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X-Base

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X-Base
X-Base

The X-Base mainboard is produced by Ascending Technologies, located in Germany, and replaces the Silverlit X-UFO mainboard. The exclusive reseller of the X-Base is the X-UFO Shop.

The X-Base is available since end of May 2007.


Contents

[edit] Features of the X-Base:

Universal main board for the X-3D gyro

  • 4 connectors for X-BLDC motor controllers
  • 4 connectors for brushed motors up to 8A per motor
  • 4 LED connectors
  • 4 switchable outputs for additional functions (up to 8A each; only in BL mode)
  • Dynamic Thrust Control (DTC) for brushed and brushless motors
  • Serial receiver connector (for ACT-X3D Edition)
  • PPM-In connector for modified standard receivers
  • firmware updateable via the X-3D's USB module
  • comprehensive PC software (Firmware update, calibration, diagnosis, etc...)
  • Electronic main on/off switch with customizable overcurrent and undervoltage cutoff
  • Automatic "learning" of all transmitters (center positions, travel adjustments, channel assignments and inversions) using the PC software
  • up to four extra servo outputs (on transmitters with >4 channels)
  • protection against wrong battery polarity

Technical properties:

  • Size: x mm x x mm
  • Processor: ATMEL ATMEGA88 8kByte ROM, 1k Byte RAM
  • High duty FETs (unconfirmed!): Dual ultra low level FET: PMWD15UN(PHILIPS), alternativ STC6NF30V(ST), available from: Farnell
  • LED connectors: 270 Ohm builtin series resistor, provided voltage is 5V

[edit] Assembly notes

Hints for getting your X-Base up and running:

  • In addition, a firmware update for the X-Base (v1.03) is available here: http://forum.xufo.net/bb/viewtopic.php?t=5641
    (Note that the X-Control PC software doesn't show the minor revision number of the firmware, so when reconnecting after updating it will still show version 1.0)
  • The sticker on the X-ACT-receiver has to be cut or partially removed in order to insert a receiver crystal. If you use a plastic-coated Graupner-crystal, you need to carefully remove the crystal from the coating with pliers (the crystal is glued in!), else it won't fit in the crystal-slot of the X-ACT-receiver. Some people in the forum reported troubles (http://forum.xufo.net/bb/viewtopic.php?p=74680#74680) using the cheap 5€-crystals by Conrad in the Futaba FF-6. The X-ACT receiver should be compatible with all brands of crystals. The receiver can be attached to the X-CSM-frame with 2 small wire straps (at the small protrusion on one side of the center plane).

[edit] Before using the X-Base

Because the preinstalled firmware version has some bugs and the X-Control PC configuration software doesn't show the current firmware version unambigously (subrevision number isn't displayed), the first thing you should do is to download the latest firmware and flash the X-Base with it. Before flying for the first time, go through the receiver calibration, so all functions are assigned to the correct stick and direction on your sender. Additionally, when using brushed motors, the maximum motor current draw should be configured; if you don't do that the field effect transistors can be destroyed if a motor is blocked (eg. when a rotor gets entangled in grass, or dirt gets on the gears).

Settings

High current shutoff (only with brushed motors)

The default setting of 35A is way to high. To protect the FETs of the X-Base, set it (in X-Base parameters) to 8-10A!

X-Base-Parameter - High current shutoff: 9A If the throttle stick is moved very quickly from 0 to 100% (and the Ufo is grounded), with 9A sometimes the emergency shutoff kicks in. When already airborn 100% throttle is no problem. With slightly higher values this small problem vanishes (never noticed it with 11A during tests), but the risc for the FETs increases.

LED codes

  • The LED codes "ready for takeoff" and "waiting for transmitter signal" are the same as with the stock UFO.
  • During initialization one LED stays on a little bit longer. This just means "The X-Base has finished initialising".
  • If -when booting up- the LEDs don't settle into the "ready for takeoff" or "waiting for transmitter signal" pattern, but instead some of them light up and others don't: that is the motor detection. The LEDs at the motors that have been detected successfully are lit. If some LED is off, the respective motor hasn't been detected, so check cabling and solder points.
  • The low voltage indication has changed a bit: The front LED shines permanently, while the other three blink simultaneously.
  • Finally there is a LED pattern, that shows when the switch on the X-Base has been pressed long enough to power down: The red front LED lights up, and all others darken.

[edit] PC-software and X-Base-firmware

Current versions

  • X-Control (PC software): 1.04
  • X-3D-firmware: 2.1 for brushed motors
  • X-Base-firmware: 1.1

For older versions see X-Control and firmware version history.

Retrieved from "http://wiki.xufo.net/wiki/X-Base"