Holybro Kakute F7 AIO

Overview

The Holybro Kakute F7 All-In-One flight controller integrates flight controller (FC), power distribution board (PDB), and on-screen display (OSD) into a single unit. Its layout is designed for easy wiring of multirotor components, promoting a neat and tidy build.

Features

• Supports Betaflight, Butterflight, and Cleanflight.
• Betaflight OSD: Allows PIDs, configuration parameters, and video transmitter settings (channel, power) to be adjusted using transmitter sticks and goggles.
• Soft-mounting built-in: The IMU (gyro) chip is mounted on vibration-isolating foam, eliminating the need for external soft-mounting.
• High-performance IMU: ICM20689 with 6-axis gyro and accelerometer, capable of running at up to 32 kHz sampling rate.
• Ready for autonomous flight: Includes an integrated BMP280 barometer and SCL/SDA pads for external GPS/magnetometer units.
• 2 oz. copper PCB: Supports up to 120A maximum continuous current.
• Dedicated bootloader button: Facilitates easy firmware flashing.
• Low-profile design: Fits into compact frames.
• Input voltage: 7V to 42V (supports up to 6S battery on the "B+" pad).
• Automatic voltage monitoring: Monitors battery voltage directly from the power lead, eliminating the need for a separate vBat wire.
• Filtered voltage output: Provides clean, noise-free video. On-board regulators output 5V at up to 2A and 3.3V at up to 200mA for peripherals like receivers, video transmitters, FPV cameras, or LED strips.
• Supports BLHeli pass-through: Enables easy ESC upgrades and configuration.

Specifications

• MCU: STM32F745 32-bit processor
• IMU: ICM20689 (SPI)
• Barometer: BMP280
• Current Sensor: Approximately 130 amps maximum measurable value
• USB VCP Driver: All UARTs usable simultaneously; USB does not consume a UART.
• Hardware UARTS: 6 (UART1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7)
• UART Features: All UARTS support hardware inversion for protocols like SBUS, SmartPort, etc., without an "uninvert hack".
• Receiver Support: Serial receivers only (SBUS, iBus, Spektrum, Crossfire). PPM and PWM receivers are not supported.
• Blackbox Logging: TF card support.
• Dimensions: 35x48x7mm (including foam-mounted gyro board height)
• Mounting Holes: Standard 30.5mm square to center of holes
• Weight: 11g

Warranty and Return Policy

If your Kakute F7 AIO is found to be defective, please contact Holybro. Defective boards will be repaired or replaced at no charge. Shipping costs for returns are the customer's responsibility. Original packaging and all accessories should be included with returned items. Refunds are issued only if the product is lost by the shipping company, limited to the product's price. Shipping costs are non-refundable.

Contact Holybro:

• Email: productservice@holybro.com
• Facebook Page: Holybro
• Facebook Group: Holybro Hobby Official Group

Pinout Diagram

The Kakute F7 AIO features various pins for connecting components. Key pins and their functions include:

• B+: Battery positive voltage (2S-6S)
• 5V: 5V output (2A max)
• VO: Video output to video transmitter
• VI: Video input from FPV camera
• G or GND: Ground
• SDA, SCL: I²C connection for peripherals
• UARTs (R1/T1 to R7/T7): Serial communication ports for receivers, telemetry, etc. R7 pads are located at corners for ESC telemetry.
• LED: WS2182 addressable LED signal wire
• Z-: Piezo buzzer negative leg (connect positive leg to 5V pad)
• RSSI: Analog (0-3.3V) RSSI input
• 3V3: 3.3V output (200 mA max)
• M1 to M4, M5, M6: Motor signal outputs
• CAM: Analog FPV camera-control output
• Boot: Bootloader button

A diagram illustrating the 'Top of board' layout is provided in the original document.

Installation Guide

Battery Connector: Solder the main battery connector to the large '+' and '-' pads on the board. Use 12 or 14 gauge, fine-strand, silicone-insulated wire. Avoid regular stranded copper wire for the battery lead, as it can become brittle. The XT60 connector is commonly used.

Frame Installation: Install the Kakute F7 AIO into your quadcopter frame without fully reassembling it. Ensure the board is accessible for soldering. Leaving the top plate off the frame is recommended for easier access. Mounting the board in the frame helps verify correct wire lengths.

