the space between the headers is 15mm or less.  Even if you put this on a CC3D/Revo sized baseboard, I don't think you're going to have room for the RFM22B unless you use a surface mount connector.

[a_morale]

Just for fun and to address my needs for my small fpv copters I designed this thing. with 5V regulators, filter and surge protection(to prevent damages due to escs with regenerative braking):

it would be cool to go further with this design toward a "pdb" and flight control board that interconnects using hirose board to board connectors
(yes i hate wires  )

[nitromethane]

First of all I'm glad you guys like the idea

About the open source thing, yes I intend to go open source.
This will be my first open source project so I could use some advice. I'm thinking of putting it on github under something like a CC-BY-SA licence

CAN bus would be nice, but as far as I can tell (maybe I missed something) the STM32F411 doesn't have it.

The board as it stands is 17x32mm, can be a bit less if I trim it down a little bit, pins are on a 12x6 100mil spaced grid. Maybe I could add a little bit of squeeze by removing redundant power pins (there are ground and power pins on each corner), but that would be on the next version.

Adding RFM22B to the motherboard could prove to be a bit of a pain in the ass with this package, but I can still try.

For now, I'll start working on a basic CC3D style motherboard, then maybe a PDB... 

[Brian]

That's too bad about CAN, but it looks like you're right.

Speaking of hirose connectors, I designed this board a while back but never even soldered one up to test:





It includes an STM32F411, the standard sensors, a dual voltage regulator, LEDs, and a hirose connector that breaks out pretty much all the remaining I/O.  It's 15mm on a side.

Part of the reason that I didn't pursue it further is that the I/O is so dense it's hard to route it all out on a 4-layer board.

[nitromethane]

OK, I quickly did a basic breakout board for my DIP Nano. It's as basic as basic can get.

This should be a good starting point to add things to...

I should probably think about surface mounting the DIP Nano...

[nitromethane]

I'm thinking of designing a carrier board with integrated BL ESCs and Current/Voltage sensing capability, which could be a useful thing for a micro quad.

Any ideas where should I refer for some ESC designs??

[Mateusz]

Most of designs are commercial, but maybe this http://vedder.se/2015/01/vesc-open-source-esc/
If he would make this ESC smaller that would be a thing

Commercial designs are more up to date though (like Littebees or KISS24), one can make pads for soldering those ESCs.

[a_morale]

I'm thinking of designing a carrier board with integrated BL ESCs and Current/Voltage sensing capability, which could be a useful thing for a micro quad.

Any ideas where should I refer for some ESC designs??

Actually there are a lot of cheap, high quality and small devices available nowadays (littlebees, xm20a to name a few) .
it's hard to beat their size/price/quality, so the best bet is to have a carrier board that may hosts them directly.
This also allow you to quickly change a single esc without a lot of issues in case of failures.