KDE Upgrades UAV ESC and Flight Controller Communication Protocols

By Mike Ball / 28 Oct 2018
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KDE Direct UAV electronic speed controller

KDE Direct, a manufacturer of brushless motors and electronics for UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), has announced the launch of a technology standard communication protocol. The KDECAN Protocol will allow UVC series ESCs (electronic speed controllers) to actively monitor critical system components, increase redundancy, and improve operational safety for drones.

ESCs and flight controllers use PWM signals to transmit information from the flight controller to the ESC. With the addition of KDECAN, the customer has access to a multitude of features including live telemetry, system warnings, and redundant throttle control. KDECAN detects when an ESC loses throttle control and uses messages sent via CAN bus to continue operation for increased reliability. The KDECAN communication protocol is available on the KDE Direct website.

KDECAN was built using standard STM32 hardware drivers for optimized efficiency and performance. Designed to be robust, user-friendly, and scalable for easier application, the KDECAN Protocol is the new standard in the industry. KDE Direct has worked directly with the Pixhawk team to implement KDECAN into Mission Planner. Alternately, KDE Direct provides the capabilities to integrate KDECAN into any flight controller with CAN bus capabilities.

“KDE Direct is continually developing standards for safety, reliability, and performance in the UAV market. By leading our industry in standardizing CAN bus technology, KDE Direct provides integrated solutions for our industrial and military customers,” said Leslie Koegler, CEO at KDE Direct.

Posted by Mike Ball Mike Ball is our resident technical editor here at Unmanned Systems Technology. Combining his passion for teaching, advanced engineering and all things unmanned, Mike keeps a watchful eye over everything related to the unmanned technical sector. With over 10 years’ experience in the unmanned field and a degree in engineering, Mike’s been heading up our technical team here for the last 8 years. Connect & Contact