Shared Projects by OpenPanzer

This is the Open Panzer TCB (Tank Control Board). It is a highly-capable and flexible control board designed specifically for RC model tanks, but also suitable for halftracks, cars, or even battleships. The hardware is based on an ATmega 2560 processor and the firmware consists of an Arduino sketch as well as various C++ libraries.

All Open Panzer projects are fully open source, both hardware and software. For more information on this device and the project, see the OpenPanzer.org website.

For bill of materials, Eagle board files, and schematics for the TCB, see the Open Panzer Downloads page.

A compiled hex of the latest TCB firmware can also be found on the same Downloads page. For the actual source code, see the TCB repository at our GitHub site.

Revision 24, updated 12/16/2024

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For those wishing to build their own DIY TCB Gerald Rude created this shield intended to be used with a RobotDyn Mega 2560 Pro Arduino board. It is built almost entirely with through-hole components for ease of assembly and the few SMD components are easy to solder by hand.

When you flash the firmware to your Arduino, be sure to select the “TCB - DIY Version” firmware in OP Config.

• Discussion thread for DIY TCB designs
• Eagle Board and Schematic (zip)
• Printable Schematic (PDF)
• Bill of Materials (Excel)
• Board Assembly notes (PDF)

The Scout ESC is an open-source, dual brushed-motor speed controller that accepts both standard RC inputs or logic-level serial commands. The onboard processor is an ATmega 328 and can be programmed with the Arduino IDE using a standard FTDI cable or adapter (precompiled firmwares can also be downloaded and flashed to the Scout using the OP Config program). It operates at ultrasonic frequencies (no motor whine), at voltages up to 16 volts, and is rated at 12 amps continuous per motor without heatsinking, but the addition of a fan can increase the current capacity (30 amps max, requires serial commands to increase overcurrent limit beyond 12 amps). The Scout has its own onboard fan controller that can drive any standard 12 volt, 2-pin PC case fan (the 40mm size works well). The board has over-temperature protection, over and under-voltage protection, over-current protection, and is reverse-polarity protected. Current and voltage limits can be adjusted via serial commands.

The Scout was designed with the Open Panzer Tank Control Board (TCB) in mind and requires no special setup in that application other than to plug and play. It is the perfect size for controlling even the heaviest 1/16th scale RC tanks. For more details on connecting the Scout and TCB together see the Serial Motor Controller page of the TCB Wiki.

The Scout can also be used in many other applications including robotics. You can think of it as an open-source variant of the Dimension Engineering Sabertooth 2x12 or the Pololu Qik 2s12v10.

Resources

• For instructions, firmware, Eagle board files, schematics, bill of materials, and a sample Arduino library, see the Scout repository at the Open Panzer GitHub site.

Revision 11 - Updated 9/5/2019 - Uses VNH5019 motor driver ICs

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The Open Panzer Sound Card brings inexpensive, high quality, and open source sound functionality to RC models. It supports up to 32 GB of CD quality WAV files and provides 3 light outputs and a recoil servo output.

The physical board is actually made up of two components. First, an off-the-shelf PJRC Teensy 3.2 is used as the onboard processor. The Teensy is then plugged into a socket on our custom carrier board that adds a Micro SD card slot (max 32 GB), a Maxim 9768 10 watt mono amplifier, and headers for external connections.

There are two control methods available:

• By up to 5 channels of standard RC input. Each channel can be configured for multiple types of control, including switches of up to 6 positions. In this mode board settings are defined by an “ini” file which the user must include on the micro-SD memory card along with their sound files. A convenient INI Creator Utility can be downloaded which makes generating the ini file a breeze (Windows only). Instructions for using the sound card in RC mode can be found here
• Alternatively the sound card can be controlled via TTL serial by the Open Panzer TCB (Tank Control Board) or by any other microcontroller. When controlled by the TCB all configuration is handled by the TCB and its own Windows program called OP Config. Instructions for using the sound card with the TCB can be found here

Resources

• GitHub Page
• A discussion thread on the development of this card can be found on the Open Panzer Forum.
• Eagle Board and Schematic (zip)
• Printable Schematic (pdf)
• Bill of Materials - PDF - Excel

Changes in Version 3 include light and servo outputs, and mounting holes with identical spacing to the TCB.

Changes in Version 2 include a 10 watt amp (up from 2.6 watt in V1) and a reverse polarity diode on the voltage input.

Version 3, updated 7/23/2018

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The Open Panzer Sound Card is a work in progress with the goal of bringing inexpensive, high quality, and open source sound functionality to RC models but especially to tanks using the Tank Control Board (TCB). The board is actually made up of two components. First, an off-the-shelf PJRC Teensy 3.2 is used as the onboard processor. The Teensy is then plugged into a socket on our custom carrier board that adds a Micro SD card slot (max 32 GB), a Maxim 9768 10 watt mono amplifier, and headers for external connections.

Changes in Version 2 include a 10 watt amp (up from 2.6 watt in V1) and a reverse polarity diode on the voltage input.

Resources

• GitHub Page
• A discussion thread on the development of this card can be found on the Open Panzer Forum.
• Eagle Board and Schematic (zip)
• Printable Schematic (pdf)
• Bill of Materials - PDF - Excel

Version 2, updated 2/3/2018

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