ArduPilot:Copter previously named APM:Copter or ArduCopter is the multicopter
unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or unmanned aircraft system (UAS), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft with no human pilot, crew, or passengers onboard, but rather is controlled remotely or is autonomous.De Gruyter Handbook of Dron ...
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 and view the source code, design documents, or content of the product. The open source model is a decentrali ...
ArduPilot autopilot platform.
The
free software
Free software, libre software, libreware sometimes known as freedom-respecting software is computer software distributed open-source license, under terms that allow users to run the software for any purpose as well as to study, change, distribut ...
approach from ArduCopter is similar to that of the
Paparazzi Project and
PX4 autopilot
The PX4 autopilot is an open-source system for autonomous aircraft. The project was started in 2009.
Overview
PX4 supports the following features:
*Multiple vehicle types, including fixed-wing aircraft, multicopters, helicopters, rovers, boats ...
where low cost and availability enables its hobbyist use in small
remotely piloted aircraft
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or unmanned aircraft system (UAS), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft with no human pilot, crew, or passengers onboard, but rather is controlled remotely or is autonomous.De Gruyter Handbook of Drone ...
such as
micro air vehicle
A micro air vehicle (MAV), or micro aerial vehicle, is a class of man-portable miniature UAVs whose size enables them to be used in low-altitude, close-in support operations. Modern MAVs can be as small as 5 centimeters - compare Nano Air Vehi ...
s and
miniature UAVs.
Original Unboxing ArduCopter by Chris Anderson
by
Jani Hirvinen and his team at DIYDrones was released in August 2010.
See also
*
Open-source robotics
*
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 digit ...
*
Micro air vehicle
A micro air vehicle (MAV), or micro aerial vehicle, is a class of man-portable miniature UAVs whose size enables them to be used in low-altitude, close-in support operations. Modern MAVs can be as small as 5 centimeters - compare Nano Air Vehi ...
References
{{Reflist
Unmanned helicopters
Open-source hardware
Arduino