Odrive 3.6 Schematic !free! May 2026
The ODrive 3.6 is a high-performance brushless motor controller that is officially considered "Not Recommended for New Designs" (NRND) as it nears the end of its lifecycle. Users seeking the official schematic often refer to the v3.5 documentation, as version 3.6 is essentially identical in design to the v3.5 hardware. Official Schematic & Documentation
Official PDF: You can find the base circuit design in the v3.5 schematic PDF hosted on the ODrive Hardware GitHub.
Hardware Variants: The board comes in 24V and 56V variants; the primary difference between these versions is the voltage rating of the capacitors.
Legacy Status: While official support is shifting toward newer models like the ODrive S1 or Pro, version 3.6 remains widely used in the hobbyist community. Notable Findings & Community Reports
Reports from the ODrive Community highlight several critical "interesting" factors regarding this specific hardware version: ODrive v3.6 (NRND)
ODrive v3.6 is a high-performance brushless motor controller designed for robotics and industrial applications. Although it is now categorized as Not Recommended for New Designs (NRND) in favor of newer models like the
, it remains a staple in the DIY robotics community due to its open-source roots. ODrive Europe Schematic Overview
The ODrive v3.6 schematic is essentially an evolution of the v3.5 design. It is built around a dual-motor control architecture, allowing a single board to drive two brushless DC (BLDC) motors with high precision. Core Controller : It utilizes an STM32F405RGT6
microcontroller, which handles the complex Field Oriented Control (FOC) algorithms. Gate Drivers : It features the odrive 3.6 schematic
gate driver (labeled as U4 in many versions), which provides integrated buck converters and current sense amplifiers. Power Stage
: The board is available in 24V and 56V variants. The primary difference in their schematics lies in the voltage ratings of the electrolytic capacitors and power MOSFETs. ODrive Community Key Interfaces & Connectivity
The schematic reveals several critical ports for communication and feedback: Communication
: Supports USB, CAN bus (recommended for professional use), UART (for Arduino integration), and PWM/Step-Dir. Encoder Ports
: Two ports (M0 and M1) for ABI, Hall effect, or SPI encoders to provide position and velocity feedback. Power Terminals
: Includes dedicated terminals for the DC power supply and a brake resistor to handle regenerative braking energy. Where to Find the Official Files
ODriveHardware/v3/v3.5docs/schematic_v3.5.pdf at ... - GitHub
Use saved searches to filter your results more quickly. Name. odriverobotics / ODriveHardware Public. The ODrive 3
odriverobotics/ODriveHardware: High performance motor control
The ODrive 3.6 is the final iteration of the "classic" ODrive series and is highly regarded as a robust, high-performance brushless motor controller. While it has been largely succeeded by the ODrive Pro and S1 models, its open-source legacy means the schematic remains a critical reference for engineers and hobbyists. Schematic and Design Overview
The ODrive 3.6 schematic is essentially a refined version of the v3.5 design. It focuses on enabling high-performance Field Oriented Control (FOC) for two brushless motors simultaneously. Key Components:
MCU: Uses an STM32F405 microcontroller for high-speed computation.
Gate Drivers: Employs the DRV8301 gate driver, which includes integrated current sense amplifiers.
Power Stage: Designed for peak power over 1kW per channel, though practical limits depend on your cooling and power supply setup.
Voltage Variants: Available in 24V and 56V versions. The 56V variant uses higher voltage-rated capacitors to handle 12s-15s LiPo batteries. Common Reviews & Critical Feedback
Community feedback on the v3.6 hardware reveals several recurring themes: Deep Dive: Understanding the ODrive 3
The ODrive 3.6 is an open-source high-performance motor controller. While it is widely used, official v3.6 schematics are often documented alongside the v3.5 version, as they share the same architecture. Direct Schematic Access
The official hardware files for the ODrive v3 series are hosted on the ODriveHardware GitHub repository.
v3.5 & v3.6 Schematics: Because the v3.6 is essentially identical to the v3.5 (often only differing in voltage ratings for capacitors), the v3.5 PDF schematic is the standard reference for both.
Direct View: You can also find archived versions of the ODrive 3.6 Schematic on Google Drive. Visual Reference Key Technical Details Microcontroller: Based on the STM32F405RGT6.
Gate Driver: Typically utilizes the DRV8301 chip for motor control.
Safety Features: Includes energy dump MOSFETs for voltage spike protection during braking. Interfaces: Supports USB, UART, PWM, and CAN bus.
For detailed configuration steps, such as setting up for hoverboard motors or CAN communication, refer to the Official ODrive Documentation. Regenerative Braking - Page 2 - SimpleFOC Community
Deep Dive: Understanding the ODrive 3.6 Schematic – A Blueprint for High-Performance Motor Control
The ODrive 3.6 is widely regarded as a breakthrough open-source motor controller, specifically designed to bring high-performance, low-cost robotics to the masses. Unlike simple hobby ESCs (Electronic Speed Controllers), the ODrive excels at Field-Oriented Control (FOC) for dual brushless motors, delivering precise torque, velocity, and position control.
For makers, engineers, and integrators, the ODrive 3.6 schematic is more than just a wiring diagram—it is a critical document for troubleshooting, customization, and deep understanding of the hardware. This article will dissect the official ODrive 3.6 schematic, explaining each major section, its components, and how they work together to enable state-of-the-art motor control.
2. Current Sensing & Control Loop (The Brain)
This is where ODrive shines compared to hobby ESCs.
- Shunt Resistor Placement:
- The schematic places shunt resistors on the low-side of each phase leg.
- Implication: This allows for inline current sensing (measuring current through the motor coils) when the low-side FETs are on. The DRV8301 amplifies these tiny voltages.
- Limitation: Low-side sensing has a "blind spot." You cannot measure current when the low-side FET is off (during the high-side on-time). The firmware must synchronize the ADC sampling with the PWM mid-point. This is handled well in firmware, but it is a schematic constraint that limits extremely low inductance motors (high PWM frequency requirements) compared to high-end boards using high-side or inline amplifiers.
- Microcontroller (STM32F405):
- The use of the STM32F405 provides plenty of headroom. It features FPU (Floating Point Unit) and DSP instructions, allowing for complex control math (FOC) at high loop rates (8kHz–20kHz+).
- The schematic routing for the ADC inputs is generally clean, keeping noisy switching traces away from analog inputs, which is critical for smooth torque control.
3. Power MOSFETs
- CSD18540KCS (or similar 60V N-channel)
- 6 MOSFETs per motor channel → 12 total on board.
- Driven directly by gate driver outputs.