PX4 User Guide (v1.13)

# mRo-X2.1 Autopilot

WARNING

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

The mRo-X2.1 autopilot (opens new window) is based on the Pixhawk®-project (opens new window) FMUv2 open hardware design. It runs PX4 on the NuttX (opens new window) OS.

mRo X2.1

Note

This flight controller is manufacturer supported.

# Quick Summary

  • Main System-on-Chip: STM32F427 (opens new window)
    • CPU: STM32F427VIT6 ARM® microcontroller - Revision 3
    • IO: STM32F100C8T6 ARM® microcontroller
  • Sensors:
    • Invensense® MPU9250 9DOF
    • Invensense ICM-20602 6DOF
    • MEAS MS5611 barometer
  • Dimensions/Weight
    • Size: 36mm x 50mm (Can be ordered with vertical, horizontal or no headers installed)
    • Mounting Points: 30.5mm x 30.5mm 3.2mm diameter
    • Weight: 10.9g

The diagram below provides a side-by-side comparison with a Pixhawk 1. The mRo features almost identical hardware and connectivity but has a much smaller footprint. Major differences are updated sensors and Rev 3 FMU.

Mro Pixhawk 1 vs X2.1 comparison

# Connectivity

  • 2.54mm headers:
  • GPS (UART4) with I2C
  • CAN Bus
  • RC input
  • PPM input
  • Spektrum input
  • RSSI input
  • sBus input
  • sBus output
  • Power input
  • Buzzer output
  • LED output
  • 8 x Servo outputs
  • 6 x Aux outputs
  • Offboard microUSB connector
  • Kill Pin output (Currently not supported by firmware)
  • AirSpeed Sensor
  • USART2 (Telem 1)
  • USART3 (Telem 2)
  • UART7 (Console)
  • UART8 (OSD)

# PX4 BootLoader Issue

By default a mRo X2.1 might come preconfigured for ArduPilot® rather than PX4. This can be seen during firmware update when the board is recognized as FMUv2 instead of X2.1.

In this case you must update the BootLoader using BL_Update_X21.zip (opens new window). If this correction is not carried out your compass direction will be wrong and the secondary IMU will not be detected.

The update steps are:

  1. Download and extract BL_Update_X21.zip (opens new window).
  2. Find the folder BL_Update_X21. This contains a bin file and a subfolder named /etc containing an rc.txt file
  3. Copy these files to your micro SD card's root directory and insert it into the mRO x2.1
  4. Power on the mRO x2.1 Wait for it to boot and then reboot 1 time.

# Availability

This product can be ordered at the mRobotics® Store (opens new window).

# Wiring Guide

mRo_X2.1_Wiring

# Building Firmware

TIP

Most users will not need to build this firmware! It is pre-built and automatically installed by QGroundControl when appropriate hardware is connected.

To build PX4 for this target:

make mro_x21_default

# Schematics

The board is documented on the mRo hardware repo: x21_V2_schematic.pdf (opens new window).

# Serial Port Mapping

UART Device Port
USART1 /dev/ttyS0 IO debug
USART2 /dev/ttyS1 SERIAL1
USART3 /dev/ttyS2 TELEM2
UART4 /dev/ttyS3 GPS/I2C
USART6 /dev/ttyS4 PX4IO
UART7 /dev/ttyS5 SERIAL5 CONSOLE
UART8 /dev/ttyS6 SERIAL4

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