Tutorial to set up and calibrate a Hobbyking brushless motor control with an Arduino.

HobbyKing_ESC_Calibration.ino

/**
 * @author:   Simon Burkhardt - github.com/mnemocron
 * @date:     2017-07-02
 * 
 * Calibrate HobbyKing ESC (tutorial)
 * tested with:
 *    ESC:    HK-SENS-35A             https://hobbyking.com/en_us/hobbykingr-tm-35a-sensored-sensorless-car-esc-1-10-1-12.html
 *    Motor:  Quanum MT 1806-1600KV   https://hobbyking.com/en_us/quanum-mt-series-1806-2300kv-brushless-multirotor-motor-built-by-dys.html
 *    Arduino Uno
 *    11V / 3A bench power supply
 *    
 * Connect the brushless motor according to the manual.
 * Connect the ESC-RX pins like this:
 *    BLACK - GND of Arduino
 *    RED   - DO NOT CONNECT ! this is a 6V source and could destroy the 5V parts of the Arduino or the computer's USB port!
 *    WHITE - ESC pin of the Arduino (9)
 * Connect a sufficient power source to the ESC's thick wires (red/black).
 * For example a 11.1V Li-Po battery. Though be careful with using a battery on a breadboard setup.
 * Short circuits are dangerous because a large Li-Po battery can discharge with way over 100 Amps and catch fire. 
 * Use a bench power supply instead.
 * 
 * Calibration:
 * Upload this code to the Arduino.
 * ESC power switch is OFF.
 * Turn on the power supply.
 * 
 * 1. Send the value "1000" via the terminal.
 * 2. Keep pressing the "set" button of the ESC as you switch the power switch to "ON".
 * 3. Wait ~4s till the orange LED stays solid, then release the "set" button.
 * 4. Send the value "2000" via the terminal, the red LED will blink and the motor will beep.
 * 5. Send the value "1500" via the terminal, the orange LED will blink then stay solid and the motor will beep.
 * 6. Turn OFF the ESC.
 * 7. Turn the ESC back on, you are ready to go.
 * 
 * Your speed range is now within: 1000 (full reverse) - 1500 (stop) - 2000 (full forward)
 * 
 */

#include <Servo.h>

int value = 0;

Servo ESC;

void setup() {
  ESC.attach(9);
  Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
  ESC.writeMicroseconds(value);
  if(Serial.available()) {
    value = Serial.parseInt();    // Parse an Integer from Serial
    Serial.println(value);
  }
}