3DR Solo, Operation Manual

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7
Each of the four motors is numbered by the marking on the arm. These numbers correspond to the autopilot
calculations for these commands and are used for indicating motor replacement procedures. Each motor is
controlled by an Electronic Speed Controller (ESC) that regulates the rotation of the motors to achieve the speed
commanded by the autopilot.
Figure 1.6.2: Solo Motor Order
1.7 Electrical System
Battery
Solo’s onboard electrical system is powered by a rechargeable lithium polymer battery. The battery communicates
over I2C with the Solo mainboard to report information about it’s current voltage. This information is pushed over
the telemetry output to the operator to provide data for in-flight power management and battery failsafe.
Mainboard
The Solo mainboard passes regulated voltage to the computing components onboard Solo: Pixhawk 2, 3DR
Solo Link, 3DR Solo GPS, and 3DR Solo Compass. These components have a two-way serial signal link with the
mainboard to transfer data between them via the mainboard as a central hub. The LEDs on each arm of Solo are
components of the ESCs and receive power and I2C signals via the ESCs.
Figure 1.7.1: Solo Electrical System
03 01
02 04
Pixhawk 2
ESC 1
ESC 2
ESC 3
ESC 4
Motor 1
LiPo Battery
Motor 1
LED 1
Motor 2 Motor 2
LED 2
Motor 3 Motor 3
LED 3
Motor 4 Mo Mo to tor 4 4
LED 4
3DR Solo
Link
3DR Solo
GPS
3DR Solo
Compass
Solo
Mainboard
Solo Electrical System
Serial signal
I
2
C signal
PWM signal
Battery voltage
Regulated voltage