ArduPilot:Copter previously named APM:Copter or ArduCopter is the multicopter
unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew, or passengers on board. UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), which includes adding a ground-based controller ...
version of the
open-source
Open source is source code that is made freely available for possible modification and redistribution. Products include permission to use the source code, design documents, or content of the product. The open-source model is a decentralized sof ...
ArduPilot
ArduPilot is an open source, unmanned vehicle Autopilot Software Suite, capable of controlling autonomous:
*Multirotor drones
*Fixed-wing and VTOL aircraft
*Helicopters
*Ground rovers
*Boats
* Submarines
*Antenna trackers
ArduPilot was original ...
autopilot platform.
The
free software
Free software or libre software is computer software distributed under terms that allow users to run the software for any purpose as well as to study, change, and distribute it and any adapted versions. Free software is a matter of liberty, no ...
approach from ArduCopter is similar to that of the
Paparazzi Project Paparazzi is an open-source autopilot system oriented toward inexpensive autonomous aircraft.
Low cost and availability enable hobbyist use in small remotely piloted aircraft. The project began in 2003, and is being further developed and used at É ...
and
PX4 autopilot
PX4 autopilot is an open-source autopilot system oriented toward inexpensive autonomous aircraft.
Low cost and availability enable hobbyist use in small remotely piloted aircraft. The project started in 2009 and is being further developed and us ...
where low cost and availability enables its hobbyist use in small
remotely piloted aircraft
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew, or passengers on board. UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), which includes adding a ground-based controller ...
such as
micro air vehicle
A micro air vehicle (MAV), or micro aerial vehicle, is a class of miniature UAVs that has a size restriction and may be autonomous. Modern craft can be as small as 5 centimeters. Development is driven by commercial, research, government, and mil ...
s and
miniature UAV
A miniature UAV, small UAV (SUAV), or drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle small enough to be man-portable. Smallest UAVs are called micro air vehicle.
Miniature UAVs range from micro air vehicles (MAVs) that can be carried by an infantryman, t ...
s.
Original Unboxing ArduCopter by Chris Anderson
by
Jani Hirvinen
Jani Hirvinen (born in 1969 in Helsinki, Finland) is one of the early Finnish IT-technology pioneers. Hirvinen is also one of the first ones developing small private sector professional level UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles). He is among the top ...
and his team at DIYDrones was released in August 2010.
See also
*
Open-source robotics
Open-source robotics (OSR) is where the physical artifacts of the subject are offered by the open design movement. This branch of robotics makes use of open-source hardware and free and open-source software providing blueprints, schematics, and s ...
*
Crowdsourcing
Crowdsourcing involves a large group of dispersed participants contributing or producing goods or services—including ideas, votes, micro-tasks, and finances—for payment or as volunteers. Contemporary crowdsourcing often involves digita ...
*
Micro air vehicle
A micro air vehicle (MAV), or micro aerial vehicle, is a class of miniature UAVs that has a size restriction and may be autonomous. Modern craft can be as small as 5 centimeters. Development is driven by commercial, research, government, and mil ...
References
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Unmanned helicopters
Open-source hardware
Arduino