Project Dronecode: free platform for unmanned vehicles

The Linux Foundation has taken over the project Dronecode , whose goal is to create a free and open platform for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

A key participant is the 3D Robotics company, which leveraged the APM Autopilot Suite platform for public use of the UAV control system (formerly known as the ArduPilot).
')
In addition, Dronecode included the development of another project PX4 , which is conducted at the Technical University of Zurich.


Auto Pilot Modules from 3D Robotics (left) and PX4

In addition to 3D Robotics, Intel, Qualcomm, Baidu and cloud hoster Box, as well as 7 smaller companies that are directly involved in the development of UAVs, have signed up for the new organization. These are DroneDeploy, jDrones, Laser Navigation (VirtualRobotix), SkyWard, Squadrone System, Walkera and Yuneec. They all use the APM Autopilot platform.

Over the past year, 3D Robotics has done a great job of porting APM to Linux . The module is currently running on Arduino and the Nuttx operating system, but soon a Linux version will be published as part of the Dronecode project.

APM software screenshots





Under the APM, you can do and budget-level UAVs running BeagleBone or Raspberry Pi. For example, as BeaglePilot .