How to control FSESC(base on VESC) with Arduino ?

Among many VESC users, some are passionate about programming and prefer controlling their VESC with Arduino.  In this blog, we’ll step by step introduce three ports controlling by using Arduino: PPM, UART, ADC.

  • Preparations 
  • PPM port Control
  • UART port control
  • ADC port control

Preparations:

  1. Make sure the software compilation tool (arduino) has been installed and an arduino board is prepared; make sure you have skills of flashing program, adding a zip file, etc. get an arduino software download: https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software
  2. Make sure you have skills of soldering or wiring and are able to wire according to the wiring diagram I drew.
  3. Got basic knowledge of C language.

    PPM Control:

    • General introduction of PPM signal
    • Wiring diagram
    • Code to achieve PPM control
    • VESC tool operation reminds

    First ,we need to know, what is the PPM signal?  

     I would like to briefly describe it here: a signal with pulse width of 1ms to 2ms in a cycle of 20ms, the standard level of it is 5V.

    20ms(50Hz)One Cycle Signal

    PPM signal

    PPM Signal with Pulse Width of 2.0ms

    PPM signal

    PPM Signal with Pulse Width of 2.0ms

    PPM signal

    Want to know more detail information about PPM, here it is by someone else: Https://oscarliang.com/pwm-ppm-difference-conversion/

    Reminds: Controlling VESC with PPM signals is the most popular and most conventional one. It’s actually not necessary to completely follow the PPM signal format since the VESC's throttle signal is adjustable. But , the VESC tool PPM mapping default set is standard PPM signal format.

    Secondly , make correct wiring:

    Wiring diagram is as follows:

    UNO 

    VESC

    5V

    5V (red wire)

    GND

    GND (black wire)

    D5

    Signal wire (white wire)


    Following picture is an arduino board with wiring instruction:

    Ariduino board

    The potentiometer indicated in this blog can also be a joystick.

    Joystick potentionmeter

    Next Step:

    Set the value of the PPM output by the digital port 5 according to the detected change of the potentiometer

    Here’s setting value code:  

    #include <Servo.h>

    const uint8_t VescOutputPin = 5;

    const uint8_t PotentiometerPin = A0;

    Servo esc;

    void setup() {

      esc.attach(VescOutputPin);

      esc.writeMicroseconds(1500);

    }

     void loop() {

      esc.writeMicroseconds(map(analogRead(PotentiometerPin), 0 , 1023, 1000, 2000));

    }

    Lastly, you need to finish parameter setting in VESC tool, the operation is similar like with a remote control. Refer to our tutorial: https://goo.gl/UMtZnS

    UART Control:

    • General introduction of UART control mode
    • Install a library to arduino
    • Wiring diagram
    • Input code to achieve UART control mode
    • VESC tool operation for UART mode

    Controlling VESC with UART is also a common way: writing data to VESC through UART so that the VESC can make corresponding actions according to the given instructions.

    So UART-VESC communication can not only control the throttle, but also make reverse , cruise and other functions possible. Some parameters from the VESC can also be read, such as battery voltage, eprm value, motor temperature and so on. For details, please refer to the UART description written by Benjamin: http://vedder.se/2015/10/communicating-with-the-vesc-using-UART/

    Fist step: Install a library to arduino.

    The library I used in this blog was written by RollingGecko and modified and updated by SolidGeek. Thanks to them for their contributions to the esk8 community! This is the link to the library I am using: https://github.com/SolidGeek/VescUART , you may download it from the link above and add it to the arduino library.

    Second step: Wiring

    Wiring diagram is as follows:

    UNO

    VESC

    5V

    5V

    GND

    GND

    TX

    RX

    RX

    TX

      Arduino board for UART wiring

      Third step:  Set the value to the UART

      Connecting the analog port A0 to the signal cable of the potentiometer for detecting the change of the potentiometer; determining what value to input to the UART according to the detected change of the potentiometer.  In this program I just did a simple throttle control, you may add other functions by reading SolidGeek's library: motor reversal, cruising and reading VESC’s data.

      Here’s example code.  

      #include "VescUart.h"

      VescUart VESCUART;

      const uint8_t PotentiometerPin = A0;

      uint32_t LastTime = 0; 

      void setup() {

        Serial.begin(115200);

        VESCUART.setSerialPort(&Serial);

      }

      void loop() {

        if((millis() - LastTime) > 10){

          VESCUART.nunchuck.valueY = map(analogRead(PotentiometerPin), 0, 1023, 0, 255);

          VESCUART.setNunchuckValues();

          LastTime = millis();

        }  

       }

      Last step:  do parameters setting in VESC tool, choose “UART” mode , the baudrate must be 115200 in UART mode.

      UART port in VESC Tool

      ADC Control:

        It is not common to see the ADC port controlling VESC.  Here it will also be briefly introduced. The principle of ADC control is to output the corresponding throttle value by reading the voltage difference. The reading range of the voltage is 0V-3.3V. According to the principle, there’s no need to use the arduino board to control the VESC, ( because filter processing is required to make the ADC value stable, it’s a cost up solution ). So only the potentiometer or thumb throttle is needed.

      Wiring diagram is as follows:

      potentiometer

      VESC

      1

      3.3V

      2

      ADC

      3

      GND

      ADC control VESC

      All three ports are introduced to control VESC so far. Do you have a general idea of it? want to try it now , click here to get the VESC firstly.

      https://flipsky.net/collections/electronic-products

       


      5 comments


      • Mac Hutton

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      • JayLow

        Hi, signal you explained is not PPM, it is PWM signal: pulse width modulation. Servo signal as is mentioned in FSESC manual, is always PWM 20ms rate and 1-2ms signal lenght. PPM is a series of inverted PWM signals typically used in some receivers, but the signal you show is definately PWM.
        Just read here for further info: https://oscarliang.com/pwm-ppm-difference-conversion/


      • Graydon

        Another question: For the PPM Control section, where do you insert that code? I don’t see it in the BLDC tool.


      • Graydon

        Hey Ken,

        Thanks for the helpful article! I am trying to figure out how to control my VESC through the Arduino. I will be getting values in a different way than you, but could convert them into the potentiometer range. However, I am confused at the point where the VESC is connected straight to the Arduino. Shouldn’t the VESC be connected right to the batteries?

        I really appreciate any feedback or help you can give me.

        Thanks


      • Josh

        I’ve been controlling VESCs and FSESCs with Arduino’s using CAN for some time now. Depends on what you’re doing, but IMHO it’s the most powerful and safest control method, capable achieving the highest performance. I use it for robotics applications where I want to be sending position or velocity commands at hundreds of Hz. hmu if there’s any interest in the code/collaborating.


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