Tag Archives: cc3d

Flash CC3D with Cleanflight using OpenPilot GCS

Posted by on July 16, 2015 20 comments

In one of my previous post, I described how to flash the Cleanflight firmware on the CC3D flight controller and why I prefer the CC3D over Naze32 at the moment. I used my Arduino Nano as FTDI adapter to do this, but Bill posted a video in the comments, how the board can be flashed only through the USB-Port. I have tried it yesterday and will show you, how to do this if you don’t want to watch the video.

First download the OpenPilot GCS 15.02.02 (the newest 15.05 does not support the CC3D board) and install it on your computer. Here is a manual how to install it, if you have some problems with that.

We also need the STM32 Virtual Com Port driver. Download it from the official ST-webpage and install it.

Install the Cleanflight Configurator from the Chrome Web Store and download the latest Cleanflight firmware for the CC3D board. Download the “cleanflight_CC3D.bin” from GitHub.

Open the OpenPilot GCS software, connect the CC3D board through the USB-Port, go to the “Firmware”-Tab and click the “Halt” button.

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Now you can open the downloaded cleanflight_CC3D.bin. Check the “I know what I’m doing!” box and then “Flash” button. That’s it, now you have the Cleanflight firmware on your CC3D board.

Important: To use the board through the UBS-Port, you need to power it with external battery. Then you can connect it to the Cleanflight Configurator.

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If for some reason you want to go back to the OpenPilot firmware, go to this page and follow the exact instructions “How to Upgrade the Bootloader and Erase Settings”.

Thanks to Bill, who told me about the video and to FranzArians for sharing his way to install the firmware!

FPV Racer Quadcopter Build Log

Posted by on June 3, 2015 No comments

The summer is coming and it is time for FPV flying. It is just great feeling to fly around. In the past months I have used mostly my SG Acro quadcopter and that one is not suitable for FPV flying, even it is great fun making flips with it 🙂

I will be using my own SG Adventure Mini v4 frame. I spent many hours learning CAD from zero and trying to create an unique FPV frame, that is as good as possible. I just love this asymmetric carbon fiber frame 🙂

Let´s get started with the parts that I have used for that FPV Racer:

  • SG Adventure Mini v4 frame
  • T-Motor MN2206 2000kv
  • HK BlueSeries 12A ESC flashed with SimonK firmware
  • CC3D flight controller
  • 6” carbon propeller
  • Power distribution board
  • ImmersionRC TX
  • Nylon Spacers and M3 screws

First I mounted the M3 6mm nylon spacers on the top center plate. Next I mounted the MN2206 motors on the arms and cut the 2mm gold connectors as I was going to solder the motor cables directly to the ESCs.

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Then unsoldered the original motor cables from every ESC. I also removed the 5V and GND cables from 3 ESCs and left only the signal cable (I was going to use the supplied BEC on the fourth one).

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Took the bottom center plate and mounted the power distribution board with on it. Next step was cutting the power cables from the ESC, so these can fit on the bottom plate. Then soldered these cables to the power distribution board. I also soldered the power cable to the battery, the LEDs and a power cable for the ImmersionRC video transmitter.

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After that I put heat shrink on the ESCs and soldered the cables from the motors to every ESC. You should care when soldering to reverse two of the motor cables because of the different rotation.

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Next step is assembling the arms with the center plates. I don’t like to see the locknuts on the top, but it is much easier to mount the arms by that way. Once you are done with two of these, you can put the other screws from the top and then remove or reverse the firstly mounted screws and locknuts.IMG_9863IMG_9865

Finally I have mounted the CC3D flight controller, a carbon cover for it and the 6” propellers. I also put two 6mm nylon spacers in the middle between the two center plates for more strength. On the top of the flight controller cover I mounted the ImmersionRC TX with a zip tie until I receive my third FPV cover plate.IMG_9866IMG_9871IMG_9872

AfroMini 32 connecting with Baseflight

Posted by on December 23, 2014 No comments

As the developer explained it on his website, this is a micro version of his Naze32 flight controller. I also have the Acro version of the Naze32 and was happy with its size, weight and features, but wanted to give a try of this even smaller board. Ordered one from the developers web shop: abusemark.com and today I received the board. All the important details about the FC are listed on the developers website. Very nice is the integrated BMP180 barometer, as there is no barometer on the Naze32 Acro version.

The board comes without soldered pins and without any pins at all, just the board as seen on the first picture. Size: well it is really small, about half the size of my OpenPilot CC3D.

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Here is a pic with the pins already soldered.

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As you can see the board is so small so there is no MicroUSB for setup and configuration as on the normal Naze32. To connect and configure with PC and the Baseflight software you need a FTDI adapter. I  still don’t have such one, so I took my new Arduino Nano v3 (version with integrated FTDI chip on it) and connected the AfroMini with it. To use only the FTDI chip of the Arduino Nano just place a jumper on the RST and GND pin, so these are connected (alternatively you can hold the reset button until you finish with the setup).

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Then connect the side-pins from the AfroMini to the Arduino Nano in this way: GND – GND, 5v – 5V, TX – TX and RX to RX (yes, not reversed TX-RX! ). That’s it! Now you can install the newest firmware and setup the board just like the normal Naze32 board.

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