Hello buddy, we are planning to make a new version recently. We plan to add an ELRS receiver to AIO FC. At the same time, two complete sets of TX and RX are reserved to facilitate the use of external equipment. What do you guys think? In return, I will send one free for evaluation. Your suggestions are welcome.

Thanks!

2 full uarts with proper TX and RX pads is great for HD builds and a GPS module.

Will the ELRS receiver have a U.FL connector or straight enameled wire or a Ceramic/Plastic antenna?

If u want to make a AIO better, use better components so they don’t smoke after a dozen or so packs..
This is not referring to Darwin AIOs, I have one (f4 1-3s) in my tinyhawk freestyle and so far it’s holding up..
I am speaking from the industry overall.. AIOs have a HORRIBLE reputation.. I know Kabab is still looking for one that is “decent”.. I wouldn’t mind giving another one a try but in my 3” toothpick build

Great! That is an interesting PCB design. What mounting pattern will it use? What MCU? What will the ESC be rated?

If you're using the F405 (hoping based on the barometer), it may be worth communicating with the Ardupilot devs also as there is a tremendous amount of interest in small, Ardupilot compatible FCs for sub250g UAV use. Any MCU with 1-2MB of flash would be great.

If you have any questions about the ELRS implementation or would like a developer to provide feedback on the design, the best way to go about that is to join the ELRS Discord: https://discord.gg/dS6ReFY If for some reason you cannot, please let me know and I will be happy to help put you in contact with the appropriate people.

As long as it has a u.fl connector for the ELRS antenna, and it’s reasonably priced, I’d consider buying it.

I took notice of DarwinFPV recently when I saw that impressive, somewhat mysterious 3D printed NanoLR frame. I like what you are doing, and I anticipate your new releases. For your new AIO, I think someone on your team should buy an SPRacing H7RF (http://seriouslypro.com/spracingh7rf) and build a quad with it. Doing so, they will see the board is very well, and uniquely thought out, and very considerate to the builder/pilot. It is the most versatile, builder friendly, full featured, and affordable (relatively,) piece of FPV flight electronics I've encountered. I could list specific points, like the website listing, but building with it is really then only way to "feel" it. Based on the vision you share, and your unique and thoughtful approach to making FPV gear, your company easily stands out from the rest, and I really believe you guys will build a great board, just on your own. But if you can capture the vibe of the H7RF, and re-express it through your own ambitions, I think you will have something very special, very interesting, and very attractive to your market. You strike me as a company that could attract whole new classes of would-be pilots, and hobbyists intoFPV (<<see what I did there? ;] ) and I think quality, well featured, thoughtfully designed, versatile, considerate electronics not only fit your character well, they are important to helping you make that reach (if that happens to be one of your goals. Such electronics would be well received by the existing community also.) ..just my thoughts. Thanks for reading.

(04-Nov-2021, 02:51 PM)kafie1980 Wrote: 2 full uarts with proper TX and RX pads is great for HD builds and a GPS module.

Will the ELRS receiver have a U.FL connector or straight enameled wire or a Ceramic/Plastic antenna?

We plan to produce 2 versions, one with ceramic antenna and the other with IPEX T antenna. It is best to have both antennas on one FC, but this requires experimentation to verify whether this solution can be implemented.

(04-Nov-2021, 05:30 PM)V-22 Wrote: Great! That is an interesting PCB design. What mounting pattern will it use? What MCU? What will the ESC be rated?

If you're using the F405 (hoping based on the barometer), it may be worth communicating with the Ardupilot devs also as there is a tremendous amount of interest in small, Ardupilot compatible FCs for sub250g UAV use. Any MCU with 1-2MB of flash would be great.

If you have any questions about the ELRS implementation or would like a developer to provide feedback on the design, the best way to go about that is to join the ELRS Discord: https://discord.gg/dS6ReFY If for some reason you cannot, please let me know and I will be happy to help put you in contact with the appropriate people.

It uses F411 microcontroller, 15AESC, which is an upgraded version of DarwinFPV 15A AIO. Thank you for your request, I have applied to join

Maybe consider using an F405 or better so that you have several sets of UARTS, not just the limited 2 of the F411.
Even if you break out the 2 UARTS of the F411, doesn't the Rx receiver still require a UART even though it is integrated??
After all, the F411 processor has limited UART channels regardless of how you physically construct the FC board.

What mounting format is the FC?? Is it a 25.5x25.5 whoop spacing with diagonal orientation?

