- Function overview
1.1 The smallest VESC based controller on the market, with a size of only 18x65mm, can be used for miniaturized equipment, such as smart cars, micro robots, electric roller skates, drones, electric models, etc.
1.2 Based on powerful VESC software and hardware, it supports PWM analog voltage UART and USB speed signal input. It supports sensored and sensorless brushless motors and brushed motors, and supports square wave and FOC modes.
1.3 Support up to 10S lithium battery, over-current/over-temperature/over-voltage protection.
1.4 Support VESC_TOOL, UART is enabled by default in the factory firmware. It is recommended to connect VESC through the serial port of the host computer. If you need a USB connection, you can use the random adapter cable to connect.
1.5 Recommended matching scheme: 6S lithium battery plus MTO2830 with Hall version brushless motor.
- Hardware overview:
2.1 The PCB board adopts a 4-layer board, each layer is 3OZ thick, and the main power loop adds copper bars to reduce resistance.
2.2 Like standard VESC, MCU uses STM32F405RT6 to ensure strong computing power.
2.3 The driver chip replaces the 60V withstand voltage DRV8301 with a three-channel independent drive TI company's 100V WSON package (4mm*4mm) chip LM5113SDE.
2.4The MOS tube uses ON’s 60V/2.4 milliohm NTMFS5C628NL, with a volume of DFN5 5mmx6mm, and a theoretical single tube maximum current of 150A. In order to ensure reliability in practical applications, it is only nominally 30A. (The theoretical maximum MOS of the standard version 50A is 240A, and the standard 50A is because the MOS has a large volume and good heat dissipation)
2.5 The amplifier of the current sampler (sampling resistor) adopts AD8417BRMZ of AD company. The chip is small in size and high in accuracy, and has low temperature drift coefficient, which can maintain accurate output in a wide temperature range.
2.6 Three current sampling resistors, using CSS2H-2512R-L500 0.5 milliohm copper-manganese alloy resistors. The maximum current that can withstand is 100A!
2.7 The main DC-DC chip uses TI's LMR16006, which is responsible for converting the power supply voltage not higher than 60V to 5V, and the maximum output is 0.6A. Therefore, the maximum voltage of the ESC is 60V, and the maximum external 5V power supply capacity is 0.5A, which is lower than the standard 1.4A external power supply of VESC50A.
2.8 The DC-DC chip adopts Microchip's MCP1700T-3302E/TT, which converts 5V to 3.3V power supply and adjusts the components.
2.9 The capacitor adopts 56 2u2 100V high voltage chip capacitors in 1206 package. The total capacity is 123.2uf. Although the capacity is not high, this kind of capacitor charges and discharges faster than the 50A standard electrolytic capacitor, so it can basically meet the requirements. If you consider that the motor starts and brakes frequently, consider adding an external capacitor.
2.10 Use 3 sets of Micro JST ZH 1.5mm 6-Pin for pins.
2.11 The pin definition diagram is as follows:
It should be noted that the DP on the pin refers to Data Positive. DM refers to Data Minus. It is necessary to connect to the computer by making a USB adapter. The standard USB port has four wires: two power supplies positive and negative, and two data positive and negative. Players only need to connect the power negative (GND) and data positive and negative three wires to the computer USB port, no need to connect the power positive supply.
- Outstanding advantages: Small size, rich functions, high playability.
3.1 Take the robotic arm of a small robot as an example. If large torque and high speed are required, a brushless motor must be used instead of a servo motor. How to put the ESC and battery in such a small space?
In order to increase the torque, this application must use a low-KV high-voltage hall motor (similar to a pan/tilt motor), and the ESC needs to have: small size/high voltage (above 6S)/hall sensor/FOC/support UART communication, these five Functions. The common model aircraft and drone ESCs on the market (pictures can be listed) can only meet two or three! This is the time for mini VESC.
3.2 Small size: PCB board size is 18x65x8mm, which is much smaller than other 50A or 100A VESCs (more than 60*40mm).
3.3 High voltage: The smallest ESC in the market is racing drone ESCs, but it is usually only to 6S, rarely to 8S, and not to 10S!
3.4 Hall sensor: In the market, only the car model ESC has the sensor function, but the size is huge!
3.5 FOC: Only available for high-end racing drone/airplane ESCs, and they can only be matched with fixed models of motors. If you want to match freely, you must use MINI VESC.
3.6 UART: A function only available in industrial-grade ESCs, not all ESCs for model airplanes and drones! It can receive the external speed setting, and can also transmit real-time current, voltage, temperature, power, speed, accumulated speed and other information to the host computer. It can also connect with a Bluetooth module for wireless communication!
Other functions:
3.7 It can be used with control boards such as Raspberry Pi, JETSON, ARDUINO, etc., which are also open source solutions, as a sharp tool for teaching experiments. The most typical application is the MIT RACECAR program. We can preset the SERVO-OUT version of the firmware for this solution!
3.8 Optional regenerative braking braking function, also known as energy recovery/absorption/feedback. The mechanical energy of the brake is converted into electrical energy and recharged back to the battery to improve the use time of mobile devices.
3.9 Two-way analog signal interface: can receive 0-3.3V voltage signal as speed setting or brake, convenient to connect potentiometer speed control or industrial PLC/RTU.
3.10 It has a powerful current monitoring function that other ESCs do not have. It can set the maximum working current and protection current. If there is an abnormal situation, it will immediately shut down for protection to avoid expensive hardware damage.
3.11 VESC TOOL: An unimaginable host computer software that can update firmware, set hundreds of parameters and monitor real-time data!
3.12 It can be used as a DC voltage regulator to drive a brushed motor, LED light dimming or electric soldering iron temperature adjustment. It can even be used as a remote control solid state relay (electronic switch) or a step-down DC power supply.
In short, more gameplay needs everyone to try!