Hi, guys! I have seen, every day, a lot of people hacking their ESCs to turn it an i2c, adding SPI connection for changing it’s firmware to achieve Fast PWM with nice resolution, etc. It’s very useful in a lot of UAV applications. But it’s a big mess with tinny wires, cutting tracks and other things that requires a “Ninja Solder Skills”.
:idea: number 1 → So, I would love to see a Sparkfun ESC, with all that possibilities. I’m sure that it would be a nice and desired piece for all “Spark Fans” like me :). There is a lot of TowerPro 25A Schemes on the Internet, for example… They use an Atmega8 for the processing job. So… I think that is incredibly doable.
:idea: number 2 → If idea 1 it’s not commercially interesting. Would be very useful an I2C Fast PWM Bridge, that drives ESCs at high speed actualization. Here we have a very simple and tinny hardware that give a lot of power to our projects.
Resuming… for start, all that two ideas need is:
Super ESC:
1 - SPI or Serial connection pins for changing firmware;
2 - i2c exposed pins for receive commands;
3 - output to motor;
4 - power input (vcc and gnd from LIPO);
I2CFPB (I2C Fast PWM Bridge):
1 - SPI or Serial connection for changing firmware;
2 - i2c exposed pins for receive commands;
3 - Fast PWM output to ESC (example: varying 1~2ms pulse and 4ms total cycle = 250hz).
3.1 - If using Atmega168 or 328 we have two Fast PWM outputs. So, it may drive two ESCs using one i2c connection and an internal addressing;
Obs.: powered from connected ESC;
What do you think about it, guys!?