pypilot Set-up newbie

[CapnKernel]

If I went with the RPi3 and arduino route

The easiest way, as ironman has said, is to get your hardware from the PyPilot store:

  https://pypilot.org/store/

You'll get something that works, is good value for money, and it supports seandepagnier, who has worked so hard on PyPilot.

As an alternative, if you are good with electronics, or have a friend who knows electronics, PyPilot is open source, and the hardware design and software is published.  For example, the source code for the software is here:

  https://github.com/pypilot/pypilot/

And official schematics of the electronics are here:

  https://pypilot.org/schematics/

In particular, tinypilot.pdf and wp_controller.pdf.  (That schematic shows a motor controller which uses discrete MOSFETs to switch the power, but it's also possible to drive integrated chips such as the VNH5019).

could you let me know how I get Tinypilot onto an SD card

Ready-to-run images of the Raspberry Pi software can be found here:

  https://pypilot.org/images/

There are many guides on the internet for copying images to SD cards.  Google for "xz sd image".  Examples:

  http://odroid.us/mediawiki/index.php?tit...dows_Users
  http://odroid.us/mediawiki/index.php?tit...Card_Setup

You should then be able to attach a keyboard and HDMI screen to your RPi, and verify that it boots.  Your phone and computer should also be able to see a new WiFi access point (provided by PyPilot).

Note, I don't know if these images work on an RPi 3.  I'm pretty sure they don't work on an RPi 4.  I think they're designed for an RPi Zero W, which is what I've used.

where do I get motor.ino for the nano, many thanks

The actual Arduino sketch files can be found here:

  https://github.com/pypilot/pypilot/tree/...uino/motor

Assuming you have an Arduino nano, you should connect it to your computer via USB, then run the Arduino IDE and load up the motor.ino sketch.  Then you can use the IDE to send the sketch to the nano.  There are lots of guides for uploading with the Arduino IDE on the internet.

Once you have the RPi working, and software loaded onto the nano, you can connect them up.  Here's a minimal schematic for something that works (although there's no fault detection, and there are several other limitations).  The connection between the RPi and the nano is via USB:

  https://forum.openmarine.net/attachment.php?aid=1078

Here are some photos of such a unit (just a prototype, but it works):

  https://photos.app.goo.gl/KoAAsCE3YeayoaaPA
  https://photos.app.goo.gl/NPEYnRRws2yW81DT9

Again, getting your hardware from seandepagnier's store is the easiest way.