157: Explosion of Multicopters

Embedded.fm · 23 Jun 2016 · 1h 23m

What this episode covers

Robb Walters, co-founder and CTO of Flybrix, explains how his company builds LEGO-based multicopter kits to teach aerial robotics, leveraging the NXP Kinetis K20 microcontroller and MPU-9250 IMU. He details the engineering challenges of designing a cascade PID control system, the decision to use real LEGO bricks glued into the PCB for structural integrity, and the supply chain complexities of sourcing parts from secondary markets like BrickLink. Walters also discusses the transition from alpha to beta production, the use of modern C++11 in the open-source firmware, and his background in nanotechnology at Integrated Plasmonics.

Mentioned

Companies
Seeed Studio, Sparktron, Integrated Plasmonics
Products
Flybrix, Teensy
Chips
NXP Kinetis K20, MPU-9250, BMP280
Also
BrickLink, Brickowl, Osh Park, Effective Modern C++

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