PX4 Autopilot
Open Source Autopilot for Drones.
Overview
PX4 is a popular open-source flight control software with a flexible set of tools for drone developers. It is hosted by the Dronecode Foundation, a non-profit managed by the Linux Foundation. PX4 is known for its modern architecture, permissive BSD license, and its use in a wide range of applications from consumer drones to industrial and academic research platforms. It is often used with QGroundControl as its ground station.
✨ Key Features
- Modern, modular architecture
- Support for multirotors, fixed-wing, and VTOL aircraft
- Advanced flight modes and control algorithms
- Integration with computer vision and AI via MAVLink
- Software-in-the-loop (SITL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) simulation
- Permissive BSD license for commercial use
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Modern, clean architecture
- Permissive BSD license is attractive for commercial products
- Strong backing from the Linux Foundation and Dronecode
Unique Value: Provides a flexible, well-architected, and permissively licensed open-source autopilot, empowering developers and companies to create tailored and innovative drone solutions.
🎯 Use Cases (4)
✅ Best For
- Serving as the flight stack for many commercial drones that are part of the Dronecode ecosystem.
- Used as the primary platform for many leading university drone research labs.
- Powering the Auterion enterprise drone platform.
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Users looking for a simple, ready-to-fly commercial product
- Cloud-based data analysis
- Users who are not comfortable with software development tools
🏆 Alternatives
Offers a more modern and arguably cleaner codebase than ArduPilot, with a license that is often preferred for commercialization. It provides an open, flexible platform in contrast to the closed systems of major manufacturers.
💻 Platforms
✅ Offline Mode Available
🔌 Integrations
💰 Pricing
Free tier: The software is completely free and open source.
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