Byte Blaster v1.1.29

Byte Blaster v1.1.29

This prerelease adds phased launch and an interactive Launch Planner, plus startup power, launch-clock and estimated motor-current controls. Firmware and configurator ship together. These changes have passed automated tests; physical blaster validation remains outstanding.

Before flashing

• Re-run Tune Blaster after flashing. Launch control policy is now version 5, so stored PID validation is marked changed until tuning is repeated.
• Settings schema upgrades from 47 to 49 in place, preserving existing settings and the selected launch mode. Phased launch is opt-in (mode 3).
• Existing launch curves now use monotone cubic interpolation through the same 16 knots. Feedforward uses a fast 1 ms pack-voltage sample. Battery warnings and lockout retain filtered voltage.
• An estimated 60 A per-motor current cap is enabled by default, with 125 mOhm model impedance. This is a model estimate, not a measured-current limit, and can change existing launch behavior.

Launch Planner and phased launch

• New Launch Planner tab with draggable startup, BEMF-lock what-if, knee, landing, ramp-end and deadline controls.
• Phased mode runs startup until BEMF lock, then a constant-acceleration ramp with an optional second slope, and a landing that eases the slope to zero.
• Fixed-acceleration pacing is the default. Deadline pacing can steepen the ramp up to 2x after a late lock. An optional sync leash waits for a trailing motor and is off by default.
• Predictions show time to 90% target, estimated peak current, heat per shot, pack-voltage limits and limiter activity. Read last launch overlays measured data; Fit from last launch calibrates effective impedance.
• Apply to blaster writes the profile, selects mode 3 and verifies firmware readback. Phased acceleration feedforward uses the configured model impedance. From-stop targets below 5,000 RPM retain the timed linear ramp.

Startup and current controls

• Startup Power drives each motor open loop until its ESC reports BEMF lock, with a 300 ms maximum. Default startup power is 4 V; AM32 still applies its low-RPM duty limit.
• Launch Curve Start can use trigger time or BEMF lock. After-lock curve exports select the lock clock automatically.
• Current Cap supports off or 10-150 A per motor with configurable 20-400 mOhm impedance. It applies in the PID and final command, leaves glide uncapped, and requires measured speed.
• Launch traces report per-motor lock times, clock timing, current-cap activity, interpolation, startup policy and phased-profile metadata.
• The curve calculator adds drive impedance and RPM-at-lock inputs, defaults to 46 mOhm pack resistance and 45 ms lock time, and exports after-lock curves by default.

Older firmware compatibility

• Full settings writes and profile imports skip the new settings that the connected firmware does not report in its settings readback, so supported settings can still be applied to v1.1.28 and earlier firmware.
• Skipped settings are reported; skipped settings edits remain pending. Connected profile exports omit unsupported new settings.
• Phased-profile imports and Planner Apply require firmware that reports phased-launch support and are rejected before writing on older firmware. Flash v1.1.29 to use the new launch features.

Validation

• All 53 strict test suites pass with native checks required, including phased-launch math, planner integration, startup/current limits and older-firmware compatibility regressions.
• Hardware smoke testing remains outstanding: verify settings migration, existing-curve launches, tuning, phased-profile application/readback and measured-launch overlays before relying on this prerelease.
• Bundled AM32 F4A 4IN1 F421 v2.21 ESC firmware is unchanged.

Details and bench procedures: Phased launch, startup power and current cap.