Maker Pro
Maker Pro

Is it possible to use barometer module using UARTS?

Farukh Khan

Jun 12, 2015
160
Joined
Jun 12, 2015
Messages
160
Hello Guys,

I have been working on a drone recently. Unfortunately my flight controller doesn't have barometer sensor in it and I want to do some altitude holding on the drone. Is it possible to connect a barometer module using the UARTS of a flight controller. Is it's possible how? If not possible what are the other ways.

Please help out here. Thanks.
 

kellys_eye

Jun 25, 2010
6,514
Joined
Jun 25, 2010
Messages
6,514
Wouldn't any barometric senor be required to be fitted in the drone rather than the controller?

Either way, the signal from the barometer would need to be interfaced (programmed) into the controlling software which, if you don't have the coding for, will be almost impossible to achieve.
 

Farukh Khan

Jun 12, 2015
160
Joined
Jun 12, 2015
Messages
160
I am trying to use a barometric sensor like the one showed in the attached picture of this reply. I want to fit it in the drone obviously. But, I was asking how should I connect it to the flight controller? Is it possible to use a direct UART connection from the flight controller for that particular barometer?
 

Attachments

  • download.jpg
    download.jpg
    7.7 KB · Views: 12

kellys_eye

Jun 25, 2010
6,514
Joined
Jun 25, 2010
Messages
6,514
The only return path from the drone is (probably) your video signal - do you have a bi-directional data path otherwise?
If all you have is video then putting the data on the video signal ( as well as getting it out again) won't be an easy task by any stretch...
 

Farukh Khan

Jun 12, 2015
160
Joined
Jun 12, 2015
Messages
160
What do you mean by only return path from the drone? the UARTS are basically like USB as far as I know, which supports bi-directional data. But I am not sure how I can connect the barometer sensor to the UART. Is it even possible to do that? cause the barometer signal is analog and the UARTs probably takes in digital signals because they are something like the usb.
 

JWHassler

Dec 22, 2014
86
Joined
Dec 22, 2014
Messages
86
What do you mean by only return path from the drone? the UARTS are basically like USB as far as I know, which supports bi-directional data. But I am not sure how I can connect the barometer sensor to the UART. Is it even possible to do that? cause the barometer signal is analog and the UARTs probably takes in digital signals because they are something like the usb.
That barometer seems to use an SPI connection.
IF your flight recorder can accept SPI inputs and IF you have access to the recorder's code, you can do it.
Connection by UART seems unlikely, but I don't know your level of expertise.
 

Farukh Khan

Jun 12, 2015
160
Joined
Jun 12, 2015
Messages
160
I have attached the mean description diagram of my flight controller in this reply. It seems to me that there is no SPI pins available on this flight controller to utilize my barometer sensor on. Please see if I have missed something. Thank You.
 

Attachments

  • LumbaF3 Diagram-500x500.jpg
    LumbaF3 Diagram-500x500.jpg
    55.1 KB · Views: 12

Farukh Khan

Jun 12, 2015
160
Joined
Jun 12, 2015
Messages
160
@JWHassler I have provided the pin diagram of my flight controller. Also, the software of my flight controller is open source. So, Is there any possibility you can see from the pins diagram that I might able to connect an external barometer like that?
 

(*steve*)

¡sǝpodᴉʇuɐ ǝɥʇ ɹɐǝɥd
Moderator
Jan 21, 2010
25,510
Joined
Jan 21, 2010
Messages
25,510
If you are going to use the UART interface then you will need to find a barometer with a serial (e.g. RS232) interface.
 
Top