<![CDATA[Third Party ESC integration w/ VOXL2]]>Hi all, some questions about the VOXL ESC

Hardware

  • VOXL2 (MDK-M0154-1-01)
  • VOXL ESC FPV 4-in-1 (MDK-M0138-11-00)

Software Version (voxl-version)

voxl2-test-fixture (TF-M0054):/$ voxl-version
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
system-image: 1.8.06-M0054-14.1a-perf
kernel:       #1 SMP PREEMPT Wed Oct 22 04:13:18 UTC 2025 4.19.125
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
hw platform:  M0054
mach.var:     1.0.1
SKU:          TF-M0054-4-V1-C11
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
voxl-suite:   1.6.3
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Packages:
Repo:  http://voxl-packages.modalai.com/ ./dists/qrb5165/sdk-1.6/binary-arm64/
Last Updated: 2023-03-02 12:58:39
List:
libfc-sensor                   1.0.9
libmodal-cv                    0.6.0
libmodal-exposure              0.1.4
libmodal-flow                  1.0.3
libmodal-journal               0.2.7
libmodal-json                  0.4.8
libmodal-pipe                  2.14.11
libqrb5165-io                  0.6.3
libvoxl-cci-direct             0.3.3
libvoxl-codec                  0.0.2
libvoxl-cutils                 0.1.6
modalai-slpi                   1.2.2
mv-voxl                        0.1-r0
qrb5165-bind                   0.1-r0
qrb5165-dfs-server             0.2.0
qrb5165-mini-tof-server        0.2.2
qrb5165-rangefinder-server     0.1.6
qrb5165-slpi-test-sig          01-r0
qrb5165-tflite                 2.17.2
voxl-bind-spektrum             0.1.1
voxl-camera-calibration        0.6.1
voxl-camera-server             2.2.19
voxl-ceres-solver              2:2.0.0-2
voxl-configurator              1.1.5
voxl-cpu-monitor               0.7.7
voxl-docker-support            1.3.1
voxl-elrs                      1.1.0
voxl-esc                       1.5.7
voxl-esptool                   0.2.0
voxl-feature-tracker           0.5.2
voxl-flow-server               0.3.6
voxl-gphoto2-server            0.0.10
voxl-imu-server                2.0.1
voxl-io-server                 0.0.8
voxl-jpeg-turbo                2.1.3-7
voxl-lepton-server             1.3.3
voxl-lepton-tracker            0.0.4
voxl-libgeographic             1.0.0
voxl-libgphoto2                0.0.4
voxl-libuvc                    1.0.7
voxl-logger                    0.6.1
voxl-mavcam-manager            0.6.0
voxl-mavlink                   0.1.6
voxl-mavlink-server            1.4.14
voxl-modem                     1.2.3
voxl-mongoose                  7.19.0
voxl-mpa-to-ros                0.3.9
voxl-mpa-tools                 1.5.6
voxl-nano-tracker              0.1.7
voxl-open-vins-server          0.6.0
voxl-opencv                    4.5.5-3
voxl-osd                       0.3.8
voxl-portal                    0.8.7
voxl-px4                       1.14.0-2.0.133
voxl-px4-params                0.9.0
voxl-qvio-server               1.2.3
voxl-remote-id                 0.0.9
voxl-reset-slpi                0.0.1
voxl-state-estimator           0.0.6
voxl-streamer                  0.8.0
voxl-suite                     1.6.3
voxl-tag-detector              0.1.0
voxl-tflite-server             0.5.1
voxl-utils                     2.0.2
voxl-uvc-server                0.1.7
voxl-vision-hub                1.9.21
voxl-vtx                       2.0.2
voxl-wavemux                   0.0.3
voxl2-io                       0.0.3
voxl2-security-hardening-utls  1.0-r0
voxl2-system-image             1.8.06-r0
voxl2-wlan                     1.0-r0
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Services/Config (voxl-inspect-services)

voxl2-test-fixture (TF-M0054):/$ voxl-inspect-services
Scanning services...

 Service Name             |  Enabled  |   Running   |  CPU Usage
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 docker-autorun           | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 modallink-relink         | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-camera-server       |  Enabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-cpu-monitor         |  Enabled  |   Running   |     0.0%
 voxl-dfs-server          | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-dma-latency         |  Enabled  |   Running   |  
 voxl-feature-tracker     | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-flow-server         | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-imu-server          |  Enabled  |   Running   |     3.8%
 voxl-io-server           | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-lepton-server       | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-lepton-tracker      | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-logger              | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-mavcam-manager      | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-mavlink-server      |  Enabled  |   Running   |     0.0%
 voxl-mini-tof-server     | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-modem-doodle        | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-modem               | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-nano-tracker        | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-open-vins-server    | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-osd                 | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-portal              |  Enabled  |   Running   |     0.0%
 voxl-px4                 | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-qvio-server         | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-rangefinder-server  | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-remote-id           | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-softap              | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-state-estimator     | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-static-ip-watcher   | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-static-ip           | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-streamer            | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-tag-detector        | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-tflite-server       | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-time-sync           | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-uvc-server          | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-vision-hub          |  Enabled  |   Running   |     1.9%
 voxl-vrx                 | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-vtx                 | Disabled  | Not Running |  
 voxl-wait-for-fs         |  Enabled  |  Completed  |

