Spartan "Quark" Overview and Setup

[madmick]

The Pantera Heli, when your finished with It. Anyway can't wait to see what you think of the gyro Bob

[Raptorg2zman]

Bob
Put it on a 600 ESP, I'm getting one shortly & like to know how it works !!

[tcprogrammer]

I'm dying to know how this plays out. I think we need a MEMS gyro shootout. I can't decide between the GY520, Quark, and JR G270. The JR G270 is expected any day now and at $110 brand new is a significant price advantage. If the G270 holds up even close to the rest, it would be great choice for those of us who are not yet up to the pro 3D level.

[knightofcarnage]

I'm willing to bet the both gy520 and spartan quark are the same form factor, just different firmware. To many similarities .

[raptorheli2]

Originally Posted by nightofcarnage

I'm willing to bet the both gy520 and spartan quark are the same form factor, just different firmware. To many similarities .

i'll take that bet. i'll bet you $10,000 they are not

paypal waiting.

when i win drinks are on me folks :-)

cheers

[mapleleafs]

Originally Posted by raptorheli2

i'll take that bet. i'll bet you $10,000 they are not

paypal waiting.

when i win drinks are on me folks :-)

cheers

im willing to raise that bet to $100,000

[DominicD]

Originally Posted by nightofcarnage

I'm willing to bet the both gy520 and spartan quark are the same form factor, just different firmware. To many similarities .

What exactly is this based on ?

[Stolpe]

Originally Posted by HFG

What exactly is this based on ?

+1

/ Stolpe

[knightofcarnage]

Let me try to explain what I'm trying to say.
1) I really dough the Spartan is willing to invest around 5Mill + to have there own ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) (I also have dough the Futaba would too, but more likely because RC is NOT THERE ONLY market.) , at BEST Spartan may produce a daughter board. I love to see them design and manufacture there own
MEMS Angular Rate Sensors.
2) Most likely they both Co Brand preexisting design. (example of such manufacture
http://www.memgen.com/pages/index.php) and or create custom firmware

some similarities
* they both hit the market with in last 12 months.
* it looks like the both have the same foot print (enclosures are slightly different)
* both have a 3 led around the same spot (they might different colors)
* both have a similar programming input.

Honestly i know ASIC run are very expansive and even if it cost only 1M that would mean that spartan would have to sell 5,000 unites @ $200 before they would break even on the design cost not including productions runs etc. Like i say its MUCH cheaper to higher a firmware engineer (etc like me) and or pay co-branding fees.
I can even see futaba doing this too. Its kind like lipo batts there are few manufacture that produce the cells , then other put them tougher, and then the get resold as a brand. Here is a Perfect example i TP 1010c charger vs sm5500a and other like it, its just silk screening. so i'm say i think they might have the same guts.

[DominicD]

First off i can tell you right now i can design and fab a MEMS gyro for under $100k, but i know for a fact these RC companies use off the shelf angular rate sensors (prolly AD), for the reasons you have already listed.

BUTTTTT where the real meat of our gyros is in the PID controller, which is usually done on a uP (software not firmware).

Using your logic any chip designed in IBM 0.13um is the same because they don't run their own custom fabs ????? Any design that uses a 68HC11 must be the same thing right ??

Ummmmmmmmmmmmm look around aT off the shelf angular rate sensors they always use tiny ass packages.... ask me how i know. There is only a handful of packages being used for MEMS sensors of any kind so i don't see how it can use used as a determining factor of them being identical.

Considering there is only two inputs to a gyro (that doesnt have any buttons) there is a very limited way to use a radio to program the gyro.


.... I could go on but I think my point is made.

[brian94066]

just ordered my quark from powerhelis for $152 shipped

[apriliamille]

Finless,
if i may suggest. i have a sd10 that i have been following your videos that you mentioned you were going to have a set up on heli video upcoming.
i am hunting a heli and setting up the quark with the sd10 could kill two birds with one stone? actually 3. show a set up of the sd10 on a heli, set up of the quark and then the third would be my stone of seeing the sd10 and quark videos
if it also helps i have narrowed my heli hunt down to three. trex 500, protos and outrage 550. have you done a outrage 550 or have one in the oven for an upcoming video that the quark and sd10 could be used on? or did i miss the 550 video links if there are some?

mike

[raptorheli2]

Originally Posted by nightofcarnage

Let me try to explain what I'm trying to say.
1) I really dough the Spartan is willing to invest around 5Mill + to have there own ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) (I also have dough the Futaba would too, but more likely because RC is NOT THERE ONLY market.) , at BEST Spartan may produce a daughter board. I love to see them design and manufacture there own
MEMS Angular Rate Sensors.
2) Most likely they both Co Brand preexisting design. (example of such manufacture
http://www.memgen.com/pages/index.php) and or create custom firmware

some similarities
* they both hit the market with in last 12 months.
* it looks like the both have the same foot print (enclosures are slightly different)
* both have a 3 led around the same spot (they might different colors)
* both have a similar programming input.

Honestly i know ASIC run are very expansive and even if it cost only 1M that would mean that spartan would have to sell 5,000 unites @ $200 before they would break even on the design cost not including productions runs etc. Like i say its MUCH cheaper to higher a firmware engineer (etc like me) and or pay co-branding fees.
I can even see futaba doing this too. Its kind like lipo batts there are few manufacture that produce the cells , then other put them tougher, and then the get resold as a brand. Here is a Perfect example i TP 1010c charger vs sm5500a and other like it, its just silk screening. so i'm say i think they might have the same guts.

your over analysing what is going on here. spartan, futaba, CYE, CSM, JR etc etc all buy sensors from one of 2 places at present. it is that simple. no one makes sensors for their own gyros.

the 520 and quark design have nothingG in common. if you care to search my old posts, you will find a 520 i have broken open and you can compare them if you wish.

cheers

[trickybit]

What parts/mfrs are the leading gyro brands using?

I've been curious about looking up the raw specs of the components.

[DominicD]

I would hazard a guess at AD.

[CNCjunkie]

if you care to search my old posts, and not guess like you are now, you will find a 520 i have broken open and you can compare them if you wish.

A link to your post would be helpful.

[raptorheli2]

the search function on this site leaves a lot to be desired. so i took the pic from the "enemy"....

this is one broken GY520.



can we now get back to the topic please?

back to the quark-

cheers

[CNCjunkie]

Thanks but the image doesn't display in your post, for me anyway.

[Finless]

Originally Posted by raptorheli2

the search function on this site leaves a lot to be desired. so i took the pic from the "enemy"....

this is one broken GY520.



can we now get back to the topic please?

back to the quark-

cheers

You cant link to RR images as RR blocks other sites from doing that.

Bob

[tcprogrammer]

Originally Posted by Finless

You cant link to RR images as RR blocks other sites from doing that.

Bob

what you can do is right click on the broken image icon, and choose "open image in new window" or similar option depending on which browser you use. This will allow you to see the image.