(05-Nov-2021, 02:32 PM)iFly4rotors Wrote: Maybe consider using an F405 or better so that you have several sets of UARTS, not just the limited 2 of the F411.
Even if you break out the 2 UARTS of the F411, doesn't the Rx receiver still require a UART even though it is integrated??

Isn’t it possible to use SPI and free the UART? I thought SPI based ExpressLRS was possible. You would have to go through Betaflight (or similar) to upgrade it.

(05-Nov-2021, 03:50 PM)ax3141 Wrote: Isn’t it possible to use SPI and free the UART? I thought SPI based ExpressLRS was possible. You would have to go through Betaflight (or similar) to upgrade it.

Hi ax,

I don't know much about SPI nor how it works. As I thought that I understood, the ELRS
receivers use the TBS Crossfire connection and setup. If this SPI "connection" works, then
why not use it for the external receivers {and other stuff} as well. Surely, this could be 
remapped to some pads...or... the manufacturer provide SPI pads. So, now I am even more 
confused 

My perception is that it is the F411 processor that is short on available "inputs" such are UARTS. 
I don't know how the SPI works, what kind of "interference" it provided, nor how the F411 processor 
takes those inputs, nor how it is all combined in the CPU. 

If it works without using any UARTS, then you would have 2 sets to use. However, sometimes 
even two might be a little short. It all depends on what you want to connect. 

I also know that there is soft serial, but you still need pads broken out to use the soft serial and
it still needs to be set up...unless the manufacturer sets up the soft serial, already has it set up in
Betaflight, and provides the appropriate pads. Thing about soft serial is that it is slower than a 
hard UART which may, or may not, be problematic.

What I don't understand is why not just use a little better processor, such as the F405, which has
plenty of available UARTS. Is the cost between an F411 and an F405 really that much . 
I suppose one could argue that a tiny whoop or small toothpick really doesn't need extra UARTS. 
On the other hand, why not?  So, if the mounting format for this FC is "whoop" and you only intend 
to build small "park" flyer quads, then I suppose you could just make do with the F411. 

Just my opinion, but I have long went with the concept of buying FC boards that I can use in ANY build
from a tiny whoop (or rather 2 inch whoop) through a 5 inch quad. For me a 25.5x25.5 diagonally oriented
whoop board with F405, F7, or greater CPU having an amp rating of at least 35A and plenty of UARTS is
just that...UNIVERSAL. Such boards can be used in any build. That way, I can stock up and be sure that 
the board can be used or repurposed for any future build or even from one build to another. 

Just a side NOTE:

I have used a lot of HIFIONRC and JHEMCU flight control boards with no problems. So far, none of these
boards have given me any problems. Originally, it was KababFPV that recommended the JHEMCU brand
as being a solid performer and very durable. My experience with them bears this out. I tried the 
HIFIONRC brand due to the excellent value. I now have this board in several builds. Again, I have had
NO problems nor issues. While these two  "budget" brands might be considered low quality products,
my personal experience with them indicates otherwise. I have never had an issue with any of the FC boards. 
Plus, I still crash a lot {I never have spent much time on my landings}, however, I rarely crash into hard 
objects under heavy throttle. On the other hand, if something goes wrong or I have to ditch from altitude,
the drop is over 300 feet.

Would it raise the manufacturing cost too much to do a diversity ELRS receiver? Like the Matek ELRS-R24-D?
http://www.mateksys.com/?portfolio=elrs-r24

If not, maybe it would allow you to have both the ceramic antenna and ipex on the same board. Apparently the Matek is just antenna diversity, so in theory you could have the ceramic antenna and an ipex connector, with the ceramic antenna set as the default.

ExpressLRS on AIO is good idea, and will make good product.... but

most people still have FrSky only radio,
so, that will limit sales appeal

Your #1 priority should be to make great AIO FC.
I use JHEMCU GHF405
- F405
- 3 UART
- big motor pads
- logical well spaced pads
- reliable.. lots of caps for filtering

Adding ExpressLRS is secondary

onboard receiver can save weight and space, but we would need to know the purpose. what specs has that board?
an onboard elrs on a low weight 1s board = sub 3g or even 2,5g to be able to get into the competition with the happymodel aio - as there is no onboard vtx?
for anything else than low weight 1s boards, i dont have a need for an onboard elrs receiver. there are still no lightweight frsky receivers, onboard does match there for 2-3s micros too but frsky has no future in the market anymore for me on the otherside.