Orientation: Ensure the front-facing arrow on the Kakute F7 AIO points towards the front of the quadcopter. If this is not possible, use Betaflight's "board align" feature to compensate. See documentation for "Board Align" Feature: [YouTube Link]

Wiring ESCs

ESC Power: Solder ESC power wires to the G and B+ pads at the corners of the board. Use 18 or 20 gauge silicone wire. Ensure correct polarity: red wire to B+, black wire to G. Double-check for solder bridges between pads; continuity must not exist to prevent damage.

Receiver Connection: Use a receiver supporting serial protocols (SBUS, iBus, Spektrum, Crossfire). Solder the receiver signal wire to pad R6 (or R6/T6 for Crossfire). Solder the ground wire to the GND pad below R6. Connect the receiver power wire to the 5V pad (for most receivers) or the 3.3V pad (for Spektrum Satellite receivers). Ensure correct voltage is supplied to the receiver.

Wiring Camera and Video Transmitter (vTX)

Video Connections: Solder the video wire from the vTX to the VO pad and the camera video wire to the VI pad.

Power Connections: Solder the power wire for the camera and vTX to either the 5V pad or the B+ pad, depending on whether you intend to power them from the 5V regulator or the battery (vBat). Check the camera/vTX specifications for maximum voltage limits. Note that the 5V regulator is rated for 2A; ensure the total current draw of connected peripherals does not exceed this limit.

Ground Connections: Solder the ground wire from the camera and vTX to the G pad.

vTX Remote Control: For vTX supporting SmartAudio or Tramp Telemetry, solder the audio/T wire to the T1 pad for remote control of channel, transmit power, and other settings via Betaflight OSD.

RSSI Monitoring: Solder the analog RSSI output from your receiver to the RSSI pad for signal strength display in the OSD. Note that not all receivers support analog RSSI output.

Updating Betaflight Firmware

Updating your flight controller's software (Betaflight) is known as "flashing". Even if not updating immediately, installing the VCP driver is necessary for configuration.

Installing Drivers (Windows)

For Windows users, drivers must be installed manually. MacOS and Linux users typically have pre-installed drivers.

1. Download the Virtual COM Port (VCP) driver installer from the STM website (requires login or email).
2. Run the VCP installer.
3. Download and run the ImpulseRC Driver Fixer.
4. Plug the Kakute F7 AIO into your PC via USB. The ImpulseRC Driver Fixer should complete the process.

It is recommended to use the ImpulseRC Driver Fixer over other methods like Zadig.

Video Guide for Drivers: [All About Betaflight Drivers, Including How to Install Them]

Installing Betaflight Configurator

Download the Betaflight Configurator application from GitHub: [GitHub Releases]. Install and run it like any other application. On macOS, you may need to explicitly allow the application to run.

Flashing New Firmware

To flash firmware, connect the board in "bootloader mode" by holding the bootloader button while plugging in the USB cable. The configurator should show "DFU" in the pulldown menu. Alternatively, use the CLI command "bl" to enter bootloader mode.

Flashing Steps:

1. Open Betaflight Configurator and navigate to the "Firmware Flasher" tab.
2. Select "KAKUTEF7" as the board type.
3. Choose the latest Betaflight firmware version.
4. Click "Load Firmware (Online)".
5. Click "Flash Firmware".
6. After flashing, verify the process and then unplug and re-plug the board without holding the bootloader button.

Ensure your COM port is correctly detected in the configurator.

Initial Configuration

After flashing, connect the board to your PC via USB and start Betaflight Configurator. Click "Connect" to load the GUI.

Ports Tab

Navigate to the "Ports" tab. Each UART can be configured for a single function (e.g., Serial RX, Telemetry Output, Peripherals). Ensure only one function is active per UART row. For example:

• USB VCP: Do not disable MSP on this port, as it is essential for communication with the configurator.
• Telemetry: For FrSky SmartPort, select "SmartPort" in the Telemetry Output column.
• Receiver: Enable "Serial RX" for the UART connected to your receiver.
• Camera Control: For RunCam digital cameras, select "RunCam Device" in the Peripherals column.
• ESC Telemetry: Select "ESC" in the Sensor Input column for UART7.
• vTX Control: For SmartAudio or ImmersionRC Tramp, select "TBS SmartAudio" or "IRC Tramp" respectively in the Peripherals column.

