1

Scout Dev / Re: Scout ESC Mini

« on: October 27, 2025, 02:08:26 PM »

Thanks again! 

Als thanks for thinking along on the heatsinks.

I ordered some of the 9x9x12 heatsinks, with which I have enough height to clear the capacitors.

I also granted you access to the Gitlab project, so please check if it works.

One quirk with the Multisense output is that it seems to saturate to maximum ADC value so now and then.
It doesn’t stay in that error for long, so I think it is not a real error that is triggered.
On the other hand, I also don’t expect it to draw 14.3A (which should be 14 [mA/count] multiplied by 1023 [counts]).
This is something I have to do some measurements on to solve I guess.

2

Scout Dev / Re: Scout ESC Mini

« on: October 26, 2025, 10:25:32 AM »

I implemented the Multisense functionality and uploaded the code here:
https://gitlab.com/niels.d/scout-mini

The readme still needs some updating and also the board files need to be uploaded (but they are on another laptop and I have to clean them up a bit).

I am also looking for heatsinks, but couldn't find any suitable ones in 10x10mm and enough height to protrude above the capacitors (which are a bit of an airflow obstruction unfortunately).
Maybe someone here has a tip for where to get those?

3

Scout Dev / Re: Scout ESC Mini

« on: October 26, 2025, 08:55:30 AM »

Thanks for the compliments!

No, this was not my first layout.
I'm an aerospace electronics engineer, so this is a nice hobby project for me to also use my technical skills.

Today, I got the Scout ESC Mini working for the first time using two PWM inputs (left stick = left track, right stick = right track):
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XLSogyMyqIE

I have worked out how to use the Multisense functionality, but I still have to test it.
Basically it clips to 5V to indicate an error and if it's not 5V, it's lower and proportional to the motor current.
I will look into that today and see if I can get it to work properly.

Also, the tank seems to be running a bit slow compared to the single Tamiya motor, but I guess that's due to the gearbox.

4

Scout Dev / Re: Scout ESC Mini

« on: September 27, 2025, 04:50:39 PM »

Thanks! 

Yeah, the progress has been really slow unfortunately.
I have been busy with work and private things other than hobbies, so I had to put it on ice for a while.

It was my first time that I ordered electronics in China at PCBWay, which was an interesting experience.
The boards came out nice and the process was surprisingly smooth and quick.
See attached a photo of the assembled board.

I am slowly working on updating the firmware now, for which I created a Gitlab repository which I will share here as well as soon as I have everything working.

5

Scout Dev / Re: Scout ESC Mini

« on: September 22, 2025, 04:25:50 PM »

It took a while, but in the meantime I got the boards made, the boot loader flashed and I am working on adapting the firmware now to be able to work with the new motor drivers.

The control for the motor drivers is similar, but as mentioned above already, the status pins and current readback is different.

I attached the schematics for anyone who is interested.
The board files, BOM and finally firmware will follow later.

6

Scout Dev / Re: Scout ESC Mini

« on: July 06, 2024, 08:54:31 AM »

Thanks for your reply!

I noticed indeed that it has a bit more complex ways of measuring currents and temperature.
There is some switching involved that, for example, can output the chip's internal temperature to the analog output.
Because of the compatibility with the Scout ESC, I decided to wire it in a way that it's not able to use those features  (because if I wanted to, I needed more pins on the MCU, which were not available).
The idea is to keep using the temperature sensor as in the original design.

Because I'm quite slow with this project and I am also designing the housing and mechanics in CAD, it might still take some time to finish.
I'll keep you posted on the progress!

7

Scout Dev / Scout ESC Mini

« on: June 22, 2024, 03:41:47 PM »

Hi Guys,

I'm new to this forum, but I have been working (though a bit low-key recently) on a small remix of the Scout ESC.
I am building a 1/16th scale Leopard 1A4 from Tamiya for which I want to upgrade the gearbox to a fully independent 2-motor setup.
Since the Scout ESC is designed to support also much bigger motors than I use, I thought it would be a nice challenge to make a smaller version of this PCB.

I used the original schematics as baseline, but I changed the motor driver ICs for a different model.
The original motor driver is the VNH5019 (17.2x16mm) and I use the VNH7040 (10x7.5mm).
The Rds,on is a bit higher (40mOhm compared to 18mOhm) but since I use it for a 1/16th scale model only, I expect this to be no problem.
Designing for an acceptable thermal resistance was challenging in this small form factor though, but I think it is in good shape now, especially combined with the way the PCB will be mounted + fan and air ducting.

The control of the chip is a bit different unfortunately, so I have to update the firmware a bit as well.
The ATMEGA doesn't have enough pins to fully support the VNH7040, since the VNH7040 has a lot more control options.
This meant I had to design the control logic to be as close as possible to the way the VNH5019 is controlled by pulling control pins to fixed levels.
I now expect that the rotation direction is inverse, but the rest should be identical.
This now is the biggest risk though, and I can only fully test when I have the hardware on my desk and can do some testing and measurement.

The schematic and PCB design was made in Altium Designer.
It is finished now, but I still need to order and test it.
Because the thermal design involves quite some copper area, I hope to find an affordable place that can do the SMD assembly as well.
This will be continued shortly and I hope to post an update with the assembled PCB soon.

Regarding the fitment in the Leopard chassis, I first designed and 3D printed a housing in which the 2 motors and gearboxes fit and between which the Scout ESC Mini and a 40x40 fan could fit.
To make sure things don't get too hot, I did some airflow design, which uses ducts that will finally output any hot air from the Leopard's original exhaust ports.
This took quite some time and with a 2-year old son, hobby time is unfortunately not so abundant.

Anyway, let me know what you think.
I'll keep this thread to post any updates if I have them.