A-Star 32U4 Robot Controller LV With Raspberry 4 and 2 USB Keys

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1

I am working on an autonomous vehicle. I try to use the A-Star 32U4 SV and Raspberry bridge with a Raspberry 4 and two usb keys (Coral accelerators). Each key needs at least 500-700 mA. The Raspberry 4 also needs a lot of power. The Raspberry spec recommend using a good quality 2.5A power supply if downstream USB peripherals consume less than 500mA in total. I suppose I need at least 3A.

I am searching the best configuration to power the raspberry with the A-Star.
I tried to use an ESC with a 6V or 7.4V/6A BEC. I connected the BEC to the Power In inputs of the A-Star. This is not working. I think I may hit the 1.8A limit of the A-Star’s TPS2113A.

I am going to use an external UBEC 5V10A to connect the 2 batteries (2*3s) to the USB power source of the A-Star. The motors and the servos (6V) of the vehicle are powered by the BEC of the ESC. Does anybody know if this is the best practice?

Thank you!

2

Hello.

It sounds like you are expecting your Raspberry Pi 4 and your two USB devices to draw upwards of 3A. If that is the case, you should not power them through the A-Star Robot Controller’s onboard regulator. Instead, you might consider powering the Raspberry Pi through its typical USB power connection from a source that can source enough current for it and its connected devices.

Brandon

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Hi - Yes. This is what I did. I used an UBEC 10A/5V for the raspberry and the ESC’s BEC for the A-Star.
Thank you for your help!

N