Once the cheap chips are powerfull enough to run a real-time kernel then they will be able to do propper real-time work. (Like Linux-CNC does)
After seeing the Odrive post
I’m having an entire new vision.
4 Arduino Nano’s (one per motor) each one dedicated to control 1 motor and one quad encoder
and one Arduino Nano running Maslow.
Using a CAN bus to speak to the motors.
This way it’s also possible to give each motor its own PSU to keep DC lines short and close to the motor. (low loss, more effective power)
BUT
I don’t know if Maslow firmware is written modulair enough to break it into hardware modules.
This also would also open the option to use Odrives for instance.
Will one Arduino Nano be powerfull enough to keep up with the motor speeds?
I have a few Nano boards so maybe we could build a little test? (all in good time)
IF this is at all a feasible way to do things.
I mean, it needs 2 different firmwares that talk to eachother… One main Maslow, and one Motor driver.
Maybe @madcowswe can give us a few hints?