# ModalAI Flight Core v1

PX4 v1.11

WARNING

PX4 does not manufacture this (or any) autopilot. Contact the manufacturer (opens new window) for hardware support or compliance issues.

The ModalAI Flight Core v1 (opens new window) (Datasheet (opens new window)) is a flight controller for PX4, made in the USA. The Flight Core can be paired with ModalAI VOXL (opens new window) (Datasheet (opens new window)) for obstacle avoidance and GPS-denied navigation, or used independently as a standalone flight controller.

FlightCoreV1

Flight Core is identical to the PX4 Flight Controller portion of VOXL Flight (opens new window) (Datasheet (opens new window)) which integrates the VOXL Companion Computer and Flight Core into a single PCB.

Note

This flight controller is manufacturer supported.

# Specification

Feature Details
Weight 6 g
MCU 216MHz, 32-bit ARM M7 STM32F765II (opens new window)
Memory 256Kb FRAM
2Mbit Flash
512Kbit SRAM
Firmware PX4 (opens new window)
IMUs ICM-20602 (opens new window) (SPI1)
ICM-42688 (SPI2)
BMI088 (opens new window) (SPI6)
Barometer BMP388 (opens new window) (I2C4)
Secure Element A71CH (opens new window) (I2C4)
microSD Card Information on supported cards
Inputs GPS/Mag
Spektrum
Telemetry
CAN bus
PPM
Outputs 6 LEDs (2xRGB)
8 PWM Channels
Extra Interfaces 3 serial ports
I2C
GPIO

Note

More detailed hardware documentation can be found here (opens new window).

# Dimensions

FlightCoreV1Dimensions

# PX4 Firmware Compatibility

Flight Core v1 is fully compatible with the official PX4 Firmware from PX4 v1.11.

ModalAI maintains a branched PX4 version (opens new window) for PX4 v1.11. This includes UART ESC support and improvements in VIO and VOA that are planned to be upstreamed.

More information about the firmware can be found here (opens new window).

# QGroundControl Support

This board supported in QGroundControl 4.0 and later.

# Availability

# Quick Start

# Orientation

The diagram below shows the recommended orientation, which corresponds to ROTATION_NONE starting with PX4 v1.11.

FlightCoreV1Orientation

# Connectors

Detailed information about the pinouts can be found here (opens new window).

FlightCoreV1Top

Connector Summary
J1 VOXL Communications Interface Connector (TELEM2)
J2 Programming and Debug Connector
J3 USB Connector
J4 UART2, UART ESC (TELEM3)
J5 Telemetry Connector (TELEM1)
J6 VOXL-Power Management Input / Expansion
J7 8-Channel PWM Output Connector
J8 CAN Bus Connector
J9 PPM RC In
J10 External GPS & Magnetometer Connector
J12 RC input, Spektrum/SBus/UART Connector
J13 I2C Display (Spare Sensor Connector) / Safety Button Input

FlightCoreV1Bottom

# User Guide

The full user guide is available here (opens new window).

# How to Build

To build PX4 for this target:

make modalai_fc-v1

# Serial Port Mapping

UART Device Port
USART1 /dev/ttyS0 GPS1 (J10)
USART2 /dev/ttyS1 TELEM3 (J4)
USART3 /dev/ttyS2 Debug Console (J2)
UART4 /dev/ttyS3 Expansion UART (J6)
UART5 /dev/ttyS4 TELEM2, Primary VOXL Communications (J1)
USART6 /dev/ttyS5 RC (J12)
UART7 /dev/ttyS6 TELEM1 (J5)
UART8 /dev/ttyS7 N/A

# Support

Please visit the ModalAI Forum (opens new window) for more information.