New MLAB modules: RP2040 and GH4PIN01

[roman-dvorak]

I would like to announce that we have two new modules in the MLAB!

GH4PIN01

The first module is an adapter between the standard MLAB header with a 2.54 mm pitch and a JST-GH connector. This adapter is optimized for I2C and CAN communication and is fully compatible with the Pixhawk standard, which is widely used in UAV avionics, such as PX4.

With this adapter, you no longer need to solder special cables, which has always been a challenge :). The MLAB cable into the JST-GH pin was often too thick, and the JST-GH cable into the MLAB socket was too thin, so the best option was to cut the cable and solder it. Now, that won't be necessary!

RP2040v01

The second MLAB module contains the popular RP2040 processor from Raspberry Pi. The RP2040 is a dual-core ARM Cortex-M0+ processor with a flexible clock running up to 133 MHz. It has 264KB of SRAM and supports up to 16MB of external Flash memory.

The module includes a USB-C connector for easy USB connectivity and two LEDs – one for power indication and the other controlled by the processor, making it very simple to create your first "hello-world" blinking demo, for instance, using the Arduino IDE. You don’t need any other modules or peripherals. This module is enough.

Applications:

One application of these modules is creating an I2C sniffer, which is extremely useful for developing various devices. It also connects two worlds – the MLAB system and PX4 avionics. Thanks to this, I can precisely and easily monitor the data traffic on the I2C bus between the PX4 autopilot and the ThunderFly TFCO201 sensor, for example. This significantly helped during the sensor's firmware integration into the autopilot.

Yes.. and it is compatible with PulseView

I hope these new modules will make your work easier and open up many new possibilities for your projects! Be free to share your MLAB projects with us!