CubePilot Cube Orange+ (CubePilot)

:::warning PX4 does not manufacture this (or any) autopilot. Contact the manufacturer for hardware support or compliance issues. :::

The Cube Orange+ flight controller is a flexible autopilot intended primarily for manufacturers of commercial systems. Cube Orange+ is similar to Cube Orange, but has a more powerful dual-core processor (STM32H757, and some different sensors parts.

Cube Orange

The controller is designed to be used with a domain-specific carrier board in order to reduce the wiring, improve reliability, and ease of assembly. For example, a carrier board for a commercial inspection vehicle might include connections for a companion computer, while a carrier board for a racer could includes ESCs for the frame of the vehicle.

The ADS-B carrier board includes a customized 1090MHz ADSB-In receiver from uAvionix. This provides attitude and location of commercial manned aircraft within the range of Cube. This is automatically configured and enabled in the default PX4 firmware.

Cube includes vibration isolation on two of the IMU's, with a third fixed IMU as a reference / backup.

:::tip The manufacturer Cube Docs contain detailed information, including an overview of the Differences between Cube Colours. :::

Key Features

  • 32bit STM32H757ZI (32bit ARM Cortex M7, 400 MHz, Flash 2MB, RAM 1MB).

  • 32 bit STM32F103 failsafe co-processor

  • 14 PWM / Servo outputs (8 with failsafe and manual override, 6 auxiliary, high-power compatible)

  • Abundant connectivity options for additional peripherals (UART, I2C, CAN)

  • Integrated backup system for in-flight recovery and manual override with dedicated processor and stand-alone power supply (fixed-wing use)

  • Backup system integrates mixing, providing consistent autopilot and manual override mixing modes (fixed wing use)

  • Redundant power supply inputs and automatic failover

  • External safety switch

  • Multicolor LED main visual indicator

  • High-power, multi-tone piezo audio indicator

  • microSD card for high-rate logging over extended periods of time

Where to Buy

Assembly

Cube Wiring Quickstart

Specifications

  • Processor:

    • STM32H757 (32bit ARM Cortex M7)

    • 400 MHz

    • 1 MB RAM

    • 2 MB Flash (fully accessible)

  • Failsafe co-processor:

    • STM32F103 (32bit ARM Cortex-M3)

    • 24 MHz

    • 8 KB SRAM

  • Sensors: (all connected via SPI)

    • Accelerometer: (3) ICM42688p, ICM20948, ICM20649

    • Gyroscope: (3) ICM42688p, ICM20948, ICM20649

    • Compass: (1) ICM20948

    • Barometric Pressure Sensor: (2) MS5611

  • Operating Conditions:

    • Operating Temp: -10C to 55C

    • IP rating/Waterproofing: Not waterproof

    • Servo rail input voltage: 3.3V / 5V

    • USB port input:

      • Voltage: 4V - 5.7V

      • Rated current: 250 mA

    • POWER:

      • Input voltage: 4.1V - 5.7V

      • Rated input current: 2.5A

      • Rated input/output power: 14W

  • Dimensions:

    • Cube: 38.25mm x 38.25mm x 22.3mm

    • Carrier: 94.5mm x 44.3mm x 17.3mm

  • Interfaces

    • IO Ports: 14 PWM servo outputs (8 from IO, 6 from FMU)

    • 5x UART (serial ports), one high-power capable, 2x with HW flow control

    • 2x CAN (one with internal 3.3V transceiver, one on expansion connector)

    • R/C inputs:

      • Spektrum DSM / DSM2 / DSM-X® Satellite compatible input

      • Futaba S.BUS® compatible input and output

      • PPM-SUM signal input

    • RSSI (PWM or voltage) input

    • I2C

    • SPI

    • 3.3v ADC input

    • Internal microUSB port and external microUSB port extension

Ports

Top-Side (GPS, TELEM etc)

Cube Ports - Top (GPS, TELEM etc) and Main/AUX

Pinouts

TELEM1, TELEM2 ports

Pin
Signal
Volt

1 (red)

VCC

+5V

2 (blk)

TX (OUT)

+3.3V

3 (blk)

RX (IN)

+3.3V

4 (blk)

CTS (IN)

+3.3V

5 (blk)

RTS (OUT)

+3.3V

6 (blk)

GND

GND

GPS1 port

Pin
Signal
Volt

1 (red)

VCC

+5V

2 (blk)

TX (OUT)

+3.3V

3 (blk)

RX (IN)

+3.3V

4 (blk)

SCL I2C2

+3.3V

5 (blk)

SDA I2C2

+3.3V

6 (blk)

Safety Button

GND

7 (blk)

Button LED

GND

8 (blk)

GND

GND

GPS2 port

Pin
Signal
Volt

1 (red)

VCC

+5V

2 (blk)

TX (OUT)

+3.3V

3 (blk)

RX (IN)

+3.3V

4 (blk)

SCL I2C1

+3.3V

5 (blk)

SDA I2C1

+3.3V

6 (blk)

GND

GND

ADC

Pin
Signal
Volt

1 (red)

VCC

+5V

2 (blk)

ADC IN

up to +6.6V

3 (blk)

GND

GND

I2C

Pin
Signal
Volt

1 (red)

VCC

+5V

2 (blk)

SCL

+3.3 (pullups)

3 (blk)

SDA

+3.3 (pullups)

4 (blk)

GND

GND

CAN1 & CAN2

Pin
Signal
Volt

1 (red)

VCC

+5V

2 (blk)

CAN_H

+12V

3 (blk)

CAN_L

+12V

4 (blk)

GND

GND

POWER1 & POWER2

Pin
Signal
Volt

1 (red)

VCC

+5V

2 (red)

VCC

+5V

3 (blk)

CURRENT sensing

+3.3V

4 (blk)

VOLTAGE sensing

+3.3V

5 (blk)

GND

GND

6 (blk)

GND

GND

USB

Pin
Signal
Volt

1 (red)

VCC

+5V

2 (blk)

OTG_DP1

+3.3V

3 (blk)

OTG_DM1

+3.3V

4 (blk)

GND

GND

5 (blk)

BUZZER

Battery voltage

6 (blk)

FMU Error LED

SPKT

Pin
Signal
Volt

1 (blk)

IN

2 (blk)

GND

GND

3 (red)

OUT

+3.3V

TELEM1, TELEM2

Pin
Signal
Volt

1 (red)

VCC

+5V

2 (blk)

TX (OUT)

+3.3V to 5V

3 (blk)

RX (IN)

+3.3V to 5V

4 (blk)

CTS (OUT)

+3.3V to 5V

5 (blk)

RTS (IN)

+3.3V to 5V

6 (blk)

GND

GND

Serial Port Mapping

UART
Device
Port

USART2

/dev/ttyS0

TELEM1 (flow control)

USART3

/dev/ttyS1

TELEM2 (flow control)

UART4

/dev/ttyS2

GPS1

USART6

/dev/ttyS3

PX4IO

UART7

/dev/ttyS4

CONSOLE/ADSB-IN

UART8

/dev/ttyS5

GPS2

USB/SDCard Ports

Cube USB/SDCard Ports

Building Firmware

:::warning The firmware for Orange+ will be present in releases from PX4 v1.14. :::

To build PX4 for this target, open up the terminal and enter:

make cubepilot_cubeorangeplus

:::note The firmware for Cube Orange+ and Cube Orange are not compatible. Due to a power feature of the STM32H757 it required updates in NuttX and therefore a new board config, bootloader, build target, etc. :::

Schematics

Board schematics and other documentation can be found here: The Cube Project.

Further Information/Documentation

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