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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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  • Alex KushleyevA Alex Kushleyev

    @Riccardo-Franceschini , what device are you using to measure voltage and current?

    I would recommend a few simple things to try next:

    • if you have another power module v3, just swap it out and test again
    • try swapping the 4-wire power cable that connects the power module and voxl2. Perhaps there is poor contact on the power pins

    If the issue still persists, we can try to diagnose it by logging the current draw from battery and also 5V output (power module v3 has current sensing of both)

    VinnyV Offline
    VinnyV Offline
    Vinny
    ModalAI Team
    wrote on last edited by
    #3

    @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!

    Riccardo FranceschiniR voxltesterV 2 Replies Last reply
    0
    • 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!

      Riccardo FranceschiniR Offline
      Riccardo FranceschiniR Offline
      Riccardo Franceschini
      Contributor
      wrote on last edited by
      #4

      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.

      Alex KushleyevA VinnyV 2 Replies Last reply
      0
      • 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.

        Alex KushleyevA Offline
        Alex KushleyevA Offline
        Alex Kushleyev
        ModalAI Team
        wrote on last edited by
        #5

        Great to hear you got it figured out!

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • 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
          0
          • 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
            1
            • 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
              0
              • 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

                1 Reply Last reply
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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
                  0
                  • 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 Offline
                    Eric KatzfeyE Offline
                    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
                    0
                    • 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!
                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • 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!
                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • 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
                          0
                          • 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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