This is a community-driven hardware project focused on creating an open and accessible Flight Controller (FC).
The main focus is on being low-cost, availability, hackability and openness!!
Most of the Ardupilot FCs on the market are released by quite a huge brands that aren't OS and they cost a lot.
That's why I've started this project to make an open-source and low-cost FC with the community..
The target firmware is ArduPilot, which is a powerful open-source autopilot system.
- Dev board meets flight controller hybrid
- Keep it budget-friendly
- Readily available components
- Hackability so you can hack on your features
- ❤️ Designed with care by and for the community
The main one is a reference platform for devs and hackers. Then we can move to a product for the wider public.
With the focus being on Hackability and Openness, there are endless possibilities for creativity!
Here are a few ideas::
- Prototyping and experimentation
- A low-cost alternative for those priced out of commercial FCs
- Teaching control theory and autonomous systems in schools
I have a lot of experience with FPV drones running Betaflight.
Then I started playing with the ESP32-based ArduPilot for almost three years. All of them were for a competition called Robotem Rovne.
- The first one is an autonomous rover which was breadboarded together. As with any other breadboard project, the wires were loose, they didn't make contact, and they were falling off.
- Then I made a second rover with an FC soldered on a proto board. Which worked wonderfully!
- Then I tried to make a PCB with a brushed motor controller. Not going to talk about this one. Didn't go as planned. :(
- After that, I've bought a SpeedyBee f405 WING FC and mounted it to an RC car. This is my Ardupilot learning platform.
And now we are here. ...
That was when I had the idea of making an ESP32 Flight Controller..
This is the first FC I made with the help of the community, so huge thanks to everyone.
- modular system (eg, ELRS, GPS modules)
- 30x30 FC for FPV drones. That's harder as there are plenty of great cheap FCs
I have the PCB made, and now I need to order everything and test it!
| PCB | Render |
|---|---|
 |
 |
- Basic schematic and PCB layout
- Selection of components is decided in Issues
- Compare BOM cost to commercial FCs - going to figure it out when I have time.
- Complete code, documentation, and build guide
- Planning & goal settingting✅
- Schematic design✅
- Start with core ESP32 + power
- Add sensors and outputs
- Evaluate BOM & gather feedbackback
- Community feedback loop✅
- PCB layout✅
- Prototype ordering
- …And hopefully it works on the first try! 🤞
We are now focusing on ArduPilot ESP32 port. They are making incredible work, and the project wouldn't exist without their hard work.
I won't be able to write the code by myself, so huge props to the contributors! That's why I'm focusing on the HW..
There are also possibilities for you to write your own code..
We would love to hear feedback. We are open to everything, including issues, ideas and suggestions.
That's why this project is Open Source..
- ESP32 – the core MCU
- KiCad – for PCB design
- ArduPilot – the autopilot software we're building for
- ❤️ Open source tools and community support
- ... and Love ❤️
Hardware: CERN-OHL-W
Firmware: Ardupilot
Many thanks to the amazing people who make Hack Club possible.
Thanks to Hack Club for inspiring so many people. I don't know the numbers, but maybe around thousands..
Most of them are probably going to get a career from it. Love your work! ❤️�
And big thanks to the ArduPilot community for keeping robotics and autonomy Open and hackable.