APM 2.8 Flight Controller Kit with NEO-7M GPS & Power Module

A complete autopilot kit built around the APM 2.8 board, for turning a multirotor, fixed-wing aircraft or rover into an autonomous vehicle that flies GPS waypoint missions planned in Mission Planner. The board has a built-in compass, and the kit adds GPS, a power module and mounting hardware, which makes it a low-cost starting point for F450 and F550-class learning builds.

Key features

• APM 2.8 board with ATmega2560 processor, MPU-6000 IMU, MS5611 barometer and built-in compass
• u-blox NEO-7M GPS with its own compass in a moulded protective case: 56 channels, position updates up to 10 Hz, separate 6-pin GPS and 4-pin I2C compass cables
• Power module with XT60 connectors: clean 5.3 V at up to 2.25 A from a 2S–6S LiPo, plus battery voltage and current measurement over a 6-pin cable
• Glass-fibre anti-vibration mount isolates the board from frame vibration
• Folding plastic GPS mast for 250, F450 and F550 frames

Specifications

• Processor: ATmega2560
• IMU: MPU-6000
• Barometer: MS5611
• Firmware: ArduPilot (last APM 2.x releases: ArduCopter 3.2.1, ArduPlane 3.4)
• GPS: u-blox NEO-7M with compass, 56 channels, up to 10 Hz
• Power module: 2–6S input, 5.3 V / 2.25 A output, XT60
• In the box: APM 2.8 board, NEO-7M GPS with compass, power module, anti-vibration mount, folding GPS mount

APM 2.x boards stop at ArduCopter 3.2.1 and ArduPlane 3.4, so newer ArduPilot features need a 32-bit Pixhawk-class controller; the APM 2.8 remains a practical way to learn waypoint missions, failsafes and Mission Planner setup. Mount the GPS mast away from power wiring so the compass reads cleanly.