New Products Post
This week the theme of our New Product Post is peripherals. We don’t normally think of these adapters and chargers as exciting or “sexy”, but a useful accessory can add a great deal of simplicity to any project. These are items that you’ll want to stock up on and have handy.
However before we dive into the meat of the article, I wanted to share a little about Crazyflie, a palm sized helicopter which is the perfect toy for summer.Completely open-source and designed for development and hacking, the Crazyflie Nano Quadcopters are among the smallest in the world. They weigh only 19 grams and measure 9cm from end to end. See it in action in this YouTube video.
There are two basic kits, and they include everything you need to build this amazing gadget. The Crazyflie Nano QuadcopterKit 6-DOF version uses a 3-axis accelerometer and a 3-axis gyro which enables it to auto-level while the Crazyflie Nano QuadcopterKit 10-DOF version integrates extra sensors for altitude and heading measurement. They both include a 2.4 GHz radio chip from Nordic Semiconductors and along with the Crazyradio 2.4 GHz nRF24LU1+USB radio dongle and antenna, the helicopters can receive commands from your computer and send data back to it. To make it easier we also sell the quadcopters together with the Crazyradios: the Crazyflie Nano QuadcopterKit 6-DOF with Crazyradio and the Crazyflie Nano Quadcopter Kit 10-DOF with Crazyradio.
Since the Crazyflie’s initial release, we’ve listened to your feedback and updated the software. The firmware is now compatible with USB 3.0 which provides better stability, especially in windy conditions. It is still open source, and the Python drivers enable easy use. Plus, it can be compiled with an open source compiler. Another improvement is the Crazyflie Nano Quadcopter 4x spare motor mount which we designed to counteract the intermittent balance issues caused by the arm of the PCB. Basically we consolidated the cylinder and created an extended motor arm to provide a more stable platform.
Our first accessory is the LiPro Balance Charger – iMAX B6, a professional digital balance charger. It allows you to charge, balance, and discharge NiCd/NiMH, Li-ion, LiPo, LiFe, and LiPb batteries in various cell sizes. This rapid charger comes with a high performance microprocessor, specialized operating software, and an illuminated lcd display. It is easy to use and allows you to charge each cell to a preset voltage. The charger monitors the progress in the display and notifies you when the battery has finished charging/discharging. It even has a temperature sensor that you can put under the battery to make sure that it isn’t overheating. It is a perfect companion for your rechargeable batteries like the Polymer Lithium Ion Battery – 2200mAh 11.1V or the Polymer Lithium Ion Battery – 2200mAh 7.V. Please note that the batteries must be connected to the charger with the provided connectors and be sure you get the polarity correct.
It is frustrating when power outlets are hard to come by. You’ll definitely want to get yourself a Power Bank. It is a portable power source that provides 10000mAh or approximately 2-4 hours of use, depending on your activity. Either plug your device in and run it off the bank or use it to charge your accessories. Since it has two USB ports, it can handle up to two items simultaneously. It is very durable and has built-in fail safe measures to make sure that it doesn’t over charge or short circuit. As power from the bank is consumed, an LED indicator light will tell you how much remains. Then you can recharge it using the Micro USB cable that comes with it, a standard 5V/1A DC power supply, or a 5V/1A DC solar charger. If you don’t need as much power, we also have a Power Bank with 5,000mAh capacity.
Have you ever been in the field with your RF Explorer and found out that you need an adapter? It is disappointing to have to stop an experiment because some Wi-Fi antennas and cables aren’t SMA compatible. Now we have a whole slew of connectors to give you flexibility when connecting cables and antennas. First off is the SMA adapter SMA Plug to SMA Jack right angle which converts your SMA Plug into a right angle SMA jack. This comes in handy when a stand isn’t available and the RF Explorer is horizontal. Next, we have an RF Adapter RP-SMA Jack to SMA Plug straight-long version which allows you to connect an RP-SMA (reverse polarity SMA)cable or antenna into the standard SMA plug on the Explorer. For HAM and two-way handheld radio antennas and devices that use BNC connectors, we have the SMA-BNC adapter SMA Plug to BNC Jack straight. For those of you who need to connect lab grade RF bench tools, we have the SMA-N adapter which enables the connection between the Explorer’s SMA jack and N connector size cables.
As you know, RF cables are required when connecting a digital spectrum analyzer, like an RF Explorer, to other instruments or devices. We have two 50cm length RF cables that can handle frequencies up to 3 GHz and can guarantee signal integrity and reduce data loss: the SMA male to SMA female RF pigtail Coxial Cable RG316 and the SMA male to SMA male plug pigtail cable RG316. And if you need extra length for your connection, you can easily daisy chain two or more of these cables together.
Depending on what you’re building, your projects have different voltage requirements. Unfortunately that usually requires owning a bunch of power supplies to meet your power needs. To cut down on the clutter you’ll need an Adjustable DC/DC Power Converter (1.25V – 35V/3A). It will help accelerate prototypingbecause all of your power needs (3.3V, 5V, 9V, etc.) will be available in one easy-to-use power converter. Specifically, you will be able to convert voltage from 3.2V to 40V into 1.25V to 35V with a load current up to maximum 3A.
Lastly we have an accessory for your Android, the Bluetooth Multimeter.It can measure voltage, current, and resistance and since it comes with Bluetooth, the results can be viewed on your Android phone or tablet. It has abuilt-in, rechargeable lithium battery and low power consumption, making it the perfect tool for a field engineer. But this isn’t your everyday multimeter, it’s maker-friendly as well. Both the hardware and the software are open source. We provide the API and instructions, and the device can be disassembled and reconfigured, however you see fit. It also works with different sensors, so that you can send data on heart-beat or whatever else you are monitoring to your phone.
Until next time, keep on making.
Written by Erin Linke
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