# Avionics Anonymous Laser Altimeter UAVCAN Interface

The Avionics Anonymous Laser Altimeter Interface (opens new window) allows a number of common rangefinders to be connected via the UAVCAN bus (this is a more robust interface than I2C).

Avionics Anonymous Laser Altimeter UAVCAN Interface

# Where to Buy

# Supported Rangefinders

A full list supported rangefinders can be found on the link above.

At time of writing the following rangefinders are supported:

  • Lightware SF30/D
  • Lightware SF10/a
  • Lightware SF10/b
  • Lightware SF10/c
  • Lightware SF11/c
  • Lightware SF/LW20/b
  • Lightware SF/LW20/c

# Pinouts

# CAN Connector

Pin Name Description
1 POWER_IN Power Supply. 4.0-5.5V supported, but must also be compatible with connected laser.
2 TX/SCL TX for serial mode, Clock for I2C mode
3 RX/SDA RX for serial mode, Data for I2C mode
4 GND Signal/power ground.

# Laser Connector

Pin Name Description
1 POWER_OUT Filtered power at the supply voltage.
2 CAN+ TX for serial mode, Clock for I2C mode
3 RX/SDA RX for serial mode, Data for I2C mode
4 GND Signal/power ground.

# Wiring

The rangefinder (laser) is connected to the AvAnon interface board, which is connected to one of the CAN ports on your autopilot. The wiring is as per the pinout above, or the necessary cables can be purchased to connect to your system right out of the box. These are available at the links here (opens new window).

The interface board provides a filtered power output for the laser, but does not provide its own regulation. Therefore the laser must be compatible with whatever voltage is supplied to the board.

# Software Configuration

UAVCAN must be enabled by setting UAVCAN_ENABLE non zero.

The minimum and maximum valid range for the laser must be set in the parameters UAVCAN_RNG_MIN and UAVCAN_RNG_MAX.