In collaboration with Embention, a prominent supplier of autopilot systems and critical drone components, Volz, a leading manufacturer of actuators, has successfully integrated a CAN Bus (Controller Area Network) interface into their servo systems. This innovation ensures full compatibility with the Veronte Autopilot.
This integration empowers users to leverage the actuator’s diagnostic features,including feedback on position,current,temperature,and voltage. Additionally, it enhances the data exchange capabilities between the autopilot and servo units, significantly improving the reliability of the dialog bus.
Enhancing Communication with CAN Bus
The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sector is experiencing rapid expansion, leading to increasingly elegant systems that demand higher bandwidth and speed from communication protocols. While conventional PWM control remains effective for smaller drones, the CAN Bus is favored for larger vehicles with extended cable lengths, ensuring robust communication.
The CAN Bus interface offers numerous advantages over other communication methods, including high-speed operation (ranging from 25kbps to 1Mbps), exceptional resistance to electromagnetic interference, and enhanced reliability due to minimal wiring requirements. This makes CAN one of the most dependable communication networks utilized in the industry today.
DA 58-D: A Redundant CAN Interface
The DA 58-D actuator stands out as the most powerful electromechanical actuator available,boasting a peak torque exceeding 200Nm (1770 Ibf-in) and a rated torque of 80Nm (780 Ibf-in). In addition to its established redundant RS 485 interface,the DA 58-D incorporates a redundant CAN bus interface,a feature developed in collaboration with Embention. This actuator is designed for applications that demand the highest levels of reliability. Its dual-channel architecture allows for uninterrupted operation even if one channel fails. Continuous diagnostics of all major actuator components are performed by its microcontrollers, with health status accessible via the redundant RS485/CAN interface.
Integrating CAN Communication in Veronte Autopilots
The Veronte Autopilot 1x can manage up to 30 servos and actuators at once, whether for aircraft control, payload activation, or other functions within the drone ecosystem. While various interfaces can be utilized,the CAN Bus is the preferred protocol for larger vehicles and intricate systems. The CAN Bus has been a part of the Veronte flight controller for over a decade, demonstrating its reliability across multiple vehicle configurations.
With two independent buses, the CAN Bus in the Veronte Autopilot is a configurable communication protocol, allowing users to set all necessary parameters for interfacing with servos or other devices (such as mailboxes and ids). This dual CAN Bus setup also facilitates the creation of redundant system architectures, particularly when paired with the triple-redundant Veronte Autopilot 4x.
The CAN interface is ideally suited for standardizing communication among components, ensuring compatibility, scalability, and long-term installation viability. The collaboration between Volz Servos and Veronte Autopilot guarantees a high level of reliability in extensive UAV systems and Urban Air Mobility applications, indicating that the future of the industry is closely tied to CAN communication technologies.
