This guide will show you how to take a fresh install of raspbian (latest Buster and legacy Buster) and enable to work with the dronekit-python API to control the pixhawk vehicle from a python script (and without an RC controller). I got tired of running through this install on every YouTube tutorial video, so now…
An essential part of becoming a competent builder, programmer and flyer of drones is doing so safely. It is said there are two types of multirotor pilots: those that have crashed and those that will. Many of us have had close calls – a vehicle out of control flying away or into a tree. Now…
The following guide is a comprehensive checklist of things to do when you have connection issues between your flight controller and your companion computer on an ArduPilot drone. If you are experiencing errors like “link timeout” “link 1 down” “no link”, then read this guide. These issues can be seen when attempting to start MAVProxy,…
Author: Jack Douglas It is inevitable that as a new multicopter builder, the beloved drone in which you invested so much time and money will flip over on takeoff. Argh!! But don’t get flipped out! Every problem presents a possible learning experience. In this blog, we will look at the issues that can lead up…
Since you’re here, I’m guessing you have interest in building or obtaining your own smart UGV (unmanned ground vehicle). Perhaps you have a particular project you want to bring into the world, if only you could figure out how to make your own smart rover! Well look no more. This blog post will detail how…
One big limitation of conventional drones is the radius of control. Both telemetry and RC based control are limited to a few miles, which is fine if the mission requires a pilot to be within visual line of sight. For beyond visual line of sight missions (BVLOS), conventional methods of drone control just won’t do….
As the drone industry evolves from simple RC robots in the sky to actual industries, one thing is certain: drone programming will be crucial in fulfilling the realization of truly autonomous drones. Think about it, whether we’re talking about drone delivery or surveillance drones, human pilots will not suffice. Up to this point, the main…
Drones have already taken many industries by storm, as it turns out there is much more to drones than flying wedding cameras. Most industrial drones are capable of path planning and semi-autonomous flight, but to be truly autonomous they will need to incorporate precision landing. What is drone precision landing you ask? Almost all drones…
If you are looking for the best laser range finders for your drone or robot then you came to the right place! In recent years, lidar technology has progressed rapidly, making the technology much more affordable. This is great news for the DIY robotics and drone communities! One particular application of this technology is in…
Whether you’re building an FPV quad, a fixed wing drone or an octocopter, every drone enthusiast will face the choice of which flight control software to use. Chances are, if you’re building a drone you’ll also want to use some sort of open source drone software to run your drone’s flight control board. Oh, and…