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How to Use Pixhawk Cube Orange: Examples, Pinouts, and Specs

Image of Pixhawk Cube OrangeDesign with Pixhawk Cube Orange in Cirkit Designer

Introduction

The Pixhawk Cube Orange is an advanced flight controller designed for drones and other unmanned vehicles. Manufactured by Pixhawk, this component (Part ID: ADSB-Carrier Board PX-4) is equipped with a powerful processor, multiple sensor inputs, and support for various communication protocols. It is ideal for complex autonomous missions, offering high reliability and precision.

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Image of Raspberry Pi-Controlled Drone with Brushless Motors and Camera Module: A project utilizing Pixhawk Cube Orange in a practical application
Raspberry Pi-Controlled Drone with Brushless Motors and Camera Module

This circuit is designed for a multi-motor application, likely a drone or a similar vehicle, featuring eight brushless motors controlled by two 4-in-1 electronic speed controllers (ESCs). The ESCs are powered by a 3s2p 18650 battery pack and interfaced with a Pixhawk flight controller for motor management. Additionally, the system includes a Raspberry Pi 4B for advanced processing and control, which is connected to a NoIR camera module and a cooling fan, and a power module to supply and monitor the power to the Pixhawk.

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Common Applications and Use Cases

Technical Specifications

Key Technical Details

Specification Value
Processor STM32H743, 32-bit ARM Cortex-M7, 400 MHz
IMUs (Inertial Measurement Units) 3x IMUs (2x ICM-20948, 1x BMI088)
Barometer MS5611
Input Voltage Range 4.1V to 5.7V
Maximum Current 2.5A
Communication Interfaces UART, I2C, CAN, SPI, USB, PWM
GPS Support Dual GPS support
ADS-B Receiver Integrated for air traffic awareness
Dimensions 38.5 mm x 38.5 mm x 22 mm
Weight 16 g
Operating Temperature Range -20°C to 85°C

Pin Configuration and Descriptions

The Pixhawk Cube Orange is mounted on the ADSB-Carrier Board PX-4, which provides the following pinouts:

Power and Communication Pins

Pin Name Description
POWER1 Primary power input (4.1V to 5.7V)
POWER2 Redundant power input
USB USB interface for configuration and firmware
TELEM1 Telemetry port 1 (UART)
TELEM2 Telemetry port 2 (UART)
GPS1 Primary GPS input
GPS2 Secondary GPS input
CAN1 CAN bus interface 1
CAN2 CAN bus interface 2

PWM and I/O Pins

Pin Name Description
MAIN OUT Outputs for motor/servo control (PWM)
AUX OUT Auxiliary outputs for additional peripherals
I2C I2C interface for external sensors
SPI SPI interface for high-speed peripherals
ADC Analog-to-digital converter input

Usage Instructions

How to Use the Pixhawk Cube Orange in a Circuit

  1. Powering the Cube: Connect a regulated power supply (4.1V to 5.7V) to the POWER1 or POWER2 input. Ensure redundancy by connecting both inputs if possible.
  2. Connecting Peripherals: Attach sensors, GPS modules, telemetry radios, and other peripherals to the appropriate ports (e.g., TELEM1, GPS1, I2C).
  3. Motor/Servo Outputs: Connect motors or servos to the MAIN OUT or AUX OUT pins. Configure the outputs in the flight control software.
  4. Firmware Setup: Use the USB port to connect the Cube to a computer. Install and configure the firmware using software like QGroundControl or Mission Planner.
  5. Calibrating Sensors: Perform sensor calibration (e.g., accelerometer, gyroscope, compass) through the flight control software.
  6. Testing: Before deployment, test the system in a controlled environment to ensure proper functionality.

Important Considerations and Best Practices

Example: Connecting to an Arduino UNO

The Pixhawk Cube Orange can communicate with an Arduino UNO via UART. Below is an example code snippet for reading telemetry data from the Cube:

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

// Define RX and TX pins for communication with Pixhawk
SoftwareSerial pixhawkSerial(10, 11); // RX = pin 10, TX = pin 11

void setup() {
  // Initialize serial communication
  Serial.begin(9600); // For debugging via Serial Monitor
  pixhawkSerial.begin(57600); // Pixhawk telemetry baud rate

  Serial.println("Pixhawk-Arduino Communication Initialized");
}

void loop() {
  // Check if data is available from Pixhawk
  if (pixhawkSerial.available()) {
    // Read and print data from Pixhawk
    char data = pixhawkSerial.read();
    Serial.print(data);
  }
}

Note: Ensure the baud rate matches the telemetry port configuration on the Pixhawk Cube Orange.

Troubleshooting and FAQs

Common Issues and Solutions

  1. Issue: The Cube does not power on.

    • Solution: Verify the power supply voltage (4.1V to 5.7V). Check connections to POWER1 and POWER2.

  2. Issue: GPS module is not detected.

    • Solution: Ensure the GPS module is connected to the correct port (GPS1 or GPS2). Check for loose connections and verify the GPS configuration in the software.

  3. Issue: Motors/servos are not responding.

    • Solution: Confirm that the MAIN OUT or AUX OUT pins are correctly connected. Check the motor/servo configuration in the flight control software.

  4. Issue: Telemetry data is not being received.

    • Solution: Verify the telemetry radio connections and ensure the baud rate matches on both ends.

FAQs

By following this documentation, users can effectively integrate and operate the Pixhawk Cube Orange in their projects.