/MILO-RX

New protocol based on SX128x LORA chip

Primary LanguageC++GNU General Public License v3.0GPL-3.0

MILO-RX

New protocol based on SX128x LORA chip 2.4Ghz Receiver

This project is the receiver part of a new protocol based on SX128x LORA RF chip.

General characteristics

  • Long range
  • Cheap HW(existing already)
  • 16 full channels(11bits/channel).
  • Sport telemetry.
  • SBUS output on receiver.
  • Use of existing ExpressLRS hardware comercially available on the market.
  • Compatible with multiprotocol.
  • WiFi OTA update via webserver(config server)

Ths receiver will bind with an Tx ExpressLRS module attached to exiting Tx OpenTX handsets(Taranis,Radiomaster,Jumper) The TX counterpart will be made compatible and be attached to the multiprotocol main code. There are several posibili ties to have acces to an Milo/multiprotocol compatible TX module.

At the moment the MILO Rx code is based on ESP8285 target as most Expresslrs receivers are. When developing the code I used for test an ExpressLRS receiver using the same pinout(I used Flywoo EL24P in this particular case). So in order to use this new protocol you have to buy and reflash an 2.4G ExpressLRS receiver. For now there is no DIY receiver.In the future I may make one if there is enough interest.A good candidate for DIY receiver I found a diversity module on Aliexpress https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/1005004493252273.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.60365557RBwXoW&algo_pvid=93500978-b51b-4ecb-868e-ee74ff17a57a&algo_exp_id=93500978-b51b-4ecb-868e-ee74ff17a57a-5&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22sku_id%22%3A%2212000029349714709%22%7D&pdp_npi=2%40dis%21EUR%2112.48%2111.85%21%21%213.56%21%21%402100bb5116617854190017455ea104%2112000029349714709%21sea&curPageLogUid=mPXKkaUXRYpz

Community

Discussion thread at rcgroups: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?4144003-New-2-4G-LORA-protocol

Project Status

The project is work in progress.

Operation modes:

RATE_LORA_150HZ

  • LORA modulation
  • Frame rate 142 HZ (7ms)
  • Data Rate ~76kb/s (-108dBm)
  • Bw-812 ; SF6 ; CR - LI - 4/7
  • Preamble 12 symbols
  • Fixed length packet format(implicit)->16 bytes
  • Sport downlink telemetry rate (1:3)
  • Sport uplink telemetry rate (1:6)

RATE_LORA_100HZ

  • LORA modulation
  • Frame rate 111 HZ (9ms)
  • Data Rate ~44kb/s (-112dBm)
  • Bw-812 ; SF7 ; CR - LI - 4/6
  • Preamble 12 symbols
  • Fixed length packet format(implicit)->16 bytes
  • Sport downlink telemetry rate (1:3)
  • Sport uplink telemetry rate (1:6)

More informations about protocol you can find on https://github.com/midelic/MILO-RX/blob/main/MiLo_RX/documentation.cpp

Software Installation

First Install in ARduino IDE the ESP8266 arduino core and coresponding libraries.

Start Arduino and open the Preferences window. Enter https://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json into the File>Preferences>Additional Boards Manager URLs field of the Arduino IDE. You can add multiple URLs, separating them with commas.

Open Boards Manager from Tools > Board menu and install esp8266 platform (and don't forget to select your ESP8266 board from Tools > Board menu after installation).

Along with ESP8266 core you need to install 2 more libraries AsyncElegantOTA and ESPAsyncWebserver and ESPAsyncTCP like below :

For AsyncElegantOTA Go to Sketch > Include Library > Library Manager > Search for "AsyncElegantOTA" > Install

Close Arduino and re-open again.

For ESPAsyncWebserver and ESPAsyncTCP you need to do install manually see below.

Click AsyncWebServer to download the ESPAsyncWebServer library.

Click ESPAsyncTCP to download the ESPAsyncTCP library.

Next open Arduino IDE Sketch/Include Library/Add Zip library...and select the .zip file).Do this for both libraries. Next close Arduino IDE and start again to re-load libraries automatically.

Before compiling uncomment the line coresponding to your ExpressLRS receiver in _config.h file.

  • Project built in arduino IDE(version > 1.8.13) under ESP8266 arduino core ,select Tools, ESP8266-cores

     - Board "Generic ESP8285 module";
 - Builtin  Led "16";
 - Flash size "2M(FS:64KB ~ OTA 992KB)";

Flashing

  • Serial ,connect USB-FTDI serial device TX,RX,5V,GND pins to coresponding receiver pins(TX ->RX and RX->TX) and power the receiver on with button pressed .Release the button and upload the firmware.For flashing OTA you need to get a .bin file. For that press Sketch ,select Export compiled Binary.Browse to the location of the binary(.bin file) to get the file and store it in an acessible folder.
  • OTA via WiFi,select "WIFI-RX" mode from Tx handset screen in protocol menu, switch off TX handset .Power on the RX,next start the TX handset and observe RX LED blinking fast. Find your Wifi network and see an AP with SSID name "MiLo_RX" introduce password "milo_sx1280".It will open a captive portal on "10.0.0.1" adress.Inside you will browse to the firmware(you already stored before) and upload it.After uploading is completed restart the RX with the new firmware.

Binding

  • Connect Rx to power without starting the Tx handset.After 20 seconds Rx enters in bind mode automatically.This feature is available only at start and when RX is not bound with TX.
  • Start Tx ,enter in protocol menu and start bind process.

Failsafe

Failsafe can be configured from Rx or from Tx.

  • from Rx: When Tx is bound with Rx, you position your sticks, pots(you can use the mixer menu) as you want the to be for failsafe( alternatively you can use a script) and press the Rx button. Rx Led will blink for several seconds. When Led blinking stopped the FS data will be saved in Rx memory. Aditionally you have the option to resetting FS data to "NO PULSE" when pressing button, while Rx is not bound.
  • from Tx: It is working the same as for FrskyX protocol in multi( OpenTX).Select FS mode from protocol menu screen.

Colaborators

@mstrens - https://github.com/mstrens