Integration with Third Party ESC
This is a follow up to a previous post (link) regarding supported ESC hardware with the VOXL2. As directed by @vinny in that previous post, I am breaking out this follow up as its own topic.

I am looking to integrate this 12S ESC from Mad Motor (link) for my project. For now, I am open to using the VOXL IO expander (link) to do this integration via PWM/ONESHOT with BLHELI32 firmware but I am finding the lack of DSHOT support in the VOXL ecosystem a real road block for future project development with this product.

What I am particularly interested in is guidance on what it would take to get a DSHOT implementation working in the VOXL ecosystem. Is there a technical reason why this has not yet been implemented? If there are no plans for the Modal team to implement this, is this something I could attempt via the VOXL2 SDK?

Any guidance is much appreciated.

Thanks!

]]>https://forum.modalai.com/topic/5322/third-party-esc-integration-w-voxl2RSS for NodeTue, 21 Jul 2026 05:16:49 GMTThu, 16 Jul 2026 19:39:17 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Third Party ESC integration w/ VOXL2 on Mon, 20 Jul 2026 20:04:52 GMT]]>Sorry for being very specific.. but there are two types of telemetry you can get from DSHOT-capable ESCs.

  • UART telemetry : the four ESCs send telemetry one at a time over a dedicated UART line, which can be fed into standard UART RX
  • DSHOT telemetry is sent from each ESC over the PWM lines (all at the same time) and do not use UART. The FC hardware as to change the PWM outputs to inputs while receiving telemetry (requires tight timing)

So, do you have a requirement to use one or another.. or which specific fields in the telemetry are you looking for?

Alex

]]>https://forum.modalai.com/post/26414https://forum.modalai.com/post/26414Mon, 20 Jul 2026 20:04:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Third Party ESC integration w/ VOXL2 on Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:05:41 GMT]]>@Alex-Kushleyev

Thanks for passing my note along. Greatly appreciated.

The biggest thing we need out of DSHOT is the telemetry. At this point, or for a first pass, any way we can get telemetry from a third party ESC if fine. Even if we are still using PWM or OneShot.

]]>https://forum.modalai.com/post/26411https://forum.modalai.com/post/26411Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:05:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Third Party ESC integration w/ VOXL2 on Fri, 17 Jul 2026 20:45:35 GMT]]>@PatkirkMartin,

I will pass on your note about the order to our team.

Regarding DSHOT, can you please clarify which features are a must-have for your application? specifically, do you need both DSHOT control (lets say Dshot600) and DSHOT telemetry? Or UART Telemetry.. or no telemetry..

Thanks,

Alex

]]>https://forum.modalai.com/post/26401https://forum.modalai.com/post/26401Fri, 17 Jul 2026 20:45:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Third Party ESC integration w/ VOXL2 on Fri, 17 Jul 2026 15:09:45 GMT]]>@alex-kushleyev

A large part of my team's selection of your hardware was the small footprint we get by combining flight controller + companion computer on the same piece of silicon. If we move to a third party flight controller, we honestly may as well just move away from this ecosystem.

I am not afraid of getting into some more technical details with your development team on what it might look like for us to work on a DSHOT integration.

PS: As an aside, my team has a large order put in with your sales team that we have not heard back about in some time. Would you please pass along that we need a response on that? I have sent a follow up via your sales inquiry forum on the website with more information

]]>https://forum.modalai.com/post/26398https://forum.modalai.com/post/26398Fri, 17 Jul 2026 15:09:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Third Party ESC integration w/ VOXL2 on Thu, 16 Jul 2026 21:01:55 GMT]]>Hello @patkirkmartin ,

DShot could be used with VOXL2 when using Flight Core V2 as an external flight controller (stm32-based). However, Flight Core V2 is EOL.

The IO expander board (M0065) does have capable hardware to generate DSHOT signals, however, integrating and testing DShot-based ESCs is not in the scope of our team's effort.

Have you considered using a 3rd party flight controller as well as the ESC and using VOXL2 as a companion computer?

Alex

]]>https://forum.modalai.com/post/26395https://forum.modalai.com/post/26395Thu, 16 Jul 2026 21:01:55 GMT