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  4. Voxl2 reboot due to what it seems a power limitation

Voxl2 reboot due to what it seems a power limitation

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  • Riccardo FranceschiniR Riccardo Franceschini

    Hi,

    after experimenting, we found that the problem was a RealSense external camera that we plugged in.

    It was connected through USB via the 5G module. Probably, this was causing a short circuit or overload of the board. Anyway, modifying the connection cable so that only the data goes through the board while it is powered separately seems to solve the problem.

    VinnyV Offline
    VinnyV Offline
    Vinny
    ModalAI Team
    wrote on last edited by Vinny
    #6

    Hi @Riccardo-Franceschini
    Our USB hubs have a smart power switch with a message feature that relays back to the host if there is an error/over-current condition on VBUS.
    It might be that is what was causing the reset.
    But yeah, glad you figured it out!!
    Nice work!

    VinnyV 1 Reply Last reply
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    • VinnyV Vinny

      Hi @Riccardo-Franceschini
      Our USB hubs have a smart power switch with a message feature that relays back to the host if there is an error/over-current condition on VBUS.
      It might be that is what was causing the reset.
      But yeah, glad you figured it out!!
      Nice work!

      VinnyV Offline
      VinnyV Offline
      Vinny
      ModalAI Team
      wrote on last edited by
      #7

      @Riccardo-Franceschini For future note, this page here lists all the VBUS capabilities in our designs so you know which port (if any) can support your high current use cases:
      https://docs.modalai.com/expansion-design-guide/#usb-expansion-over-j3--j5

      voxltesterV 1 Reply Last reply
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      • VinnyV Vinny

        @Riccardo-Franceschini For future note, this page here lists all the VBUS capabilities in our designs so you know which port (if any) can support your high current use cases:
        https://docs.modalai.com/expansion-design-guide/#usb-expansion-over-j3--j5

        voxltesterV Offline
        voxltesterV Offline
        voxltester
        Contributor
        wrote on last edited by voxltester
        #8

        @Vinny

        I have the rebooting issue with a VOXL2 flight deck with Microhard radio.

        I have tested with 5G board (M0090-3-01) as well. I connected a USB3 ethernet adapter on the 5G board to communicate with my laptop through ethernet cable. The same issue happened.

        When I directly powered the system by using a power supply (5V) without a power module, it did not show any rebooting issue....
        I am still figuring out, so please let me know what I need to try...

        VinnyV 1 Reply Last reply
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        • voxltesterV voxltester

          @Vinny

          I have the rebooting issue with a VOXL2 flight deck with Microhard radio.

          I have tested with 5G board (M0090-3-01) as well. I connected a USB3 ethernet adapter on the 5G board to communicate with my laptop through ethernet cable. The same issue happened.

          When I directly powered the system by using a power supply (5V) without a power module, it did not show any rebooting issue....
          I am still figuring out, so please let me know what I need to try...

          VinnyV Offline
          VinnyV Offline
          Vinny
          ModalAI Team
          wrote on last edited by
          #9

          Hi @voxltester
          Please take a look at this old thread: https://forum.modalai.com/topic/1356/sentinel-drone-randomly-reboots?_=1673383475709

          Let us know if that issue with J5 is what is happening.

          It is unlikely you are pulling too much current in normal operations as you more than likely have a fault if you think the 5V is drooping.

          Thanks!
          Vinny

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          • VinnyV Vinny

            @Alex-Kushleyev @Riccardo-Franceschini
            This is most certainly not a power network or power module limitation.
            We have extensively stressed the power module for it's 6A rating many many times, including over the full industrial temp range. Every unit also undergoes a "DUT Test" of 3A load during manufacturing testing.
            The power module can certainly deliver a full 30W of Continuous power. 1A will barely make it sweat.

            The more likely culprits can be either the power cable, which often get stressed easily by pulling on the cables during extraction/removal instead of the cable shroud. This will over time shred the cable junction at the pin contacts. We have a standing rule at HQ to replace the main power cable every few months.
            Or, it might be some GPU linked trigger due to a 100% load, especially if you are not seeing any CPU issues.

            If you wish to share a photo of your setup, we can help further.
            Thanks!

            voxltesterV Offline
            voxltesterV Offline
            voxltester
            Contributor
            wrote on last edited by voxltester
            #10

            @Vinny

            I will have a look.

            This is very randomly happening...
            I changed power source (battery, wall power), but it is working well now...

            Is there any way to check GPU usage on VOXL2?

            Eric KatzfeyE 1 Reply Last reply
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            • voxltesterV voxltester

              @Vinny

              I will have a look.

              This is very randomly happening...
              I changed power source (battery, wall power), but it is working well now...

              Is there any way to check GPU usage on VOXL2?

              Eric KatzfeyE Online
              Eric KatzfeyE Online
              Eric Katzfey
              ModalAI Team
              wrote on last edited by
              #11

              @voxltester voxl-inspect-cpu will show you GPU utilization and temperature

              voxltesterV 2 Replies Last reply
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              • Eric KatzfeyE Eric Katzfey

                @voxltester voxl-inspect-cpu will show you GPU utilization and temperature

                voxltesterV Offline
                voxltesterV Offline
                voxltester
                Contributor
                wrote on last edited by voxltester
                #12
                This post is deleted!
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                • Eric KatzfeyE Eric Katzfey

                  @voxltester voxl-inspect-cpu will show you GPU utilization and temperature

                  voxltesterV Offline
                  voxltesterV Offline
                  voxltester
                  Contributor
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #13
                  This post is deleted!
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                  • voxltesterV Offline
                    voxltesterV Offline
                    voxltester
                    Contributor
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #14

                    @Eric-Katzfey @Vinny @tom
                    This is totally the power cable problem...
                    Is there any future plan to make it stable?
                    It is horrible to imagine the drone crashing due to a reboot issue caused by the power cable.....

                    VinnyV 1 Reply Last reply
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                    • voxltesterV voxltester

                      @Eric-Katzfey @Vinny @tom
                      This is totally the power cable problem...
                      Is there any future plan to make it stable?
                      It is horrible to imagine the drone crashing due to a reboot issue caused by the power cable.....

                      VinnyV Offline
                      VinnyV Offline
                      Vinny
                      ModalAI Team
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #15

                      Hi @voxltester
                      Apologies you are having issues with the power cable.
                      We have expressed in several forum posts that care must be employed when removing and inserting any power cables to not tug on the cables themselves, but rather the large shroud/connector housing.
                      Pulling on any cable repeatedly will dramatically reduce it's service life as it results in frayed conductors at the pin crimp contacts. This is not an MCBL-00001 issue, but all cables in all electronics not just from ModalAI.
                      There are no plans to change this solution as it has been tried and true for over a decade. Some of my power cables are nearing 13 years old and every one can last that long if handled properly.
                      If needed, I can try to search through some forum posts where I think we have a picture showing the recommended methods of grabbing onto the plastic shroud instead of the cable conductors themselves. Our team is trained on this method as well.
                      Hope this helps.

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