Configuration Tab

In the "Configuration" tab, under "Other Features", enable:

• TELEMETRY: If using any telemetry (SmartPort, Crossfire, etc.).
• LED_STRIP: If using a programmable LED strip.
• AIRMODE: Recommended for increased authority at low throttle.
• OSD: Always enabled for the built-in Betaflight OSD.
• ESC_SENSOR: If using ESC telemetry.
• ANTI_GRAVITY: Recommended for stability during rapid throttle changes. Set Anti Gravity Gain to 3.0 in the PID Tuning tab.

In the "Receiver" section, set "Receiver Mode" to "Serial-based receiver" and select the appropriate "Serial Receiver Provider" (e.g., SBUS, SPEKTRUM2048, iBus, CRSF) based on your receiver type.

Blackbox

In the "Blackbox" tab, set the logging device to "SD Card" and the logging rate to 2 kHz. Insert a FAT-formatted SD card (32GB or smaller) into the SD card slot. Blackbox logs can be examined using the Betaflight Blackbox Log Viewer app.

OSD (On-Screen Display)

The OSD tab allows customization of displayed values during flight. Enable/disable elements using toggles. Manually set the Video Format to NTSC or PAL, as "Auto" can sometimes cause display issues.

OSD Elements

• Main Batt Voltage: Crucial for monitoring battery health. Avoid dropping below 3.3V per cell; 3.5V per cell is recommended for battery longevity. Voltage sag is normal during high load.
• mAh Drawn: Indicates battery capacity consumed, useful for deciding when to land. Aim to use no more than 80% of the battery's rated mAh.

Current Sensor Calibration: For improved accuracy, calibrate the current sensor. Compare mAh used (from OSD) with mAh recharged by the charger. Adjust the "Current Scale" in the "Power And Battery" tab accordingly. For example, if OSD shows 1100 mAh and charger adds 1000 mAh, the OSD is reading 10% high. Increase Current Scale by 10% (e.g., 400 to 440) to make the OSD read lower.

Using The OSD

Manage vTX settings (frequency band, channel, power level) through the OSD menu. Use specific stick commands (e.g., throttle centered, yaw left, pitch forward) to access the menu. Navigate to "Features", then "VTX SA" (for SmartAudio) or "VTX TR" (for ImmersionRC Telemetry) to adjust settings.

Using FPV Camera Control

Access your FPV camera's setup menu using transmitter sticks. With the quad disarmed, set throttle to 50% and push yaw-right to enter Camera Control mode. Use pitch and roll inputs for joystick movements and yaw-right for a "click". Push yaw-left to exit. Note that camera control functionality may vary depending on the camera model.

Saving Your Configuration

Back up your flight controller configuration for later restoration.

Correct Method:

1. Connect Kakute F7 AIO to PC via USB.
2. Start Betaflight GUI app.
3. Go to the CLI tab.
4. Type "diff all" and press Enter to display current settings.
5. Click "Save to File" in the configurator to save the configuration.

Restoring Configuration:

1. Open the saved configuration file in a text editor.
2. Copy the entire file content.
3. Connect Kakute F7 AIO to PC via USB and start Betaflight GUI.
4. Go to the CLI tab, place cursor in the text box, and paste the copied content.
5. Type "save" and press Enter to reboot and restore the configuration.

Avoid using the built-in "save/restore configuration" buttons in Betaflight/Cleanflight due to potential drawbacks.

Additional Reference

Helpful video resources for building your quadcopter:

• Betaflight 3.3 Ultimate Setup Guide: [YouTube Link]
• How to Calibrate Your ESCs: [YouTube Link] (Mandatory for analog protocols like Oneshot/Multishot; optional for Dshot).
• Failsafe: [YouTube Link]. Verify failsafe functionality by testing motor stop after turning off the transmitter. Do not fly if failsafe is not working correctly.

Adjust PIDs / Rates / vTX from Taranis

If using a FrSky Taranis radio with telemetry (SmartPort, FPort, Crossfire), PIDs, rates, and vTX settings can be adjusted using Lua scripts on the Taranis. This provides an alternative to using the Betaflight OSD.

Detailed Instructions: How to Upgrade Taranis to OpenTX 2.2 and Install Lua Scripts: [YouTube Playlist Link]