# Using SIYI Gimbal and Smart RC Controller with VOXL2

Source: https://forum.modalai.com/topic/4253/using-siyi-gimbal-and-smart-rc-controller-with-voxl2
Category: General Questions (https://forum.modalai.com/category/2/general-questions)
Posted: 2025-03-11 14:14:11 UTC by Raza Rizvi
Replies: 10 · Views: 1684

## Raza Rizvi · 2025-03-11 14:14:11 UTC

Hello,

I am developing a drone with VOXL2 and I wanted to know if the [SIYI A8 mini Gimbal](https://shop.siyi.biz/products/siyi-a8-mini-gimbal-camera) and the [SIYI MK32 Smart Controller](https://shop.siyi.biz/products/mk32-handheld-ground-station-smart-controller?VariantsId=10619) are compatible with the VOXL2 for drone control, gimbal control, and visualizing the live gimbal camera stream on the SIYI controller?

If it's not directly supported, are there any work arounds?

## Reply by Eric Katzfey (ModalAI staff) · 2025-03-11 15:26:15 UTC

@Raza-Rizvi We have never attempted to integrate one of these. But I took a look at their documentation and it looks like it connects to the flight controller with 2 interfaces. One is UART for Mavlink which could be connected to an application processor (Linux) UART via one of our add-on boards. And the other is SBus for RC input. This would require one of our M0065 IO boards since we do not support SBus on VOXL2 directly.

## Reply by Raza Rizvi · 2025-03-11 15:29:44 UTC (in reply to Eric Katzfey)

@Eric-Katzfey said in [Using SIYI Gimbal and Smart RC Controller with VOXL2](/post/21325):
> M0065 IO boards

Hey Eric,

Thanks a lot for a super quick response.

Can you like me to the add-on board and the IO boards you are mentioning?

## Reply by Eric Katzfey (ModalAI staff) · 2025-03-11 15:32:06 UTC (in reply to Raza Rizvi)

@Raza-Rizvi Here is an add on board with UART: https://www.modalai.com/collections/voxl-2-add-ons/products/m0151?variant=47083939791152, and here is the M0065 IO board: https://www.modalai.com/collections/expansion-board/products/voxl2-io?variant=40610514206771

## Reply by Raza Rizvi · 2025-03-11 15:39:22 UTC (in reply to Eric Katzfey)

@Eric-Katzfey Awesome, thanks.

I'm also buying the [VOXL 2 Ethernet and USB Hub Add-on](https://www.modalai.com/products/m0062-2) to integrate a Livox Mid 360 lidar on VOXL2. In this case, I wont need to buy an additional [Add on board with UART](https://www.modalai.com/collections/voxl-2-add-ons/products/m0151?variant=47083939791152) right, since the [VOXL 2 Ethernet and USB Hub Add-on](https://www.modalai.com/products/m0062-2) also has a UART expansion?

## Reply by Eric Katzfey (ModalAI staff) · 2025-03-11 16:07:36 UTC (in reply to Raza Rizvi)

@Raza-Rizvi Yes, you should be able to use J9 on that board.

## Reply by Raza Rizvi · 2025-03-11 17:01:31 UTC (in reply to Eric Katzfey)

@Eric-Katzfey said in [Using SIYI Gimbal and Smart RC Controller with VOXL2](/post/21331):
> J9

Best.

One more thing, the control input to the gimbal comes from a telem from the flight controller, as can be seen in the image attached.

![dcde7e5c-3b88-4199-b896-c54b0d2edff0-image.png](https://forum.modalai.com/assets/uploads/files/1741712454061-dcde7e5c-3b88-4199-b896-c54b0d2edff0-image.png) 

Which port should I use from the VOXL2 for that purpose?

## Reply by Eric Katzfey (ModalAI staff) · 2025-03-11 21:16:27 UTC (in reply to Raza Rizvi)

@Raza-Rizvi That one may prove to be more challenging. Is there a PX4 driver that sends commands to it over UART?

## Reply by Eric Katzfey (ModalAI staff) · 2025-03-11 21:18:12 UTC (in reply to Raza Rizvi)

@Raza-Rizvi In that diagram it shows PWM out to the ESCs. Are you planning to use PWM ESCs or the UART based ModalAI 4-in-1 ESC?

## Reply by Jetson Nano · 2025-06-20 09:43:00 UTC (in reply to Eric Katzfey)

@Eric-Katzfey I wanted to know whether we can directly control a gimbal motor using PWM or gimbal control board directly through telem data from voxl 2

## Reply by Eric Katzfey (ModalAI staff) · 2025-06-20 15:23:02 UTC (in reply to Jetson Nano)

@Jetson-Nano VOXL 2 does not have PWM out. You would need our IO expander board M0065 to bridge between UART and PWM. https://www.modalai.com/products/voxl2-io?variant=40610514206771