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KitCAN - M10025 hwrev

The 3DR KitCAN is a powerful kit of features and firmware via CAN that tackles several use cases when integrating CAN peripherals to uncrewed vehicles. With just 4 wires you can have access to a super accurate magnetometer available, the best barometric pressure sensor we’ve ever used. Additionally it has GPS and I2C ports that support all legacy uBlox GPS sensors and RTK correction messages. If that is not enough, it also includes an RGB LED and Arm Switch/Button.

Graphical pinout diagram

Front side

kitcan_pinout

kitcan_legend

Back side

The software update that came with revision C also enables UART2 pads on the bottom of the board, as pictured in the following figure.

kitcan_bot

You will notice a new solder jumper on the back labeled as I2C_VSEL, which enables support for 3.3V only I2C peripherals since many sensor breakout boards have this characteristic. If you want to enable the 3V3 output, you will have to cut the trace with a hobby knife or a similar tool and apply a solder blob from the 3V3 labeled side of the jumper to the center pad.

Warning

After removing the trace make sure there is no short between the 3V3 and 5V nodes, as this will cause irreversible damage to the board.

Specifications

Electrical/MCU KitCAN M10025
Main processor STM32F303
Flash size 256kB
Operating voltage 5V
Maximum current (fused) 250mA
Internal 3v3 reg current 400mA
I2C pull-ups Installed (2k2)
CAN termination resistor* Installed
Mechanical
Dimensions 35.5mm x 27mm
Screw pattern 30.5mm x 14mm
Screw size M3 (3.2mm hole diameter)
Board thickness 1.2mm (1.0mm rev B)
Weight 3.5 grams

Tip

A modified version without termination resistor is available upon request for large orders.

Changelog

  • Revision D (Q3 '24):
    • Change to LP5562 NTF LED driver
  • Revision C (Q1 '23):
    • Added a voltage selection solder jumper for the I2C port, more details on the graphical pinout.
    • UART2 solder pads are active by default. This update is retroactive for older revisions as well.
    • Thicker PCB to prevent RM3100 stress failure.
    • Reduced inductance for coil traces.

Quick Start

KitCAN board is intended to work as a sensor-enriched CAN node so the use cases are diverse. If all you need is the external magnetometer and baro, using a 4-wire JST-GH cable of any length is enough to get up and running. Adding external sensors or modules is a plug and play experience as the extra peripherals will be picked up upon the next boot.

Firmware compatibility

Revision C boards introduce a different routing to reduce inductance. This improves the e-compass performance but breaks compatibility with older firmware versions. If you have a revision C or D board, and want to update firmware manually, please use this target instead: KitCAN rev C_D AP_Periph

Parameters

Make sure you are using the latest version of Mission Planner. With the following firmware versions or newer:

Parameter Value
ArduPlane V4.0.5
ArduCopter V4.0.3
ArduRover V4.0.0

Go to Full Parameter Tree on Mission Planner and verify the following are enabled:

Parameter Value
CAN_P1_DRIVER 1
GPS_TYPE 9 UAVCAN

Make sure the UAVCAN compass driver is not disabled (UAVCAN should be unchecked).

If your controller has more than 3 internal compasses, you should disable the least important one:

Parameter Value
COMPASS_TYPEMASK UAVCAN (Unchecked)

The RGB notify LED via DroneCAN needs to be enabled by selecting bit 5 of NTF_LED_TYPES parameter, or just select the "DroneCAN" checkbox in the popup window.

I2C Airspeed sensor

If you want to enable the I2C airspeed, on the autopilot/controller parameters via Mission Planner set ARSPD_TYPE = 8 UAVCAN

Use the following parameters depending on the type of airspeed you are connecting.

  • ARSPD_TYPE = 1 For I2C Airspeed Sensor JST-GH MS4525DO
  • ARSPD_TYPE = 4 For MS5525

Port pinout tables

GPS Port

Pin Color Signal TTL/Voltage Level
1 red VCC 5V
2 black TX 3V3
3 black RX 3V3
4 black I2C_SCL 3V3
5 black I2C_SDA 3V3
6 black GND N/A

CAN Port

Pin Color Signal TTL/Voltage Level
1 red VCC 5V
2 black CAN_H
3 black CAN_L
4 black GND N/A

I²C Port

Pin Color Signal TTL/Voltage Level
1 red VCC 5V
2 black I2C_SCL (pull-up on autopilot) 3V3
3 black I2C_SDA (pull-up on autopilot) 3V3
4 black GND N/A

3D Model

Downloads

3D Model